For one year, the family of a missing Gary teen has searched for her. One year later, they are still without answers.
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“We’re hurt, and we’re mad,” said Dalia Guerrero, grandmother of Ja’Niyah McMichael, a 14-year-old who went missing in Gary. “Not knowing is really frustrating. We miss her dearly, and we need answers. We need someone to come forward because someone knows something. She can’t just vanish off the face of the Earth.”
McMichael has been missing since Aug. 12, 2024, according to Post-Tribune archives, when she was last seen at her home on the 1900 block of Malcolm X Boulevard.. The Gary Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation are collaborating to find the missing girl, including offering a $20,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those involved in the disappearance.
The two agencies are offering $10,000 each.
Guerrero said Monday that there hasn’t been an update in the investigation. It’s frustrating to still be without answers one year later, she added.
“This is the second year of school she’s missing, and we don’t know anything,” Guerrero said. “We need answers. She’s a child.”
The Gary Police Department issued a statement on Tuesday, saying that detectives have processed numerous tips, conducted interviews, and analyzed evidence. Police said that each lead is pursued, and new information continues to shape their understanding of the case.
“The passage of time should not diminish the urgency of this case or the community’s responsibility to help. Someone in our community could possess information that could prove vital to our investigation or help resolve this case,” according to the statement.
Jasmine McMichael, Ja’Niyah McMichael’s mother, first reported her daughter missing from their home in the 1900 block of Malcolm X Drive in Gary. McMichael was seen wearing a black hoodie, black pajamas and red and black Air Jordans.
The city of Gary first released an update on McMichael’s disappearance on Oct. 5, 2024. The city said it was working with the FBI and Department of Child Services to investigate the case, reported tips and leads, according to the city’s website.
“We strongly urge the public to refrain from sharing unvetted information as this can severely impede the ongoing investigation,” the city’s October news release said. “Our actions to date have been aimed at ensuring compliance with the law and preserving the integrity of the investigation.”
In September, Darnell Compton Jr., 31, was charged with starting a brawl during a search party for McMichael, according to Post-Tribune archives. He was charged with three counts of battery, one count of strangulation and three misdemeanors.
In June, Compton took a plea deal that dismissed the battery counts, strangulation count and domestic battery misdemeanor, according to online court records. He pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors: striking a law enforcement animal and resisting law enforcement.
Compton received a sentence of 262 days, which he had already served, according to court records.
The family is continuing to do all they can to find McMichael, Guerrero said, including search parties and raising awareness through social media.
Police Chief Derrick Cannon has continually communicated with Guerrero and other family members, she said Monday.
“Her siblings miss her dearly, and we all miss her dearly,” she said. “It’s too long for a 14-year-old to be gone. … I just want people to know she’s loved, and she’s always been loved. We miss her so much, and we don’t wish this on anybody.”
Lead Detective Sgt. David Umbarger can be contacted at 219-881-1209 or [email protected]. Additional tips can be submitted to the FBI at 1-800-225-5324 or online at tips.fbi.gov.