Samantha Leighann Tapp, a 16-year-old from Burleson, Texas, went missing on October 12, 2004. That evening, she visited her sister, seeking to stay the night after a disagreement with her grandfather, with whom she was living at the time. Her sister advised her to return home, and Samantha left around 8:00 PM. This was the last confirmed sighting of her.
In the days following her disappearance, some of Samantha’s belongings were found missing from her bedroom, and cigarette butts were found outside her grandparents’ home, indicating she may have left voluntarily. Initially classified as an "endangered runaway," there were no signs of foul play at the time. Samantha had a troubled past, including time in foster care, and had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, though she was not taking her medication at the time of her disappearance.
Over the years, there have been some unconfirmed reports of her whereabouts. In 2007, an uncle reported that she contacted him, saying she was considering moving in with him, but later changed her mind, claiming she had met someone and was relocating to Florida. Investigators later received a report of her name being run through customs at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, though this lead did not result in her being found.
Her case remains unsolved, and authorities, along with her family, continue to search for answers. Samantha may go by the alias "Samantha Vandiver," and there have been age-progressed images created to aid in the search.Last Seen: Oct 12, 2004
