A Las Vegas community page that helped bring fresh attention to the disappearance of missing Australian tourist Sally Grace Contarino as locals question why she was in an area of the city many avoid.
The 26-year-old woman from Melbourne had been travelling solo through California and Nevada before she was last seen or heard from on June 20, just one day before she was due to fly home to Australia.
A viral video circulating on social media appears to capture one of the last known sightings of Ms Contarino.
WATCH THE VIDEO IN THE PLAYER ABOVE
In the clip, filmed outside a 7-Eleven on Boulder Highway in Las Vegas, the 26-year-old is approached by Instagram creator @epicDamianpov, who is known for filming himself asking women for their phone numbers.
Recorded using Meta smart glasses, the video shows Ms Contarino smoking a cigarette in the shade when the man walks over.
“Sorry, I saw that you were very beautiful and I was wondering if I could get your number, by chance?” he asks.
“It’s widely regarded by locals as a place to avoid unless they have a specific reason to be there.”
“I have a boyfriend,” she replies.
After a brief exchange, the man returns to his car and later uploads the footage with the caption: “Trying to pick up a beautiful woman.”
Real Vegas Locals, which obtained and verified footage showing Ms Contarino outside a 7-Eleven on Boulder Highway on June 17, told News.com that the area has long been plagued by crime, drug activity and prostitution, making it one of Las Vegas’ most notorious stretches.
“[The] corridor has long been known locally for high levels of crime, drug activity, prostitution, and other public safety issues,” a spokesperson said.
The group stressed there was no evidence linking Ms Contarino’s disappearance to the area, noting she vanished three days later after travelling towards Mount Charleston. However, it believes her stop on Boulder Highway remains a key part of the timeline.
“Boulder Highway has long been one of the city’s most well-known corridors for crime, drug activity, prostitution, and other public safety issues,” the spokesperson said.
Ms Contarino’s last confirmed movements were on June 19 and 20.
On June 19, she texted friends: “I’m about to hike up Lone Mountain then go home — I fly back tomorrow.”
That evening, CCTV captured her spending almost two hours at Timbers Bar & Grill before returning to Bungalows Hostel in the early hours of June 20.
Her family said she later told hostel staff she would be back to collect her luggage before stopping at a nearby cafe for breakfast and a protein smoothie, then boarding a bus to Mount Charleston, where police believe she set off on a hike.
Investigators have since recovered her luggage, carried out extensive searches with specialist teams and confirmed a Greyhound bus ticket she bought to Los Angeles was never scanned. Police also say there is no CCTV showing she boarded the coach.
Ms Contarino is described as having a slim build, brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a grey or blue sweatshirt, denim shorts, black-and-white shoes and carrying a bag.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Las Vegas Police Department at MissingPersons@lvmpd.com
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