Vanished from the Boardwalk: 15 Years Searching for Yesenia

It was supposed to be a simple walk to get ice cream on the boardwalk in Hollywood, Florida. But 19-year-old Yesenia Duval Del Rosario never returned to her family that day, and no one knows what happened to her. Now, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has released a new age progression image showing what she may look like today, hoping it will lead to answers.

Age progression image of Yesenia at 34. (Credit: NCMEC)

What began as a carefree family day on Oct. 13, 2010, has become a horrible nightmare for her mother, Jane. She says Yesenia was in Hollywood, a town on the east coast of Florida, spending the day with her cousins at the beach. They had been playing volleyball before Yesenia said she wanted to get ice cream. 

“She loved ice cream,” Jane told NCMEC. “When she was younger, she would hear the ice cream man near our home and she would say, ‘Mom! Ice cream!’ and just start running like crazy.” 

Yesenia’s cousins say she left the beach on foot and headed toward the boardwalk, then simply never returned. 

“The moment I got that call, I started looking for her,” Jane said. “I started that day 15 years ago and I haven’t stopped. I’ve been looking for her every day since.”

Despite Jane tirelessly searching for Yesenia and law enforcement speaking with people who knew her or might have information about that day, there have been few leads. 

“I have all of her things,” Jane said. “I just don’t have her. I don’t know where she is. And that never gets easier.”

Yesenia Duval Del Rosario prior to going missing. (Credit: Jane Del Rosario)

It’s difficult for Jane to put into words what all these years have been like without Yesenia. After all this time, the pain of not knowing where her daughter is has never lessened. For Jane, each memory brings both happiness and heartbreak.

Jane remembers Yesenia as bright, happy and full of life. She had a big smile that could light up a room and a heart that was always open to others. She says Yesenia loved music, from Linkin Park to The Beatles, and spent her time singing, dancing, drawing and writing. Yesenia was smart, liked watching cartoons and loved wearing hoodies. Above all, her mom says she was thoughtful and always willing to help anyone in need.

"She was very kind," Jane said. "She was beautiful, and she was so kind. So empathetic and so compassionate. If you needed help, she would do whatever she could to help you."

While Jane has many questions about that day at the beach, she believes Yesenia did not run away. The two were extremely close and Jane says her daughter would not go this long without contacting her.

Jane tries not to think of the terrible scenarios...but she can’t help but wonder if her daughter may have crossed paths with the wrong person that day.

“There’s just nothing,” Jane said. “There’s no sign of her. It’s like the Earth opened and swallowed her.” 

Yesenia as a teenager. (Credit: Jane Del Rosario)

Today, Yesenia is 34 years old, and her case is still being investigated by the Hollywood Police Department. Anyone with information on Yesenia or her disappearance should call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST or the Hollywood Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit at 954-967-4411. 

You can view Yesenia’s missing poster here: https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1297203/1.