A young Australian woman, Sally Grace Contarino, 26, vanished during a solo trip to the United States, sparking fears she may have fallen victim to human trafficking. Contarino was last heard from on June 20, the day she was scheduled to take a Greyhound bus from Nevada to Los Angeles to catch a flight back to Australia. Her ticket was never used, and Las Vegas Metro Police Department has since declared her missing and endangered.
Contarino, who was on a two-week holiday, had visited Palm Springs before arriving in Las Vegas, where she was staying at a backpacker hostel in an area described by locals as less than ideal for a solo traveler. Her documented movements in the days leading up to her disappearance have raised particular concern.
On June 17, she was filmed outside a 7-Eleven store in the eastern part of the city. A content creator using Meta glasses approached her, but she politely declined his advances. Later, on June 19, she texted friends about hiking Lone Mountain before going home. CCTV footage from that evening shows her at Timbers Bar & Grill in northwest Las Vegas, from which she reportedly left alone on foot.
Her sisters, Amy and Lauren, who have traveled to the U.S. to search for her, told a true-crime podcast that Sally had been experiencing mental health struggles and had limited funds. Locals noted that her movements, including visiting a 7-Eleven in a neighborhood known for heavy drug use and potential sex trafficking, were unusual for a tourist. "That's a very bad area, heavy drug use and sex trafficking in that part of the city, arguably even worse than where she was staying," one local commented.
Human trafficking expert Mike Bartel stated that Contarino matches the profile of potential victims. "We've done work with young ladies who have become separated from their friends and intervened as they were [being approached] by known pimps who were taking the opportunity to try and 'reel them in'," Bartel said. He explained that pimps often target vulnerable individuals who are isolated from their support networks and exploit opportunities, sometimes by befriending a lone target and inviting them to a party, which can lead to isolation and trafficking.
Nevada is known to have a significant human trafficking problem, with authorities estimating high rates of victims per capita. Organizations like FREE International, dedicated to combating human trafficking, relocated to Las Vegas in 2010 due to the city's reputation for the crime. Bartel noted that pimps are adept at identifying vulnerability and that adult women, not just children, can be targets.
On the morning of June 20, Contarino reportedly checked out of her hostel but left her luggage. She was last seen on CCTV near 9700 W Sky Canyon Drive around 1 p.m. Police believe she may have gone hiking at Mount Charleston, a deviation from her plan to travel to Los Angeles for her flight home. Las Vegas police have recovered her luggage and conducted searches of areas where she was last seen. Contarino is described as 165cm tall, weighing 59kg, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a grey or blue sweatshirt, denim shorts, black and white shoes, and carrying a bag. Authorities are seeking public assistance to locate her and have alerted local hospitals. Anyone with information is urged to contact [email protected].