It has been a grueling six months since 21-year-old mother, Leila Santanello, vanished from Kingston, Tennessee. Last seen at the Marble Slab Creamery in the East Stone Common Shopping Center on June 27th, Leila’s disappearance has left her family clinging to hope and grappling with unsettling questions.
Leila was reportedly barefoot and on her way to buy shoes when she disappeared. According to her stepmother, Britney Zeitler, Leila’s disappearance came on the heels of an argument with her live-in boyfriend. The subject? A potential “other man” in Leila’s life.
Adding to the mystery, just two days before she vanished, Leila was seen at a local motel, exhibiting strange and fearful behavior. Witnesses reported seeing her frantically knocking on doors, appearing confused and disoriented. While some speculate that she may have been asked to leave by motel management, the details remain unclear.
A young woman with long, dark hair and a smile, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt. She is standing in front of a white wall
Leila’s mother, Jennifer Santanello, describes her daughter as a vibrant and spirited young woman, full of life and fiercely independent. This makes Leila’s sudden disappearance all the more perplexing, as it is entirely out of character for her to simply vanish without contacting her family, especially her young daughter.
Jennifer, desperate for answers, has been relentless in her pursuit of the truth. However, the investigation has been shrouded in secrecy, with authorities remaining tight-lipped about any potential leads.
The lack of information has only fueled speculation and rumors, some more outlandish than others. A particularly cruel hoax involved scammers using Leila’s Cash App account to send ransom messages to her family. While authorities were able to track down the perpetrators, the incident only added to the family’s anguish.
A screenshot of a Facebook post from Leila's mother, Jennifer, asking for help finding her missing daughter
Jennifer has enlisted the help of a private investigator, who has uncovered some promising leads. While she is not at liberty to discuss the details, Jennifer remains hopeful that her daughter is still out there and will be brought home safely.
As the search for Leila continues, Jennifer urges anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward.
