Account
Mar 16, 2010
Jan 08, 2024
Leona
Kinsey
70
45
62 inches
110 lbs
American Indian / Alaska Native
Female
In the fall of 1999, in the small city of La Grande, Oregon, 45-year-old Leona Sharon Kinsey, a mother and a member of the Puyallup Tribe, disappeared, leaving behind a life she seemed to have no intention of leaving. On October 25, 1999, she was last seen at her home on Hall Street. What followed was a disturbing silence and a series of unsettling discoveries. In her trailer home, everything appeared normal at first glance, but it was the things left behind that painted a worrying picture. Her purse, cigarettes, lighter, and pager were all accounted for. The coffee pot had coffee in it, and recently purchased groceries were left out, suggesting an abrupt departure. Most significantly, her cherished pets, a cat and two dogs that her daughter said she would never abandon, were left unattended. This was highly out of character for Leona, who ran her own landscaping and yard care business and was known for her love of the outdoors, often enjoying hunting, fishing, and camping. The mystery deepened four days later when her vehicle, a light golden-brown 1980s GMC Jimmy, was found in the parking lot of an Albertsons grocery store. The store manager reported that he didn't believe the vehicle had been there for an extended period. An examination of the SUV revealed troubling signs; the steering column was damaged, and a box of rubber gloves was discovered behind the seat. Despite these findings, there was no physical evidence of a struggle, leaving investigators with very few clues as to what might have happened to Leona. The discovery of her damaged and abandoned vehicle only intensified the concerns of her family and friends, transforming a missing person case into one with ominous undertones. The investigation into Leona's disappearance has continued for years, with law enforcement exploring various leads and persons of interest. Suspicion has largely focused on a man named Juan "John" Pena-Llamas, with whom Leona had plans to meet on the night she went missing. Her loved ones believe he may have been involved in her disappearance, and he is considered a person of interest by the police. Pena-Llamas, who had a criminal history that included physical assault and other serious charges, was arrested for theft in 2006 and subsequently deported to Mexico, which has complicated the investigation. There have been rumors and unconfirmed reports suggesting his involvement, including a statement from an ex-wife who claimed he bragged about having someone harm Leona. Another individual, an on-again, off-again boyfriend, was also looked at in the early stages of the investigation after he admitted to breaking into her home after she vanished, but the focus has largely remained on Pena-Llamas. Over the years, the La Grande Police Department has received assistance from the Oregon State Police, the FBI, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, yet Leona's case remains unsolved, a lingering source of pain and unanswered questions for her daughter and community.
Oct 25, 1999
La Grande
Oregon
Union County
No
30778
La Grande Police Department
La Grande
Oregon
Union County
97850
1109 K Avenue, Oregon
5419631017
Local
Law Enforcement
99-1782
La Grande Police Department
Brown
Brown
Brown
05/31/2026
