August 7, 2025 • 11 mins
In this episode of Hunting 4 Answers: In July 2016, 16 years old Lashaya Stine walked out of her Aurora, Colorado home in the middle of the night — and never came back. Surveillance video captured her final known steps, but the trail went cold. Rumors of trafficking, chilling sightings, and one survivor's shocking account point to only more questions. Nine years later, her family still waits for answers. Anyone with information about this case should contact the Aurora Police Department at 303-627-3100 or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
This is the story of Lashaya Stine.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host, Hunter, and today we're
highlighting a case that's left a shadow over Aurora, Colorado
for nine years. On July fifteenth, twenty sixteen, a promising
(00:22):
sixteen year old girl with dreams of becoming a nurse
walked out of her home at two am and vanished
without a trace. Surveillance footage captured her final known moments,
but what happened next still remains a mystery.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
The investigation has led the FBI.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Down a dark path of human trafficking leads over the years,
but none pointing to solid answers.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
This is the story of Leshia Stein.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Lesaia Ney Stein was born in two thousand, growing up
in Aurora, Colorado, with big dreams and an even bigger heart.
She was just sixteen years old at the time of
her disappearance and stood five six with black hair and
brown eyes. Le Saya was a gifted student, and her
ambition really made her stand out. She was a student
(01:22):
at George Washington High School, but she wasn't just going
through the motions le Saya had a clear vision.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
For her future.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
She wanted to become a nurse, and she wasn't waiting
until graduation to start working towards her goal. That summer
of twenty sixteen, Lea Shaya had secured something remarkable for
someone her age, an internship at the University of Colorado Hospital.
(01:54):
She was also planning to spend time as an intern
at a nearby medical school. The night before Friday, July fifteenth,
a chain of events would occur that would ultimately lead
to her disappearance. Around two am, Lahead discovered her younger
brothers were still awake. In a typical big sister moment,
(02:17):
she had scolded them for being up so late and
threatened to tell their mother if they didn't go to sleep.
After making sure they complied, she closed their bedroom doors
behind her. Her other brother, just one year older, was
already asleep. The house was quiet, her family was safe
(02:37):
in their beds, but.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Something compelped Leshea to leave.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Shortly after checking on her brothers, she left the home,
presumably to meet someone. She didn't have permission from her
mother to leave, and she didn't wake anyone to say
where she was going. What particularly troubling is what she
left behind. Her mother, Sabrina Jones, would later tell investigators
(03:05):
that Lhaa had snuck out without her wallet, without her
phone charger, and without any extra clothes.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
This wasn't the behavior of.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Someone planning to be gone for a very long time,
but Lashiya's movements that night weren't completely invisible. Surveillance cameras
in the area captured crucial footage that would later become
the last confirmed sighting of her. Between two fifteen and
two thirty am, cameras recorded le Sea walking alone near
(03:38):
the intersection of Pia Street and Monte Boulevard in Aurora.
She was wearing a black tank top and blue shorts,
the same clothes she'd been.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Wearing when she left home.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
The footage shows a teenage girl walking by herself in
the pre dawn hours, but it raises more questions then
It answers where was she going?
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Was she meeting someone, and if so who.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Her mother suspected that le Saya might have been going
to meet a boy based on the timing and circumstances
captured in the surveillance footage. When le Shaia failed to
return home and missed her job, interview on July sixteenth.
Her family knew something was terribly wrong. This wasn't a
(04:31):
girl who would simply disappear without any explanation. She had
too much to live for, too many plans and too
much promise. The Aurora Police Department immediately launched an investigation,
but the trail was already growing cold.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
The surveillance footage.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Provided a starting point, but beyond those critical minutes near
Poria Street in mont View Boulevard, Lahaia had seemingly vanished
into thin air. As days turned into weeks and weeks
turned into months, the case took a more serious tone.
(05:15):
The FBI Denver Office joined the investigation, bringing on federal
resources to help find l Shaa, but what they would
discover would point to something no one expected. As the
investigation progressed, tips began coming in between twenty sixteen in
(05:36):
twenty nineteen, authorities received numerous tips pointing to a nightmare
scenario that no parent wants to imagine, but it did
provide hope that le Shaa may still be alive. Multiple
witnesses reported sightings of her in and around motels, specifically
(05:58):
motels and areas known to be popular for human trafficking operations.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
These weren't random sightings either.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
The details were too specific, too accurate to dismiss. One
of the most compelling tips came from someone who claimed
to have seen l Saa at a motel and was
able to accurately describe a distinctive scar on her chest,
a detail that wasn't publicly known, so you would have
(06:28):
had to actually see her to know this. But perhaps
the most heartbreaking piece of evidence came from another young woman,
a girl who had managed to escape from a trafficking situation.
She came forward claiming that she had been with le Shia,
that they had been trapped in the same horrific circumstances.
(06:50):
According to these reports, Lachaia was seen with a man
who appeared to be controlling her movements, taking her in
and out of Colorado and into different states. This is
a classic pattern in human trafficking cases, constantly moving victims
to avoid detection and prevent them from forming connections that
(07:10):
might lead to escape. Years passed and the investigation continued.
