Esmerelda 'Kit' Mora, a 17-year-old Indigenous and Hispanic teenager, was last seen in Omak, Washington. The official date of their disappearance is listed as April 15, 2022, the day their biological mother reported them as a runaway. However, there is a painful discrepancy in this timeline, as Kit's adoptive family and friends say they had not seen or heard from them since November 2021.
At the age of four, Kit was adopted by their great-grandparents in Yakima, Washington, due to a history of neglect and abuse in their biological mother's home. In a move that would precede their disappearance, Kit, who identified as non-binary and used they/them pronouns, chose to move back to Omak in June 2021 to reconnect with their biological mother and siblings. Friends and family recall that communication with Kit became increasingly sparse after the move, with their social media presence ceasing entirely in November 2021.
Concern for Kit's well-being grew among their friends and adoptive family in Yakima. A friend became so worried after not hearing from Kit that they traveled to Omak in late September 2022 to search for them. This friend's inquiry prompted police to conduct a welfare check, at which time Kit's biological mother stated that Kit had run away in April and she believed they had returned to Yakima. This was the first time Kit's adoptive family was made aware of them being missing. The delayed reporting and the conflicting timelines have been a source of immense pain and frustration for those who love Kit. Prior to the official missing person report, Kit's adoptive family had requested a welfare check in November 2021, during which police reported that Kit had come to the door and said they were safe. However, questions linger about the thoroughness of this check. Following the official report, Kit’s biological mother and younger siblings moved, and she ceased communication with Kit's concerned family members.
The investigation into Kit's disappearance has been fraught with challenges and has drawn attention to the broader issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Initially, the case was treated as a runaway situation, which advocates say delayed a more thorough and urgent investigation. Over time, and with persistent efforts from their family, the case has gained more attention. Law enforcement has since conducted searches of the biological mother's former residence and a vehicle. The Washington State Attorney General's Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and People Cold Case Unit has also become involved in the investigation. Described as a kindhearted, quiet, and artistic individual who enjoyed music and drawing, Kit's absence has left a profound void in the lives of their friends and family. The circumstances surrounding their disappearance, including a history of instability in their biological mother's home and the conflicting reports of when they were last seen, have created a deeply troubling and unresolved case.Last Seen: Apr 15, 2022
