The Disappearance of Whitney Nicole Sanders – Jacksonville, FL (2013)

Written By Lavender Crime

Whitney Nicole Sanders was just 21 when she vanished from Jacksonville, Florida. Out enjoying an evening with friends, she stepped away from a bar in the early morning hours of September 21, 2013, and never came back.

Whitney was born on August 28, 1992, and raised in Jacksonville. She shared a close bond with her mother, Wanda, and became a mother herself around 2011. Her daughter quickly became the center of her world. Those who knew Whitney described her as loving, loyal, and always looking out for her family.

On the night of September 20, Whitney was out with friends at Kelly’s Place, a local bar and grill. Around 1:30 a.m., she told a friend she was stepping out briefly to walk across the street to a nearby Gas station. She said she’d be right back, but she never returned.

By 5:00 a.m., her friend noticed a missed call from Whitney, believed to be her last known attempt to reach anyone. As the morning passed and no one heard from her, concern grew. A missing person report was filed later that day.

A short time later, investigators found Whitney’s car still parked near the bar, locked and untouched. There were no broken windows, no signs of a struggle, and no sign of Whitney.

Just weeks before she disappeared, Whitney had been the victim of a robbery and assault. She was beaten and left shaken. Jacksonville police reportedly collected potential DNA evidence, but no arrest was ever made. Her family said that after the attack, Whitney lived in fear. She was waiting for answers that never came.

Public records confirm that Whitney had prior charges related to solicitation, but that detail does not define her. Like many women navigating cycles of hardship and survival, her story was complex. Regardless of her past, Her disappearance shouldn’t be dismissed because of her past , it deserves to be investigated like anyone else’s.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office labeled Whitney’s case as suspicious, but no solid leads have ever surfaced.

Over the years, her case has been revisited by local outlets and shared across social media. Her mother, Wanda, has never stopped searching or speaking out. Whitney’s daughter was just 2 when she vanished and has now spent over 15 years growing up without her mother.

Whitney Nicole Sanders was last seen on September 21, 2013. She is 5’4”, approximately 130 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. If you know anything that could help, please contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers. Even the smallest tip could lead to answers.

At Lavender Files, we are committed to telling the stories of those who vanished, especially those who were overlooked or stigmatized.

To support this mission, you can watch our full video on YouTube, subscribe to our newsletter for updates, or share Whitney’s story with others. Every view, share, and subscriber helps keep her memory alive.

Lavender Crime
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