Her last text pinged from a small city in Sinaloa. Nothing since.
Shelbie Lynn Dwyer, then 17, left her home in Des Moines, Washington, for a road trip to Mexico in March 2023. She hasn't been heard from since March 29 of that year, and the FBI has continued actively investigating her disappearance.
A Trip That Went Silent
Shelbie left home on March 25, 2023, traveling by car to Mexico with a friend her family described as someone she trusted. She stayed in sporadic contact with her mother, Stacy Hurt, over the following days, calling and sending photos from the trip. That contact stopped entirely on March 29, 2023.
Tracing Her Route
Investigators believe Shelbie traveled by car to Tijuana, then flew to Sinaloa with a layover in Guadalajara, ultimately landing in Culiacán. Her last known location has been placed in the area of Guamuchil, Sinaloa, around March 29, 2023. At the time, the U.S. State Department had an active travel advisory warning against travel to the region due to widespread violent crime and kidnappings.
The FBI Takes Over
After 14 months without any leads, the FBI's Seattle field office took over the investigation from local police given its cross-border complexity. Supervisory Special Agent Steve Vienneau confirmed the traced travel route publicly and said investigators remained deeply concerned given the area's reputation for danger to Americans.
A Mother's Continued Search
Shelbie's mother has spoken publicly and repeatedly about the toll of the search, describing years without answers as an ongoing source of heartbreak. She has continued to publicly urge anyone with information, however small, to come forward.
A Growing Reward
The FBI initially offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to Shelbie's recovery. That reward has since been doubled to $20,000. As of the most recent public reporting, she remains missing, with no confirmed sightings or verified leads since March 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Shelbie Dwyer been found?
No. As of the most recent reporting, she remains missing, with no confirmed contact since March 2023.
Where was she last known to be?
Investigators traced her movements through Tijuana and Guadalajara to the Culiacán/Guamuchil area of Sinaloa, Mexico.
Is there a reward for information?
Yes. The FBI has doubled its reward to $20,000 for information leading to her recovery.