Stella was last seen in her hometown of Bethel, Alaska on September 29, 1996. She had been out with friends the previous night and when she came home in the early morning hours, she couldn't get her grandmother to wake up and let her in. The police station was nearby and Stella went there for help. The officer took her to her sister's studio apartment and left her there at approximately 4:30 a.m. Stella apparently left her sister's residence between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m. She was last seen wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt with the Georgetown University logo imprinted on the front, a brown leather jacket, blue jeans and black shoes. Stella's ears are double-pierced. Her hair was curly and extended down to her waist at the time of her disappearance. She is of Yu'pik Eskimo descent.