Authorities dig up dog grave in search for missing Tahoe teen Kiely Rodni

In a futile attempt to find missing Tahoe teenager Kiely Rodni, authorities have dug up the grave sight of a dog.
In a futile attempt to find missing Tahoe teenager Kiely Rodni, authorities have dug up the gravesite of a dog. Photo credit Placer County Sheriff's Office

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – In a futile attempt to find missing Tahoe teenager Kiely Rodni, authorities have dug up the gravesite of a dog.

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Following one of the thousands of tips law enforcement have received since the 16-year-old's disappearance, FBI agents spent Friday excavating a "potential burial site," Placer County Sheriff's Office Spokesperson Angela Musallam said in a press conference on Saturday.

"Yesterday there was a potential burial site that was located near the campground," Musallam announced. "It was located by a search-and-rescue ground team. Kiely's family was notified of the potential development. The FBI responded to secure the scene yesterday and was accompanied by the Placer and Nevada county sheriff's offices. The FBI agents investigated the site through early this morning and recovered the remains of a dog."

The failure to secure any further information about Rodni is a frustrating development for family members, friends and authorities who have spent the past seven days combing the area for clues about the teen's disappearance.

Saturday marked one week since Rodni vanished from a party on Aug. 6 at the Prosser Family Campground in Truckee.

According to Rodni's mother, Lindsey Rodni-Nieman, Kiely sent her a final text that said she would be "straight home" in about 45 minutes, SFGATE reported.

Musallam is urging partygoers to submit any photos or videos from the evening to a drop box where they may choose to stay anonymous. It is assumed that around 200-300 Tahoe-area teens and young adults attended the Prosser Family Campground gathering.

Captain Sam Brown of the Nevada County Sheriff's Office confirmed in the press release that the last known ping from Kiely's cell phone was around 12:30 a.m. near Prosser Lake, a reservoir that surrounds the campground. "The ping for the data points and everything were near the water. It's hard to tell an exact pin point, but just as much on land as it was on water," he said.

Police released a surveillance image of Rodni at a Truckee business before her disappearance. She was last seen wearing a black spaghetti strap bodysuit, green Dickies brand pants with a black grommet belt and black Vans shoes.

Rodni is 5'7", weighs 115 pounds, has blonde hair and hazel eyes. She has multiple piercings including a nose ring and a tattoo of the number 17 on her ribs. Authorities are also searching for her silver Honda CRV, which has the California license plate 8YUR127.

Missing Tahoe teen Kiely Rodni disappeared on Aug. 6 after a party at the Prosser Family Campground in Truckee.
Missing Tahoe teen Kiely Rodni disappeared on Aug. 6 after a party at the Prosser Family Campground in Truckee. Photo credit Placer County Sheriff's Office

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Featured Image Photo Credit: Placer County Sheriff's Office