Featured Cases

Leona Kinsey

On October 25, 1999, Leona Kinsey was last seen at her home in La Grande, Oregon. She left behind all of her possessions, including her purse, cigarettes and lighter, pager, and even her beloved pets, a cat and two dogs. Coffee sat in the coffeepot, and groceries from a recent store trip had been left out to spoil, suggesting she never intended to leave.
 

Just days later, on October 29, 1999, Leona’s light golden-brown 1980s GMC Jimmy was discovered abandoned in the parking lot of an Albertson’s store by a friend. The store manager reported that he did not believe the vehicle had been there overnight. The SUV showed troubling signs: the steering column was damaged, and a box of rubber gloves was found behind the seat. No evidence of a struggle was located, and no clues revealed what had happened to Leona.
 

Leona is biracial (Caucasian and Native American, of Puyallup heritage). She has brown hair and eyes, stands 5’2” tall, and weighs about 110 lbs. She wears eyeglasses, has a tattoo of a tomahawk and peace pipe intersecting on her bicep, and small scars on the outside of both feet and next to her smallest toes and fingers.
 

Investigators and loved ones believe Juan "John" Peña-Llamas may have been involved in her disappearance, as Leona had plans to meet with him the night she went missing. Law enforcement also lists him as a person of interest, though little is known about him. Peña-Llamas was arrested for theft in 2006 and reportedly deported to Mexico, as he was undocumented.
 

Peña-Llamas Description (1999):

• Hispanic male

• Black hair, brown eyes

• 5'5", 135 lbs

• Mid-30s at the time

• Known to have lived in La Grande, OR (1999), Salem, OR (1998), Los Angeles County, CA (1996), and San Bernardino County, CA (1990).

• Known aliases include: Juan “John” Pena Ruiz Llamas, John Pena, Juan Alejandro, Juan F. Pena-Banada, Juan Pena-Lamas, Juan M. Penallamasm
   

Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or the La Grande Police Department at 541-963-1017.

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Leona’s daughter, Carolyn, has transformed her pain into purpose. In the decades since her mother’s disappearance, she has become a strong voice for justice, advocating not only for answers in Leona’s case but also for all Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). Carolyn has worked tirelessly to raise awareness, push for systemic change, and support other families who know the same heartache of loss and uncertainty. Through her dedication, she ensures that her mother’s story and the stories of countless other Indigenous women are not forgotten.