Two Decades Later, Son Seeks Answers in Model’s Miami Beach Disappearance

When 24-year-old model Alysha Hanin vanished from Miami Beach in January 2002, the seaside city was at the height of its glamorous reputation, drawing visitors seeking nightlife and coastal allure. On January 6, between 2 and 4 a.m., Hanin left the Shore Club Hotel to walk to a nearby diner located at Washington Avenue and 11th Street. She was never seen again, and her belongings—including her passport—remained at the hotel.

Hanin had left her then-3-year-old son, Adrian, in the care of her mother in New Zealand weeks before her disappearance while she sought medical treatment in Miami. Her father had passed away in 1999, leaving Adrian to be raised entirely by his grandmother. Today, Adrian holds onto fragmented memories and photographs of his mother, including an image of his parents together in Miami Beach that anchors what little he recalls.

More than two decades have elapsed since Hanin’s disappearance, but Adrian recently traveled from New Zealand to conduct his own investigation into his mother’s case. He expressed frustration with the original inquiry, stating that insufficient effort was made to explore available leads. Police have long suspected foul play and are investigating several potential persons of interest, including an ex-lover, though details surrounding the night of her disappearance remain unclear.

Adrian has committed to making his mother’s case public, planning meetings with Miami Beach detectives and urging anyone with information to contact him or submit tips through FindingAlysha.com. He is particularly seeking individuals who may have worked as valets at the Shore Club or staff at Fort Lauderdale’s Stereo nightclub. Miami Beach police confirmed the case has been reopened, remains active, and no arrests have been made.