New Image Offers Hope in Search for Missing Teen

It’s been more than three years since 16-year-old Esmerelda “Kit” Mora disappeared in Washington state, and Kit’s family is hoping a new image could finally bring answers.

Esmerelda “Kit” Mora at age 16; “Kit” age-progressed to age 20. (Credit: NCMEC)

Kit’s sister, Maliyah, says she misses her “loving, kind and quiet” sibling terribly, describing Kit as deeply artistic and creative. Maliyah and her siblings created this message they hope Kit hears.

Before the disappearance, Kit had been living with paternal grandparents in Yakima, Washington. But in the summer of 2021, Kit traveled to Omak, Washington, to stay with their mother and younger siblings. Family members said Kit initially planned to return to Yakima for the start of the school year but instead remained in Omak and enrolled there.

For several months, Kit maintained contact with friends and family in Yakima. By the winter of 2021, however, those communications began to decrease, according to family and friends, and eventually stopped altogether.

In September 2022, detectives conducted a wellness check after Kit’s family and friends in Yakima became concerned. Kit’s mother reportedly told investigators that Kit had left earlier that month and that she believed the teen had returned to Yakima back in April.

Detectives with the Omak Police Department say the timeline of Kit’s disappearance remains unclear and are continuing to seek information about what may have happened.

Kit’s father and stepmother, Meghan, say they want nothing more than for Kit to come home and will never give up searching.

Kit is of Hispanic and American Indian descent. According to Kit’s family, Kit has ties to the SnPink’tn (Penticton Indian Band) in British Columbia.

At the time Kit vanished, Kit was 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighed about 140 pounds. Kit has brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information about Esmerelda “Kit” Mora’s disappearance is urged to contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or the Omak Police Department at (509) 826-0383.