Layla Santanello, 20, was last seen running barefoot from her hotel in June 2023 – and her family are now desperately searching for answers but are bracing themselves for the worst outcome
The family of Layla Santanello, a 20 year old woman who mysteriously disappeared after being seen running barefoot from a hotel is grappling with the fear that she may never be found.
In a distressing turn of events, her boyfriend, Michael David Thompson, aged 21, was arrested for sending allegedly disturbing and fraudulent Cash App requests to her family, although he has not been implicated in her disappearance.
Brittany Zeitler, Layla’s 32 year old stepmother, and her father, George Emmett, 42, have recently spoken up as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation continues to treat Layla’s case as a “priority” highlighting it in a missing person appeal. The couple clings to hope for a miracle but are bracing themselves for the worst outcome.
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There’s a chilling possibility that Layla’s vanishing might be connected to another local case—the disappearance of 19 year old Hollynn Snapp, which occurred several months later in the same vicinity. Brittany suspects that Layla could have accidentally overdosed and those present may have panicked, leading to the disposal of her body.
“Layla was struggling, but she was a fighter,” Brittany expressed, holding onto a sliver of hope. “A part of me wants to believe she just stepped away to get her life together. But the moment I had to report her missing, I knew something was very wrong.”
With no physical evidence of Layla’s fate, the family is clinging to a mere 5% chance that she might still be alive. Brittany said: “We have no body, so we’re holding onto that 5% hope she’s still out there,” but acknowledged the bleak likelihood of her safe return.
The case shrouded in mystery deepens as a family member shares, “There are a couple of theories, but we’ve learned not to share too much. There are people actively trying to interfere with our search. We just have to keep pushing forward.”
Brittany delves into the connections between two cases involving similar individuals, stating, “[Hollynn] was 19, ran in the same social circles, had the same lifestyle, and was close with the same people as Layla,” which indicates possible links yet to be uncovered by investigators. She added: “There’s been a lot of activity between the two cases, but no solid answers.”
Layla’s character and responsibilities as a mother are brought forth as Brittany emphasizes, “Layla would never leave her daughter behind.”
The mysterious circumstances emerge following Layla’s disappearance reported on June 27, 2023, after she failed to respond to calls. The concerned parents, Brittany and George, reached out to the Kingsport Police Department requesting a welfare check. They recount that Michael informed the police that Layla planned to stay at a friend’s place and had asked for a ride at 4am – however, upon his arrival, she was missing.
Narrating the incredulous account they received, Brittany relays: “They told him she went outside to smoke a cigarette and just vanished. Which obviously is impossible – we don’t just disappear off the planet.”
Law enforcement’s discoveries revealed unsettling details; Layla was reportedly seen at Americourt Hotel on the night of her vanishing. Witnesses painted a distressing picture, describing Layla in a state of panic: “She was acting erratic, and there was a large police presence at the hotel,” said Brittany.
Her last known moments were left open-ended as Brittany reveals: “We know she met with someone, but the last confirmed sighting is her running into a field. And then – nothing.”
In a perturbing twist, Brittany discloses receiving ominous requests for money via Cash App from Layla’s account, which arrived two weeks into the investigation surrounding her whereabouts. Brittany has shared a harrowing account of the threats she received, with one chilling message allegedly stating: “We have Layla. She owes a drug debt, and if she doesn’t pay, you’ll find her chopped up into pieces” In response to these terrifying claims, they felt compelled to send money.
The plot thickened as Michael faced indictment on serious charges including financial exploitation, credit card fraud, and identity theft. He’s currently behind bars on these counts, yet there’s no direct connection established between him and Layla’s vanishing act.
But Brittany is far from throwing in the towel. She’s determined to uncover the truth, asserting: “We just want the right facts, the right timeline, the right places known – so the people responsible know we are coming. We are not backing down. We need answers. Layla deserves that. We all do.”
When approached, the Kingsport Police Department had yet to offer any comment on the matter.
However, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation confirmed their ongoing involvement, saying: “The TBI is assisting the Kingsport Police Department with the investigation into Layla’s disappearance,” and adding, “Additionally, in October 2023, we issued an Endangered Young Adult Alert at the request of the Kingsport Police Department. That alert remains active. In fact, we just featured Layla and another missing young woman as part of our Missing Monday segment.”