On June 26, 1991, Bianca Elaine Lebron was born. In Bridgeport, Connecticut, the 10-year-old fifth-grader lived with her parents and sister. She enjoyed singing and dancing and had a hamster named Nina as a pet.
Bianca and her sister arrived at Elias Howard School around 8:30 a.m. on November 7, 2001. Bianca told her friends in front of the teacher that her uncle was going to pick her up for a shopping spree. She asked her friends if they wanted to come with her, but they declined.
A two-toned brown van with tinted windows pulled up in front of the school a few minutes later. The unidentified driver made no attempt to hide his face and acted normally. Bianca bid her friends farewell and climbed into the van. Bianca had not been seen or heard from since.
Bianca didn’t have an uncle, and no one in her family owned a van like the one she climbed into that day. Panic and worry were at an all-time high.
Bianca was marked absent from class that day by teachers who were unaware of the circumstances surrounding her absence.
Bianca’s parents became concerned when she did not return home by 4:30 p.m. They assumed she had gone to a friend’s house after school, as she frequently did, and did not call the police until around 8:30 p.m. to report her missing.
The “uncle” driving the van was described as a Hispanic male in his early 20s or 30s with long sideburns, a beard, and dark curly hair.
“A Secret Boyfriend”
Six months after Bianca vanished, police identified Jason Lara, 20, as a possible suspect. Jason, according to Bianca’s friends, was her “secret boyfriend.” They informed police that they had previously witnessed the two kissing. Jason’s friend, who owned a two-toned van similar to the one seen at the school, fled Bridgeport a month after Jason vanished.
One year later, police tracked Jason down in Florida. They charged him in an unrelated case with forgery, but used the opportunity to question him about Bianca’s disappearance. After a thorough investigation, which included corroborating Jason’s alibi, they determined he was not involved in the disappearance.
Teacher Suspended; Changes at School
The teacher who allowed Bianca to leave the classroom was fired. Following the disappearance, the school faced backlash and strengthened security measures to keep students safe and, hopefully, prevent a similar incident in the future.
Although Bianca’s mother believes her daughter is still alive and well somewhere, she was declared legally dead so that she could sue the school for wrongful death. In the end, she received a $750,000 settlement in the case.
No Other Suspects
There have been no other suspects named in Bianca’s disappearance. Bianca has been declared legally dead, despite the fact that her mother believes she is still alive. Bianca is 30 years old if she is still alive.
Do You Have Information About Bianca Lebron?
If you have any information regarding the disappearance or whereabouts of Bianca Lebron, call the Bridgeport Police Department at 203-576-7671.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children issued an age-progressed photo of what Bianca might look like today.
Finding Bianca Elaine Lebron is a Facebook page dedicated to finding the missing girl. The page has not been updated in nearly one year
