GARY, Ind. – On Saturday, local and federal authorities executed a search warrant at the home where a 13-year-old girl was reportedly last seen nearly two months ago.
City officials released an update later in the afternoon and said they are ‘deeply concerned’ about the disappearance of Ja’Niyah McMichael. Family members who spoke with WGN echoed the same message and said their efforts to find her have been tireless.
“It’s just so heartbreaking to me,” said Dalia Guerrero. “This is a child; my granddaughter.”
Ja’Niyah was allegedly last seen Sunday, Aug. 11 in the 1900 block of Malcolm X Drive. Her mother filed a missing persons report with police, who describe her as having pierced ears, last seen wearing black pajamas with a black hoodie and black and red shoes.
According to family members who spoke with WGN, Ja’Niyah weighs approximately 110 pounds and stands about 5’2″. She would have started 8th grade just days after she was reported missing.
Guerrero said her daughter, Ja’Niyah’s mother, has an estranged relationship with some family members, her included. She told WGN the last time she was allowed to see her granddaughter was on her birthday, April 28.
“Ja’Niyah’s a very sweet, loving girl. Ja’Niyah’s very outspoken. Ja’Niyah comes from a loving family,” said Guerrero. “It’s just so hard just the not knowing where my granddaughter’s at.”
Guerrero told WGN she has been looking for her oldest granddaughter around the clock since news of her disappearance and has taken a leave of absence from work. She said their family won’t give up until she’s home.
“I pray that she’s found soon. It’s been too long. It’s the not knowing; the not knowing if she’s eating, not knowing if she’s drinking, just not knowing her safety,” said Guerrero.
Gary officials said once the original report was made, the Gary Police Department “began to work proactively to partner with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as well as the Department of Child Services to investigate this case and all reported tips and leads.”
GPD said it has also been actively communicating with the teen’s family, who have helped in the investigation. An initial post by the department on Aug. 16 indicated Ja’Niyah may be a runaway, but updates from the city portray a deeper concern for her welfare.
“Do I believe she ran away? No I don’t believe she ran away. She’s not a street kid. She doesn’t do stuff like this,” said Guerrero.
According to officials, GPD asked Indiana State Police to issue a Silver Alert for Ja’Niyah. A Silver Alert was then issued on Sept. 5. GPD is also working with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which said in a posting the teen may stay local or travel to the Chicago.
Authorities said Gary detectives were also able to secure a court approved search warrant which was executed Saturday at Ja’Niyah’s home in partnership with the FBI. It is unclear if anything was found.
According to a spokesperson for the FBI Indianapolis, agents with the Gang Response Investigative Team (GRIT), an FBI-led task force, assisted at the request of Gary police and executed the search warrant at the home. It should be noted despite the name of the task force, it does not necessarily mean gangs are involved in cases they assist with or investigate, which may include a wide variety of things.
Guerrero and other family members on Ja’Niyah’s mother’s side of the family told WGN they are in the dark on where the girl may be and why investigators may have been brought to the home. They said they trust when authorities are able to say more, they will.
“Thank you for the prayers, for the public, for the law enforcement that’s doing everything they’re doing,” said Guerrero. “We’re not asking for money from anywhere. We don’t have no pages up, no donations or anything like that. We just thank everybody who’s volunteered; who continues to volunteer.”
“The Gary Police Department wishes to address the significant misinformation circulating on social media regarding the current case,” the department wrote in an update Saturday. “Our actions to date have been aimed at ensuring compliance with the law and preserving the integrity of the investigation.”
Authorities encouraged the public not to share unvetted information and said doing so could severely impede the ongoing investigation. The public is also asked to exercise due caution if solicited for donations from individuals or vigilante groups claiming to be involved with the police department or family.
Anyone with information on Ja’Niyah’s disappearance is asked to call the Gary Police Department at (219) 881-1229 or gfayson@gary.gov, the Department of Child Services Hotline at (800) 800-5556, or the FBI at (800) 225-5324 or submit tips online at www.tips.fbi.gov.