CLOSE

The family and friends of missing 19-year-old Kiera Bergman held a vigil on Aug. 11, 2018 in Phoenix.
Bayan Wang, The Republic | azcentral.com

Family and friends of Kiera Bergman, a 19-year-old who went missing in Phoenix last Saturday, held a vigil at her apartment Saturday evening as the first week of their search found more questions than answers.

“She’s just a very happy, loving, very outgoing, very strong-minded girl,” Bergman’s mother, Kiersten Bragg said.

Nearly 30 people attended the vigil outside of Bergman’s apartment near 51st Avenue and Thunderbird Road, where Phoenix police said Bergman was seen last.

Prayers, tears, and hugs were shared among those close to Bergman while several other guests who didn’t know her trickled in to show their support.

Chris Bragg, Bergman’s father, said “she was a very innocent, naïve kid. I tried to keep our kids … sheltered.”

Bergman grew up outside San Diego, was passionate about hair and makeup, and attended cosmetology school, her mother said. 

She moved out of her family’s home in March to live in Phoenix with her then-boyfriend, Kiersten Bragg said.

MORE: Concern grows among family, friends for missing Phoenix teen

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

“Not too long after that, the phone line was disconnected. We’d only be able to connect with her through messenger or FaceTime on Facebook,” Bragg said.

Soon after, Bergman told her family that she and her boyfriend had broken up, and she moved into an apartment with her friend Destiny Hall-Chand, Bragg said.

Hall-Chand, 20, was one of the last people to see Bergman. They worked together at Progressive Leasing in Glendale, a lending division of furniture retailer Aaron’s.

According to Hall-Chand, the two went to work together last Saturday morning when Bergman became noticeably upset and left work early.

CLOSE

Kiera Bergman’s friend, coworker, and roommate Destiny Hall-Chand, 20, was of the last people to see her before she went missing.
Bayan Wang, The Republic | azcentral.com

Bergman’s ex-boyfriend, who had recently moved into their apartment, picked her up, the friend said.

Hall-Chand said Bergman did have a phone, and the roommate texted and called Bergman repeatedly when she didn’t come home Saturday.

Bergman texted back saying she would call Hall-Chand when she got a charger for her phone. When Bergman did not return home Sunday or show up to work Monday, Hall-Chand said she called police.  

Bragg said Phoenix police officers haven’t shared much information.

On Saturday, Phoenix police Sgt. Vince Lewis told said there were “no updates to share at this time.”

After the group sang a song, Bergman’s parents walked together to her doorstep and left a flower. Bergman’s sister, Braydee Bragg, followed.

“I just miss my sister and I want her to come home,” the sister said as her voice broke.

Supporters are using the hashtag ?#?bringkierahome on social media and have set up a GoFundMe to help the family afford the cost of the hotels, taking time off work, gas, and other necessities as their search continues.

Her mother said she had a message for Bergman.

“Where ever you are, if you can hear this, if you can see it or hear it, just know we are doing everything we can and fighting so hard to find you,” Bragg said.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Phoenix Police Department Missing Persons Unit at 602-534-2121 or [email protected].

Read or Share this story: https://azc.cc/2P6BH2i