Tatjana Tarasovna Lupach was 27 when she vanished from her Brooklyn rooming house in the winter of 1999. Born in Vladikavkaz, Russia, she had emigrated from Latvia in summer 1998 and was building a new life in New York, working as a housekeeper, nanny and at a Brighton Beach nightclub while planning to bring her family to the United States.

Neighbors last saw Tatjana on January 24, 1999. On January 25 she called her mother in a cheerful but hurried voice; neighbors also reported seeing her load belongings into a white van and leave. Before disappearing she had traveled to Miami in December 1998 with the family she nannied for and had mentioned to a childhood friend a possible assistant job in Miami that would require an interview. Her daughter says Tatjana’s behavior had changed beforehand, including a new interest in religion and a drastic haircut. She is described as 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 5 inches, 120 to 125 pounds, with brown hair, green eyes and scars on her stomach.

The NYPD Missing Persons Squad is investigating, but few leads have emerged. If anyone knew where Tatjana lived or worked in Brooklyn, or saw a white van leaving on January 25, 1999, please share what can help her family find answers.