The Gary Police Department acknowledges the first anniversary of the disappearance of Ja'Niyah McMichael with a steadfast commitment to bring her home.

One year ago, 14-year-old Ja'Niyah disappeared from her home on the 1900 block of Malcolm X Boulevard. What began as an urgent search has evolved into a sustained investigation with federal and local law enforcement agency support.

On April 28, 2025, the FBI and the City of Gary announced a $20,000.00 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Ja'Niyah's disappearance.

Detectives have processed numerous tips, conducted interviews, and analyzed evidence. Each lead is pursued, and new information continues to shape our understanding of the case.

Ja'Niyah was last seen wearing black pajama pants, a black hooded sweatshirt, and red and black shoes. 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.

The Gary Police Department continues to work on active leads with the FBI and urges anyone with information related to Ja'Niyah's disappearance to come forward.

Lead Detective Sgt. David Umbarger can be contacted at 219-881-1209 or dumbarger@gary.gov. Additional tips can be submitted to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or online at tips.fbi.gov.

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