The parents of Katya Chetina, who disappeared 15 years ago at the age of five, continue their search and hold onto hope of finding their daughter. Katya disappeared on June 12, 2010, during a family outing near the Ermak rock near Kungur.

Vladimir Chetin, Katya’s father, says the family’s pain has not subsided and they still live in hope that Katya is alive. The day she disappeared, Katya was with her parents and a group of around 15 friends and relatives. The group had set up a tent camp away from the river and other tourists.

After Katya’s mother noticed she could no longer hear her daughter’s voice, a search was launched. They found one of Katya’s flip-flops and a fresh footprint of a child’s heel nearby. Police arrived an hour later, but the family claims officers selectively questioned vacationers and left. Due to another incident in a nearby town, dog handlers were not available. Divers arrived at midnight and searched the river, but found nothing.

Two cases were opened: a search case and a criminal case under the article “Murder.” The investigation initially focused on the theory that Katya had drowned, but a year later, the Chetins conducted an experiment, throwing wooden blocks of similar weight into the river. One of the blocks floated to the bridge in Kungur and was thrown onto the shore. The family shared this data with investigators.

Vladimir Chetin believes Katya was either taken away or kidnapped, stating, “I am sure that she is not in the river, otherwise we would have found her.” The family has followed up on several leads over the years, including eyewitness accounts of a man carrying a girl in a boat, a girl looking for someone at a children’s camp, and reports of a girl resembling Katya being seen with gypsies.

Despite the passage of time, the criminal and search cases remain open. Vladimir Chetin recently submitted his questions about the search to the investigator, citing eyewitness testimony. The family has also been targeted by scammers, including a convict who demanded a ransom for Katya.

Vladimir Chetin says that the ordeal has brought him and his wife closer together and that they share the common goal of finding their daughter. The family continues to celebrate Katya’s birthday each year and involve Katya’s younger siblings who expresses their desire to find Katya.