LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Wednesday marks four weeks since a Spencer County teenager was last seen. 

Investigators and family members are searching for answers, hoping to learn the location of 17-year-old Sophie Stump. Loved ones have not heard from her since Aug. 30, and the Spencer County Sheriff's Office said there have not been any confirmed sightings of her since then. 

"I am working with numerous investigators on the local, state and federal side looking into this case and trying to find what happened," Spencer County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Andrew Ware said Wednesday. 

Ware said there are limited details he can release at this time because the investigation is still going but he said it's a complex case and there have been "numerous leads" over the past several weeks. 

Sophie Stump, 17, is missing from Spencer County. Photo provided by family.

Sophie Stump, 17, is missing from Spencer County. Photo provided by family. 

Stump's last known location was at her custodial sister's home, not far from Taylorsville Lake State Park. Her sisters believe she may have met someone online and they now fear for her safety. 

"I honestly believe that she met up with somebody," said Sara Hutchingson, Stump's older sister and guardian. "I don't think it was somebody she actually knew."

Huchingson said Stump left home without taking clothes or other belongings. She thinks if Stump could come home, she would. 

"I believe my sister is alive but I don't think that like, she's willingly somewhere," Huchingson said. 

Ware said the search is broad, and it's unknown if Stump is still somewhere in Spencer County.

"I mean, really, she could be anywhere in the United States, given the time period," he said. 

Ware said investigators are working extremely hard. Stump's picture has also been added to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children website.

"We're treating this as being missing/endangered," he said. "And the possibility still exists that maybe she's just being very good at hiding and she's run away. We're not ruling anything out."

While they wait for answers, Sophie's older sisters are asking community members to continue sharing the missing person's flyer. Her sister, Saydie Stump, said she's trying to remain positive and not focus on the unknowns. 

"Just put yourself in our shoes, right? The worst thing you can do is give up," Saydie Stump said. "Even though it's almost a month like, please don't give up on her."

Ware said anyone with information, even those who recently had conversations with Sophie before she went missing, are asked to call the sheriff's office.

"The smallest detail could potentially lead us to figuring out what happened and where she's at," he said. 

The number to call for anyone who knows where Sophie might be is 502-477-5533.

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