Man Arrested for Impersonating Missing Woman in Kingsport

A 21-year-old man in Kingsport, Tennessee was arrested for assuming the identity of a missing woman and extorting money from her family members. The man, identified as Michael David Thompson, now faces charges including identity theft, theft under $1,000, illegal possession of fraudulent use of a credit or debit card, and extortion.

Alleged Abuse of Missing Woman’s Identity

As reported by the Kingsport Police Department, the Sullivan County grand jury indicted Thompson based on evidence gathered during the investigation into the woman’s disappearance. The missing woman, 21-year-old Layla Santanello, has been missing since June, and her case has provoked widespread community concern.

Evidence suggests that after Santanello’s disappearance, Thompson impersonated her and sent requests for money via Cash App to several of her family members and friends. Thompson was arrested by Kingsport Police officers on Monday following the discovery of these allegations.

After his arrest, Thompson was taken to the Sullivan County Jail, where he was booked on the charges. His bond was set at $15,000. Currently, however, there is no evidence suggesting that Thompson played any role in Santanello’s disappearance.

Continuing Investigation into Layla’s Disappearance

The Kingsport Police Department has worked tirelessly on the investigation into Santanello’s disappearance. Efforts have included over 30 search warrants, numerous interviews, and the issuance of more than 25 subpoenas. They have also conducted six ground searches, utilizing resources such as drones, Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) technology, and K-9 units. Meanwhile, Santanello’s information has been entered into the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (VICAP), an FBI database, and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NAMUS).

Contrary to previous belief, it has now been established that Santanello was last seen not at Marble Slab, as originally thought, but in a field next to Americourt, located at 1900 American Way, Kingsport, TN. This determination was made through the analysis of phone records and interviews with witnesses. As a priority case for the Kingsport Police Department, all leads and tips are being diligently pursued.

This case is presently unconnected to any other missing persons’ cases, and there is presently no evidence linking Thompson’s arrest to Santanello’s disappearance. The investigation is ongoing, and the Kingsport Police Department is urging anyone with any information about Layla Santanello’s whereabouts to call 423-343-9780 or 1-800-TBI-FIND.

In an attempt to incentivize information leading to Layla’s whereabouts, her distressed family is offering a $2,000 reward.