It has now been 25 years since 16-year-old Molly Anne Bish disappeared from her beach chair while on shift as a lifeguard. Despite her remains being found in 2003, there have been no arrests in connection with her murder and her family are continuing to plead for answers.

Molly was working as a lifeguard at Comins Pond in Warren, Massachusetts, when she was taken in the summer of 2000. Her disappearance triggered the most extensive and expensive missing person search the state had ever seen. Following a three-year investigation, her remains were found around five miles from her family home, with police officers believing she was abducted and murdered. However, despite naming several suspects publicly, the mysterious case remains unsolved.

As reported by CBS News, Heather Bish last saw her little sister on the morning of June 27. Molly had been playing with Heather's baby, Mikaela, and had just set off for her job as a lifeguard.

However, beachgoers soon arrived at the pond and noticed Molly wasn't there. Police were called immediately but there was no trace of the teenager and she was reported missing.

Molly's mum, Magi Bish, immediately phoned Heather in panic. Heather recalled: "She's said, she's not there, she's not there ... her shoes are there. ... My heart dropped. I just knew something was wrong because I knew Molly wouldn't go anywhere without her shoes on."

It soon came to light that Magi had spotted a man with a moustache in a parked white car at the beach where Molly worked the day before she disappeared. She admitted he seemed suspicious but opted against raising alarm as she did not fear her daughter was in danger.

Magi explained: "And I see this guy ... and he's just smoking a cigarette and he just gives me a - like a little look and I say oh I can't leave her here. ... you know it's like the Mama Bear comes out."

However, the following day, her daughter disappeared. A chilling picture shows the empty chair Molly sat on during her lifeguard shifts, with her shoes, a police radio and an open first aid kit scattered around.

It soon became clear that Molly had not just walked off and Massachusetts State Police soon took over the investigation. Lieutenant Colonel Dan Richard headed to the scene of the disappearance and led the initial investigation.

He said: "I had a 3-year-old daughter. Her name is Molly. She had blonde hair, she has blue eyes. This case has every day been with me from that day to today."

Officers initially focused on those who were close to Molly, including her family, friends and boyfriend Steven Lukas. However, they swiftly turned their attention to known sex offenders in the area within 24 hours of her disappearance.

At the end of 2022, a local hunter spotted a blue swimsuit in the woods on Whiskey Hill. Police launched a thorough search of the area but initially did not find anything.

However, just months later, on June 9, 2003, Molly's remains were found in Hampden County, roughly five miles from her family home. Her body was found badly decomposed and police could not establish a cause of death.

However, investigators believe that she was abducted and murdered. The case remains unsolved and the family is still praying for justice.

Heather previously said: "Those first days we couldn't have possibly imagined that we would be doing this for 25 years. We thought the police would of course find Molly."

Magi recently added: "I laid in bed last night just thinking that it's really her love that's given us the strength and her love and joyful spirit that's had everybody come and bring it back. It's a circle and I think we just feel immensely blessed."

Investigators have received over 6,700 leads and ups throughout the decades. One of the most prominent breakthroughs came in 2021 when the Worcester County District Attorney named a major suspect in the case.

All the evidence pointed towards convicted rapist Frank Sumner who died in 2016. Investigators obtained DNA from his son, Francis Sumner Jr., but the results weren't a match.

Other named suspects include Rodney Stanger who was investigated by police in 2009. He had lived near Warren for over 20 years before moving to Florida just one year after Molly was killed.

However, despite matching the description provided by Magi Bish of the man seen in the white car, police were unable to gather enough information to arrest him.

Likewise, Gerald Battistoni was publicly named as a suspect in November 2011. He had an extensive criminal record dating back to 1980 and had been in the area where Molly's body was found. However, he died in November 201,4 and no evidence was gathered to prove his involvement.

Now, 25 years on from Molly's disappearance and the Bish family is still waiting for answers. They continue to advocate for child abduction awareness and an anonymous tip line remains open for any information.

Heather Bish posted on TikTok in the hope that someone will come forward with relevant details. She said: "40-year-old me got into the TikTok game. ... It's allowed me to like share my story and share Molly's story and really just be honest.

"It's been 7,680 days since my sister disappeared. And I've been waiting for answers on what happened to her."

Magi said: "The hardest part of the story is that it's never been solved. It's a puzzle with pieces that haven't all fit.

"It's been hard as a parent to lose a child and I didn't think there's anything that could make your heart break."