Natasha lived in Southern California but was visiting her aunt and father in Carson City, Nevada. On the afternoon of July 8, 1997, she had lunch with her aunt and was supposed to meet up with her father. When she failed to show up, her father contacted Natasha's aunt who found Natasha dead in the bedroom. Although there were no outward signs of trauma, investigators turned their attention to a young Carson City man Natasha had become close to -- who we will call "Chris." Allegations had already been raised that Chris had sexually assaulted Natasha just days before at a party. But the autopsy report concluded that she was not sexually assaulted.

When Natasha's mother arrived in Carson to look for answers, she met a woman who claimed that Natasha's father, Clarence Jennings, was a drug informant for local law enforcement authorities. She said drug dealers killed Natasha in retaliation. But according to the Nevada Division of Investigations, Clarence Jennings was never a documented informant. Clarence Jennings himself was dumbfounded by the accusation. Investigators also speculated that Natasha had brought about her own death by overdosing on drugs. They focused on a scrap of plastic recovered just outside Natasha's bedroom that contained traces of methamphetamine. An examination of Natasha's body had revealed a minute amount of the drugs in her nostrils, though Natasha's mother maintains her daughter did not use drugs. Today, the investigation has hit a dead end. Officially, the investigation into the 1997 death of Natasha Jennings is still open.

If you have any information about the death of Natasha Jennings, please call the Unsolved Mysteries hotline at 1-800-876-5353.