The parents of Katya Chetina, who disappeared 15 years ago at the age of five, continue their search and hold onto hope. Vladimir and Natalia Chetins’ daughter vanished on June 12, 2010, during a family outing near Kungur, Russia.

Despite the passage of time, the family remains committed to finding Katya and believes she is still alive. The disappearance occurred during a family hike with around 15 people near the Ermak rock.

On that day, Katya was playing with other children before her mother, Natalia, noticed she could no longer hear her daughter. A frantic search ensued, with the parents finding a slipper and a child’s footprint, but no sign of Katya.

Police arrived about an hour later. Initially, investigators focused on the theory that Katya had drowned, but a personal experiment conducted by the Chetins challenged this idea when objects of comparable weight to Katya drifted differently than anticipated.

Over the years, the Chetins have pursued various leads and tips, including eyewitness accounts and potential sightings, but none have led to Katya’s discovery. The family reported that they were informed that they had seen a man carrying a girl on a boat.

The open criminal and search cases remain active, with Vladimir Chetin recently providing investigators with questions regarding the search and highlighting the need to investigate every clue. In 2018, the Chetins were informed that there was a girl in the hospital with gypsies, similar to Katya, but she had no documents.

Scammers have also exploited the family’s tragedy, with one convict attempting to extort money from Vladimir by falsely claiming to have information about Katya. Despite these challenges, the Chetins remain united in their search. The Chetins have younger son and daughter, who said that if the parents do not find Katya, they will.