INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — The FBI is involved in the search for an Indianapolis mother who vanished hours after working at a south side strip club. Larissa Sam has not been seen in a year and a half. Her aunt is desperate to find out what happened to her.
Larissa and her son loved posting videos on Facebook. That laughter was silenced on June 21, 2015 when Larissa vanished without a trace.
She had finished working as a dancer, then had drinks at her uncle's home and then disappeared.
Her car was found near an abandoned home in Mars Hill. The keys were still in the ignition.
Her purse, cell phone and money were still inside the vehicle.
The FBI got involved in 2015 after someone posted a demand on Facebook suggesting Larissa was kidnapped and taken to another country.
FBI Special Agent Len Rothermich"We ran down all leads possible as far as the allegations we were receiving and determined it to be a fake lead, that it was an extortion attempt on the family," said special agent Len Rothermich.
Investigators also wondered about Larissa's last message on Facebook. "I wanna text someone. Texting buddy?"
The FBI says there is no evidence that someone responding to her Facebook post kidnapped her.
"We've talked to many people and many different leads. But still, at this point, no resolution as far as what happened that night," said Rothermich.
Debbie Penn talks about her niece Larissa to WTHR's Scott SwanThat is frustrating for Larissa's family. Debbie Penn is Larissa's aunt and custodian of Larissa's son. Marcus was 4 years old when his mom disappeared. He is now 6.
"He knows she's missing and he knows that police are looking for her and people everywhere are searching for her," said Penn. "It's very hard for him to process. He talks about it less and less. I think it's his way of coping with it."
Photos of the missing mom are prominent inside the home where her son now lives.
"Counselors have suggested we keep pictures of her around so he can see them," said Penn. "We talk about her when holidays come around. We let him process it and bring it about if he wants to talk about it."
Friends and family have searched the neighborhood where Larissa disappeared and put flyers up.
Investigators have checked every lead and still no sign of Larissa.
"Every lead they've been given has come to a dead end. I really don't know what's happened. It's just a big hole in our hearts. I feel that we need closure," said Penn.
The FBI says there is no evidence that anyone she met at the strip club had anything to do with Larissa's disappearance.
The FBI has ruled out the possibility that Larissa Sam was taken in a sex trafficking operation, and has also ruled many people out as potential suspects but won't identify them.
"We're involving Quantico in a lot of the evidence we've since recovered as well as interviews and searches so forth going on," said Rothermich. "I hope she's still alive."
"I want to believe that. But, after a year and a half, you start doubting," said Penn.
For now, the precious bond between a young mother and her son exists only on video.
Family are hoping someone with information about Larissa's disappearance will come forward.
"Marcus needs closure. He misses his mom very much," said Penn. "He has moments when he cries. I hold him. He's in counseling right now seeking help for post-traumatic stress disorder. He's having a very rough time. He needs his mom home. Needs to know what happened to her."
