LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- It has now been more than 40 days since a Spencer County teenager went missing.

As the search for Sophie Stump continues, so does another chapter in her life. Stump's 18th birthday is Oct. 13. Her family is making plans to be together and hoping she'll return home soon.

"Tomorrow for her birthday me and my family are deciding to go to my grandma's, I guess," said Sara Huchingson, Stump's oldest sister and guardian. "Just kind of be there together. I don't want to be alone. I don't think anybody wants to be alone. If anything, I want to be with my other sisters."

Even after her 18th birthday, Spencer County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Andrew Ware said Sophie's picture and information will remain in the database for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the investigation to find her will continue.

"It definitely won't change anything," he said. "We'll continue investigating it."

The Spencer County Sheriff's Office is working the case with a team of local, state and federal investigators. Ware said it's unknown at this point if Stump is still in Spencer County or even Kentucky. Rather than searching on foot, this investigation has taken a more digital approach. 

Also, Huchingson said she believes Stump met someone online before she went missing. 

"I honestly believe that she met up with somebody," Huchingson said in a previous interview with WDRB News. "I don't think it was somebody she actually knew."

Ware said investigators are chasing the technology in this case.

"I've executed nearly 40 search warrants. And it's just collecting tons of electronic data and you're talking about cell phones, social media apps, stuff of that nature," he said.

However, there is no clear answer about where Stump is right now.

"Is she even in Taylorsville? Is my sister kidnapped? Is my sister alive?" Huchingson said. "You know, I don't know."

Ware said with a missing juvenile, police are usually able to get more answers by now.

"Typically on missing juvenile cases, we're able to locate the child rather quickly, within the first few hours or the next day. This is not your typical missing persons case when it goes this long. At least, in my experience," said Ware.

Stump's last known location was at home, not far from Taylorsville Lake State Park. That was back in late August.

"Right now, it appears when she left the house she intended on coming back," Ware said.

Huchingson said it just doesn't make sense.

"None of it does. It's like she vanished out of thin air. That's how I feel," she said.

Anyone who has a tip about where Stump might be is asked to call police at 502-477-5533. 

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