Missing teen’s family speaks out as search enters sixth month

SALT LAKE CITY — A 17-year-old girl from Salt Lake City has not been seen or heard from in over six months. 

Her grandmother spoke with KSL TV in hopes the public can help find Kandis Harris.

Kandis left the Odyssey Treatment Facility in Salt Lake City on July 15, 2021, and has not been seen or heard from since. 

Her family said it’s not like her to go dark on social media and to not call them.

They’re worried that someone might have taken advantage of the teenager in her vulnerable state.

“Not knowing has got to be the very hardest on families,” said Diane Carpenter, grandmother of Kandis Harris.

Each day that passes gets more challenging for Carpenter.

“There’s so many things out there now that is so scary,” she said. “You hear a body being found, and it’s like, oh my gosh, you know, is this going to be Kandis? I don’t know.”

“You hear about a body being found, and I think… Oh my gosh is this going to be her.” — Kandis Harris’ grandma.

Full story at 6 @KSL5TV #kandisharris #missing pic.twitter.com/FBOYWR45SC

— Morgan Wolfe (@MorganWolfeNews) January 28, 2022

Harris was struggling with a drug addiction and was ordered to stay in a treatment facility by a judge after run-ins with the law.

“We’ve reached out to friends, other people, to see, you know, if anybody heard from her, and absolutely nobody has heard from Kandis,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter said she would get a call from her every day — and now, it’s been six months without hearing her voice or knowing if she’s safe.

“It doesn’t matter who it is, we’re going to look at any option, any avenue when we get a case to see what could be there,” said Michael Ruff, spokesperson for the Salt Lake City Police Department.

Ruff said the department hasn’t ruled out human trafficking, and they have a detective who does undercover work on this case.

“If those leads are there, we’ll follow them,” he said.

And they need more leads, which is why they’re asking the public for help.

“I do know there is somebody out there that does know what’s happened to Kandis or where she may be,” Carpenter said. 

There is a $3,000 reward for any information that can bring Kandis home.

You can call the SLCPD tip line at 801-799-3000.