Grieving Community Remembers Late Nevada Teen Who Went Missing After Family Argument

Mar. 15, 2025

A Nevada community is in mourning followingthe death of a 17-year-old high school studentwho went missing last week following a reported family dispute.

Local NBC affiliateKSNVreported on Tuesday that a memorial for Hin was created, with members of the community leaving flowers and stuffed animals at the scene where her body was found.

Meanwhile, Foothill High students and their parents are grappling with the tragedy.

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“It’s just horrific, you know?” parent Kristina Culpepper told KSNV. “And I know this isn’t the outcome the parents wanted. I just feel so bad for them … Just hold your kids tight.”

Hin was reported missing on Dec. 30, 2024, according to a Jan. 5news releasefrom the City of Henderson.

Jennaleah Hin.Facebook

Facebook

According to authorities, police responded to a report on Jan. 5 that a dead body was found in the desert area east of Desert Sunflower Circle and Spanish Needle Street around 10:42 a.m. local time. When they arrived, they discovered a “deceased female.”

Prior to the confirmation of the identity of the body, authorities said that the deceased female matched the description of Hin.

“Henderson Detectives responded to the scene and based on preliminary investigations, there does not appear to be signs of foul play,” continued the city’s news release.

TheLas Vegas Review-JournalandKSNVreported that Hin left her home in Henderson in the early evening hours of Dec. 30 following a family dispute.

“You don’t have to worry about me anymore,” Hin reportedly said at the time she departed home, according to Mark Speer of the nonprofit search group Red Rock Search and Rescue, theLas Vegas Review-Journaladded.

Donna Oliva, whose husband is a longtime friend of Hin’s stepfather, previously toldKSNVthat what happened to Hin is every parent’s worst nightmare. She also said Hin was planning on attending nursing school and that the teen was a straight-A student.

“She’s on course to graduate top of her class. She’s going places in life. So this is out of character,” Olivia told the outlet.

“It is with deep sympathy that I inform you of the passing of a Foothill High School student. It is never easy to lose a valuable life, especially at a young age, and we will truly remember this student as part of our Falcon community,” Synold, who did not name Hin in the letter, wrote.

“We are working to ensure students have the support and resources they need to get through this challenging time. Counselors and social workers will be available for students tomorrow in the library,” the letter continued.

And onanother fundraiser, she was remembered as “a straight-A student with dreams of becoming a nurse, on track to graduate at the top of her class …. a driven and compassionate young woman with a promising future.”

source: people.com