In August 2024, 13-year-old Ja'Niyah McMichael was reported missing from her home in Gary, Indiana, but as investigators dug deeper, chilling discrepancies emerged.  Is her mother telling the truth?  Now, with the FBI involved and a $30,000 reward on the table, the investigation has shifted toward suspected foul play, as her father asks us for help.

Ja'Niyah McMichael's father has been in contact with me for months. He's trying to get some funding together for his continued efforts (including getting to NamUs for DNA testing). Please consider contributing at his official GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/e972ad71a

YouTube Searchlight episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tdw8a0rhMVc

Thank you to the FBI, the City of Gary, NCMEC, The Charley Project, Indiana State Police, ABC7 Chicago, FOX 32 Chicago, CBS News Chicago, WGN-TV, NBC Chicago, People.com, Reddit, the Chicago Tribune, Antonio Rodgers and Wikipedia for information contributing to today’s case.  

This episode was written by Kira McQueen, edited by John Lordan, and produced by LordanArts.

Do you have any comments, or a case you’d like to suggest? You’ll find a comment form and case submission link at LordanArts.com.

This is not intended to act as a means of proving or disproving anything related to the investigation.  It is a conversation about the current known facts and theories being discussed.  Everyone directly or indirectly referred to is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

LordanArts 2026