Heartbreaking moment sisters of Aussie tourist who remains missing in Las Vegas fight back tears as they speak out about the frantic search to find her

By ASHLEY NICKEL, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 15:58, 16 July 2026 | Updated: 16:00, 16 July 2026 The sisters of an Australian woman who went missing while on a solo trip to California believe she could have been picked up in a car while hiking. Lauren and Amy Contarino made an appeal on 9News on Thursday for anyone with information on the whereabouts of their little sister, Sally Grace, to come forward.  Sally, 26, was due to fly home to Melbourne on June 21, but did not make her flight and has not been heard from since. She was last seen on CCTV on June 20 leaving a supermarket in Skye Canyon, northwest Las Vegas, as she was headed towards nearby Mount Charleston. Sally had bought protein bars and water and was understood to be headed for one last hike before catching a bus to Los Angeles, where she'd fly home to Melbourne. A police canine unit traced Sally's scent part way along the 20km road to the mountain before it abruptly ended, suggesting she could have gotten a lift. Her scent was again found on the hiking path on the mountain before going cold. Lauren and Amy believe she could have been given a ride by someone in a vehicle on the way back. The sisters also shared comments online revealing they are considering hiring a private investigator to follow up on all theories, in addition to the ongoing police investigation. Sally Grace Contarino (above) was last seen in Las Vegas on June 20, the day before she was due to fly home to Melbourne Sally's scent was found, and lost, on a road headed to Mount Charleston (above) and on a hiking trail 'We believe that someone out there may know something,' Amy said. 'It's hard to say if she made it back down and got a lift into town or not from there. 'We just want our sister home safely... It's been a really long three-and-a-half weeks without her home,' she said through tears. Sally had visited the Las Vegas area multiple times as she was fond of the local hiking trails. The sisters said she was a confident, funny person who wasn't bothered about travelling alone and would 'just go' when she made up her mind. 'She's an adventurous spirit, she's determined,' Lauren said of Sally. 'I don't know how to express how it would feel to have her back, other than my heart would explode with happiness and relief.'  Lauren and Amy have both visited the city to help in the search after their sister failed to return home. Neither believe she would have voluntarily stayed in the US without telling family because she had made plans to see loved ones back in Melbourne. Lauren and Amy Contarino (above) believe someone picked up Sally in a vehicle Sally had checked out of Bungalows Hostel (above) but left her luggage in storage On June 19, Sally had dinner at Timbers Bar and Grill, near Summerlin the night before she went to hike Mount Charleston 'There's no indication she had planned to stay there on her own,' Amy said. 'From our perspective, something's obviously gone wrong.' Hundreds of dedicated Las Vegas locals have volunteered to help find Ms Contarino, along with more researchers online who've worked to help piece together a timeline of her disappearance. 'Members are reviewing maps, bus routes, hiking trails, CCTV locations, weather conditions and publicly available information while working to separate confirmed facts from speculation,' local social media page Real Vegas Locals said. 'Vegas locals have also been sharing firsthand knowledge of the Skye Canyon and Mount Charleston areas, helping explain the terrain, neighbourhoods and hiking conditions. 'Locals have been reviewing old dashcam footage, hiking areas Sally may have visited, following possible footprints, flying drones and sharing photos and information they believe could assist investigators.' Concerns for Sally's welfare were raised after she did not return for her luggage, which she'd stored at Bungalows Hostel after checking out from her dormitory on the morning of June 20. Ms Contarino was reported missing when she failed to board her flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne on June 21. She had arrived in the US on June 13. Anyone with information about her disappearance is urged to contact Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.