The FBI and Aurora police were following leads, pursuing tips,
and staying hopeful in finding ly Shaya. In their search,
law enforcement focused on an address that had connections to
(07:33):
Lhaya's pass a house located on twenty two hundred Lansing
Street and Aurora. This house was in the same area
where Lyhaia had last been seen walking, and police learned
that she had known the previous residents. The search of
this property was extensive and methodical. For three days, Aurora
(07:58):
police and a FBI agents homed through every inch of
the home and its surrounding property. They brought in specialized
equipment capable of breaking through concrete, suggesting that they were
looking for something or someone that might have been hidden. However,
(08:20):
the results of that search have not been made public. Today,
it's been nine years since Lychee's disappearance. Her case remains active,
and the reward for information leading to her whereabouts has
been increased to fifteen thousand dollars. Lychaya's mother, Sabrina, has
never stopped fighting for her daughter. She's done interviews, worked
(08:44):
with investigators, and tried to keep Lchee's story in the
public eye. Today, lecha Stein would be twenty five years old.
Although it hasn't been officially confirmed, and that Laa is
a victim of human trafficking, Several warning signs suggest that,
(09:05):
possibly shedding light on a disturbing reality, human trafficking is
happening right here, right now, to young girls just like
ly Shaa. The FBI and child advocacy organizations warned that
hundreds of thousands of children in the US are at
risk of trafficking every year, and it's not just runaways.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Or kids without support.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Its teens like ly Saia, with loving families and bright futures.
Traffickers often use social media to identify and lure their victims,
offering false promises of love, money, or opportunity. Once trapped,
these young people are frequently moved to avoid detection, kept
(09:55):
isolated and controlled through a toxic mix of manipulation, threats, violence,
and sometimes even drugs. The signs can be subtle, but
the danger is real. My thoughts and prayers are with
the family and friends of Lechaya Stein. Nine years have
(10:16):
passed since she vanished, nine years of unanswered questions, in
nine years of her loved ones praying for.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Her safe return.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
Anyone with information about Leachaya's sign's disappearance should contact the
Aurora Police Department or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers. You can
find their contact information in the description box below. As
we close out this episode, don't forget to click the
follow button to stay updated on Lechaya's case and others
(10:50):
like it. Be sure to subscribe to Hunting for Answers
on YouTube and follow us on Instagram and TikTok for
more true crime updates.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
And if you all are watching.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Us on YouTube, let us know your thoughts on this
case down in the comments. Have you heard of Licia
Stein's case before?
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Let us know.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
Thank you so much for joining us on another episode
until next time. Hunting for Answers is a production of
the Black Effect Podcast Network. For more podcasts from the
(11:30):
Black Effect Podcast Network, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host, Hunter, and today we're
highlighting a case that's left a shadow over Aurora, Colorado
for nine years. On July fifteenth, twenty sixteen, a promising
(00:22):
sixteen year old girl with dreams of becoming a nurse
walked out of her home at two am and vanished
without a trace. Surveillance footage captured her final known moments,
but what happened next still remains a mystery.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
The investigation has led the FBI.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Down a dark path of human trafficking leads over the years,
but none pointing to solid answers.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
This is the story of Leshia Stein.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Lesaia Ney Stein was born in two thousand, growing up
in Aurora, Colorado, with big dreams and an even bigger heart.
She was just sixteen years old at the time of
her disappearance and stood five six with black hair and
brown eyes. Le Saya was a gifted student, and her
ambition really made her stand out. She was a student
(01:22):
at George Washington High School, but she wasn't just going
through the motions le Saya had a clear vision.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
For her future.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
She wanted to become a nurse, and she wasn't waiting
until graduation to start working towards her goal. That summer
of twenty sixteen, Lea Shaya had secured something remarkable for
someone her age, an internship at the University of Colorado Hospital.
(01:54):
She was also planning to spend time as an intern
at a nearby medical school. The night before Friday, July fifteenth,
a chain of events would occur that would ultimately lead
to her disappearance. Around two am, Lahead discovered her younger
brothers were still awake. In a typical big sister moment,
(02:17):
she had scolded them for being up so late and
threatened to tell their mother if they didn't go to sleep.
After making sure they complied, she closed their bedroom doors
behind her. Her other brother, just one year older, was
already asleep. The house was quiet, her family was safe
(02:37):
in their beds, but.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Something compelped Leshea to leave.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Shortly after checking on her brothers, she left the home,
presumably to meet someone. She didn't have permission from her
mother to leave, and she didn't wake anyone to say
where she was going. What particularly troubling is what she
left behind. Her mother, Sabrina Jones, would later tell investigators
(03:05):
that Lhaa had snuck out without her wallet, without her
phone charger, and without any extra clothes.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
This wasn't the behavior of.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Someone planning to be gone for a very long time,
but Lashiya's movements that night weren't completely invisible. Surveillance cameras
in the area captured crucial footage that would later become
the last confirmed sighting of her. Between two fifteen and
two thirty am, cameras recorded le Sea walking alone near
(03:38):
the intersection of Pia Street and Monte Boulevard in Aurora.
