FBI, Police Seek Missing Gary Teen Ja'Niyah McMichael

Ja'Niyah McMichael, a 14-year-old girl from Gary, Indiana, has been missing since August 12, 2024, with authorities suspecting foul play in her disappearance. She was last seen near her home on Malcolm X Drive, wearing black pajamas, a black hoodie, and red and black shoes. The Gary Police Department and FBI are jointly investigating the case and have offered a combined $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Despite extensive community search efforts and public appeals, including billboards, no substantial leads have been found, though McMichael is known to have ties to both Gary and East Chicago. The FBI urges anyone with potentially relevant information to contact their tip line or submit tips online. McMichael's family has asked the public to refrain from spreading unverified information to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.