Vanished Without a Trace: The Unsolved Disappearance of Katheryne Lugo

 In January of 1994, four-year-old Katheryne Mary Lugo vanished from her home in Riviera Beach, Florida. Her mother, Frances Moya, had left for work that morning and left Katheryne in the care of her former boyfriend, Misbah Muhammad Kazi—who was not Katheryne’s biological father.

When Frances returned home that afternoon, Kazi told her he had sent Katheryne to Bangladesh. He claimed he would not allow the child to return until Frances agreed to give him full custody of her unborn daughter. At the time, Frances was eight months pregnant and ending her relationship with Kazi, citing years of abuse toward both her and Katheryne. She had even sought a domestic violence injunction against him in 1992.

Authorities believe Kazi abducted Katheryne to punish her mother and manipulate her over the unborn child. He was charged with kidnapping, but during his trial, he was acquitted. Kazi argued that Frances had hidden Katheryne herself to frame him. Despite his acquittal, Kazi remained the prime suspect.

After the trial, Kazi harassed Frances by phone, taunting her about Katheryne’s whereabouts. He even told her in a recorded call, “I want you to suffer. Who won the game? Me.” Authorities investigated Kazi’s family in Bangladesh, but they could provide no leads. There’s also speculation that Kazi’s sister, who lived in the U.S. at the time, may have been involved, though she was never charged.

Kazi’s criminal history escalated. In 1995, he was convicted of attempted murder after brutally attacking his pregnant fiancée with a hammer and leaving her for dead, allegedly for a $300,000 life insurance payout. He is now serving a life sentence in California.

Over the years, Kazi has refused multiple offers from prosecutors to help locate Katheryne. He has claimed he could prove she is alive—but he has never provided any evidence. Despite this, authorities continue to treat her case as an open investigation, believing Katheryne may still be alive somewhere in the United States.

Today, Katheryne would be 36 years old. Her family continues to hope for answers, searching in Florida, New York, New Jersey, and even internationally, due to ties with Bangladesh.

After more than 25 years, Katheryne Lugo’s disappearance remains unsolved. Could someone out there know what really happened to her?