She was wearing a black tank top and blue shorts,
the same clothes she'd been.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Wearing when she left home.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
The footage shows a teenage girl walking by herself in
the pre dawn hours, but it raises more questions then
It answers where was she going?
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Was she meeting someone, and if so who.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Her mother suspected that le Saya might have been going
to meet a boy based on the timing and circumstances
captured in the surveillance footage. When le Shaia failed to
return home and missed her job, interview on July sixteenth.
Her family knew something was terribly wrong. This wasn't a
(04:31):
girl who would simply disappear without any explanation. She had
too much to live for, too many plans and too
much promise. The Aurora Police Department immediately launched an investigation,
but the trail was already growing cold.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
The surveillance footage.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Provided a starting point, but beyond those critical minutes near
Poria Street in mont View Boulevard, Lahaia had seemingly vanished
into thin air. As days turned into weeks and weeks
turned into months, the case took a more serious tone.
(05:15):
The FBI Denver Office joined the investigation, bringing on federal
resources to help find l Shaa, but what they would
discover would point to something no one expected. As the
investigation progressed, tips began coming in between twenty sixteen in
(05:36):
twenty nineteen, authorities received numerous tips pointing to a nightmare
scenario that no parent wants to imagine, but it did
provide hope that le Shaa may still be alive. Multiple
witnesses reported sightings of her in and around motels, specifically
(05:58):
motels and areas known to be popular for human trafficking operations.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
These weren't random sightings either.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
The details were too specific, too accurate to dismiss. One
of the most compelling tips came from someone who claimed
to have seen l Saa at a motel and was
able to accurately describe a distinctive scar on her chest,
a detail that wasn't publicly known, so you would have
(06:28):
had to actually see her to know this. But perhaps
the most heartbreaking piece of evidence came from another young woman,
a girl who had managed to escape from a trafficking situation.
She came forward claiming that she had been with le Shia,
that they had been trapped in the same horrific circumstances.
(06:50):
According to these reports, Lachaia was seen with a man
who appeared to be controlling her movements, taking her in
and out of Colorado and into different states. This is
a classic pattern in human trafficking cases, constantly moving victims
to avoid detection and prevent them from forming connections that
(07:10):
might lead to escape. Years passed and the investigation continued.
The FBI and Aurora police were following leads, pursuing tips,
and staying hopeful in finding ly Shaya. In their search,
law enforcement focused on an address that had connections to
(07:33):
Lhaya's pass a house located on twenty two hundred Lansing
Street and Aurora. This house was in the same area
where Lyhaia had last been seen walking, and police learned
that she had known the previous residents. The search of
this property was extensive and methodical. For three days, Aurora
(07:58):
police and a FBI agents homed through every inch of
the home and its surrounding property. They brought in specialized
equipment capable of breaking through concrete, suggesting that they were
looking for something or someone that might have been hidden. However,
(08:20):
the results of that search have not been made public. Today,
it's been nine years since Lychee's disappearance. Her case remains active,
and the reward for information leading to her whereabouts has
been increased to fifteen thousand dollars. Lychaya's mother, Sabrina, has
never stopped fighting for her daughter. She's done interviews, worked
(08:44):
with investigators, and tried to keep Lchee's story in the
public eye. Today, lecha Stein would be twenty five years old.
Although it hasn't been officially confirmed, and that Laa is
a victim of human trafficking, Several warning signs suggest that,
(09:05):
possibly shedding light on a disturbing reality, human trafficking is
happening right here, right now, to young girls just like
ly Shaa. The FBI and child advocacy organizations warned that
hundreds of thousands of children in the US are at
risk of trafficking every year, and it's not just runaways.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Or kids without support.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Its teens like ly Saia, with loving families and bright futures.
Traffickers often use social media to identify and lure their victims,
offering false promises of love, money, or opportunity. Once trapped,
these young people are frequently moved to avoid detection, kept
(09:55):
isolated and controlled through a toxic mix of manipulation, threats, violence,
and sometimes even drugs. The signs can be subtle, but
the danger is real. My thoughts and prayers are with
the family and friends of Lechaya Stein. Nine years have
(10:16):
passed since she vanished, nine years of unanswered questions, in
nine years of her loved ones praying for.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Her safe return.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
Anyone with information about Leachaya's sign's disappearance should contact the
Aurora Police Department or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers. You can
find their contact information in the description box below. As
we close out this episode, don't forget to click the
follow button to stay updated on Lechaya's case and others
(10:50):
like it. Be sure to subscribe to Hunting for Answers
on YouTube and follow us on Instagram and TikTok for
more true crime updates.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
And if you all are watching.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Us on YouTube, let us know your thoughts on this
case down in the comments. Have you heard of Licia
Stein's case before?
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Let us know.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
Thank you so much for joining us on another episode
until next time. Hunting for Answers is a production of
the Black Effect Podcast Network. For more podcasts from the
(11:30):
Black Effect Podcast Network, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
Host
Hunter Gilmore
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