Stefanie lived with her parents and five siblings on a large, rural property in New Sweden, Maine. The family lived a relatively isolated, off the grid lifestyle, and Stefanie was homeschooled. According to the FBI, she had limited interaction with people outside her immediate family and was familiar with the surrounding woods, sometimes walking several miles from home.

On the afternoon of September 23, Stefanie and one of her sisters reportedly got into an argument. Stefanie then left the house and walked into the woods along West Road. Her parents were away at the time, and some of her siblings and a grandfather figure were at home.

When her parents returned and realized Stefanie was gone, the family initially believed she would return as she had on previous occasions. When she did not come home, the family began looking for her. She was reported missing to Maine State Police on September 24, 2024.

What followed was an extensive search involving the Maine State Police, Maine Warden Service, FBI, search-and-rescue organizations, volunteers, K-9 teams, drones, and other resources. Investigators conducted interviews, searched large areas of rugged terrain, reviewed video, and followed leads not only in Maine but across the United States and into Canada. Despite those efforts, Stefanie has never been located.

The FBI eventually offered a reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to Stefanie’s safe return or information resulting in the arrest and prosecution of anyone involved in her disappearance.

Stefanie was 13 years old when she disappeared. She had brown, shoulder-length hair and green eyes and was approximately 5 feet tall and 130 pounds. She was last known to be wearing blue jeans, a long-sleeved blue shirt, and black Harley Davidson hiking boots.

As the months and years have passed, investigators have continued to pursue leads. Maine State Police reported in November 2025 that Stefanie remained missing and that the investigation was continuing in partnership with the FBI. In September 2026, Maine State Police again confirmed that the investigation remained active and that detectives were continuing to follow information and leads.

Stefanie would now be 15 years old. Her family continues to wait for answers, while investigators continue to ask the public to come forward with any information that could help locate her.

Anyone with information about Stefanie’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Maine State Police Houlton Barracks at 207-532-5400 or 1-800-924-2261. Information may also be provided to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or through the FBI’s online tip system.