Search and rescue teams have found a trace of missing Australian hiker Sally Grace Contarino, 26, on Mount Charleston in Nevada. Sniffer dogs detected her scent on the mountain, offering a significant development in the search for the Melbourne woman who vanished from Las Vegas on June 20.
Contarino was last seen on CCTV at a supermarket in northwest Las Vegas at 1 p.m. on June 20. She had planned to hike Mount Charleston despite extreme heat and was scheduled to fly out of Los Angeles that same night. Police had initially investigated the possibility of human trafficking, but this theory has been largely discounted following the discovery of her scent trail.
Over 150 volunteers, along with a helicopter, have been conducting a grid search of the rugged terrain. Contarino's sisters have traveled from Australia to be at the search site. Her mother, Lucy, confirmed that the search and rescue team advised her that dogs had traced her daughter's scent on Mount Charleston, which features multiple hiking trails and reaches an elevation of 3,632 meters.
Contarino had visited Las Vegas multiple times since 2023. While she had a former boyfriend in the city who was interviewed by police, he has since been cleared as a person of interest. A friend indicated that her recent trip was not to see the ex-boyfriend but was driven by an “obsession” with the desert landscape.
On the day of her disappearance, temperatures on Mount Charleston exceeded 40°C. CCTV footage from the supermarket showed Contarino wearing a sweater, a detail her friend noted was not unusual for her, even in hot weather. She was described as an avid hiker who loved the heat and would often drink heated water. Before her hike, she purchased water and protein bars.
Contarino's fascination with Nevada was well-known to her family and friends. Her room in Melbourne was decorated with Americana, and she was reportedly inspired by films such as "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," "Thelma & Louise," and "Stand By Me." She had previously visited the site of River Phoenix's death outside the Viper Room club in West Hollywood.
Her mother and friend have publicly debunked online rumors suggesting Contarino may have been involved with drugs, alcohol, or sex work, describing such speculation as "distressing" and untrue. Lucy Contarino also refuted reports that her daughter was in "emotional distress," stating that Sally was having a good time and had been in contact with family.
Contarino's friend mentioned that she experiences occasional medical episodes related to an undiagnosed neurological condition that can cause seizures when she is tired, hungry, or sleep-deprived. This friend also noted that missing flights was not out of character for her, as she had done so before, and that she had a tendency to