The FBI has joined the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of 13-year-old Ja’Niyah McMichael from Gary, Indiana.
The teenager has been missing since Aug. 11, and local authorities, along with federal officers, are now working tirelessly to locate her.
Ja’Niyah’s family and community continue to hold out hope for her safe return, despite the growing uncertainty surrounding her disappearance.
According to a recent update from the city of Gary, the local police department has been actively communicating with Ja’Niyah’s family throughout the investigation.
Authorities executed a court-approved search warrant on Oct. 5, in partnership with the FBI, at a home in Gary, though further details remain limited to protect the integrity of the case.
Family Pleas for Help
Ja’Niyah’s grandmother, Dalia Guerrero, is pleading with the public to stay vigilant and report any possible information about her granddaughter.
“Keep sharing anything little to the public that they see or hear… it could be something big for us,” Guerrero told CBS News. “We’re not gonna stop until we find her and bring her home.”
Describing Ja’Niyah as an outgoing and loving child who “lights the room up,” Guerrero expressed the family’s deep frustration over the lack of answers.
“It’s been too long… the not knowing is the worst,” she said in an interview with ABC 7 Chicago.
She also had a direct message for Ja’Niyah, should she be listening:
“Your nonna loves you… your family loves you… you have the world looking for you.”
The city of Gary issued a public statement urging caution about misinformation circulating on social media regarding Ja’Niyah’s disappearance.
The city strongly advised people to avoid sharing unverified information and warned against donating to unauthorized groups claiming to be working with the family or police. Instead, authorities are asking for anyone with credible information about Ja’Niyah’s whereabouts to contact the Gary Police Department or the FBI.
The investigation remains active, and both local law enforcement and federal agents are exploring all leads in the hope of reuniting Ja’Niyah with her family as soon as possible.
