Founder

Ana Sexton is the founder of Trace the Lost, a nonprofit born from personal tragedy and an unshakable conviction to help others. Raised between Washington, D.C., Guatemala City, and Rio de Janeiro, Ana grew up navigating diverse cultures and is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Her path to investigative work began in childhood. While living in Guatemala, two of her young cousins were kidnapped and held for ransom. The ordeal lasted weeks, leaving her family traumatized and helpless — and leaving Ana with a lifelong question: What more could have been done?

Determined to be part of the solution, Ana earned her undergraduate degree from Marymount University and a Master’s degree in Homeland Security from Penn State University. She went on to serve with distinction in multiple federal agencies—including the FBI, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security. Throughout her career, her mission has remained constant: to protect the vulnerable and uncover the truth where others have stopped searching.