The Disappearance of Joniah Walker: A Teen Lured Online and Vanished Without a Trace

Janiah disappeared in June 2022. A neighbor's ring camera captured Janiah just before she left home. She disappeared in Milwaukee almost 2 years ago at age 16. It's the last image that you have of her. Someone told her to do this. I know in my heart that's what happened to her. And that's the last time I have seen her or talked to her. She was likely lured away because she met someone online and now she is out there. The digital age brings new dangers. In the case of Janiah Walker, a child drawn into the unknown by an online predator and then vanishing without a trace. Her family's nightmare began with a single alarming message and has yet to end. Now, with us, Janiah's loved ones recount her passion

for life and the terror of losing her to invisible threats. We also sit down with expert Angeline Hartmann for insight into how families, investigators, and technology are turning up new hope in an age-progression search that still seeks resolution. I'm joined now by Janiah's mother, Tenisha Howard. Tenisha, I want to start with you. Tell us about Janiah. She's a nice teenager. Um very soft-spoken and um very polite. She loved to help me. She has a very caring nature. Take me back to what happened in this whole situation. Talk me through what we know.

It was a Thursday. I was at work. I remember my daughter Janiah calling me 10:30 that morning and asking me about some mail. And she asked me about some other things like some money that I had transferred to her Cash App. Long story short, that day her dad was supposed to pick her up around 3:30 and take her to a local high school to get her work permit [clears throat] so she can go back to work. Apparently, when he got there, she wasn't answering his phone calls. So, he texts me calls her, "Crybaby, he says, "Crybaby not answering her phone. What's going on with her?" And so, I said, "Let me check." I called her and it was just going straight to voicemail. And I immediately knew something was wrong.

So, I just left my um job and I went home. She wasn't there. Her room was out of place from what I remember. We got hotel some video footage later on that day. It showed her leaving our apartment building around 1:30 that afternoon. So, a few hours after I had spoken to her that morning. Prior to her leaving, it showed her in normal activities like walking her dog. She was dressed normal. She had her own clothes on. She took out a small bag trash. Um and then she went to speak with the apartment manager. And apparently, she asked him the same question about a package that she was supposed to have gotten. So, all that was caught on camera but at

um one and that was like around 11:30. But at 1:30 that afternoon, she was caught on camera leaving the building. And you really couldn't see her cuz the camera it was a bad view. So, we walked around to the neighborhood and asked neighbors have they seen her. And that one person or several people that but the video footage showed her she had changed her clothes. She had put on some of her brother's uh old clothes she had on. And um she had a huge backpack. Um that apparently that she had gotten off Amazon. I had never seen that backpack before. And that's the last time I seen her or talked to her. So,

it's been 3 years. Mhm. I can only imagine, you know, what you must be going through. Subsequently, did you find out that she had been communicating with somebody online? Or tell us a little bit about that. Well, I don't know much about it, to be honest. Um but I know that she was communicating with people. Um I can't say that it was just one person. I believe it was a group. Um to be quite honest. And um it's still under investigation. And Angeline Hartmann from the Center for Missing and Exploited Children. And Angeline, I know that you at the National Center have been investigating

this and have also done some age-progression photos, I believe. What can you tell us about the latest here and about, you know, what should people be looking out for um in terms of Janiah? We were able to put together an age-progression photo of what Janiah might look like now. That was released last year. We have always said in this case that it's very possible Janiah was lured away because her family did find evidence that she was talking to strangers, as uh Tenisha mentioned. This is all under investigation. So, obviously, police have a lot more information. And as you know, John, we can't always share what happens behind the scenes. But it is fair to say investigators strongly believe, the family definitely believes that she was

the victim of something that happened online. She likely met somebody online and was lured away. What we see a lot of times is that children who disappear like this, they mean to come back. They may want to go out there and meet the person that they've been talking to online. And they plan to return. And they get out there and they get stuck. And they aren't able to return. Whether they're stuck because that person they met, you know, pulls them in or they're tricked or whatever the case may be. But the point is that she was likely lured away because she met someone online. And now it's very likely that 3 years later, she is out there.

Tenisha, what do you believe happened to your daughter? I believe that she was sucked in by some hurt people um took advantage of her. Um and they stole her. That's what I really believe. And um and I believe she wants to come home. Um I believe she's being kept away from me because there's no way like if we had no problems, I don't think that she would um just stay away from me like that, not call me, not even reach out to any of her siblings. Like she had no issues with none of her siblings. And for her not to just reach out to anybody, somebody definitely has my daughter. And um

they will be getting served justice when it all comes to light. Tenisha, if your daughter is listening or watching, what would you say to her? So, Janiah, come home. Have the strength, the courage to um get away from wherever you are and find a safe space and come home cuz I'm waiting for you to come home. And I love you and I miss you. And I want you back safe. And Tenisha, how can the public help? What would you say to people out there um if they know something? If you know something as to where my daughter is, you need to be a honest person and have some empathy and report it. Because she is still a loved young lady. She is not unwanted.

We love her and we miss her and we want her home. And I believe we as a family would appreciate that. We just hope that somebody out there has that tip, that lead to help bring Janiah home and to bring you some a little bit of peace as well. Appreciate that. Tenisha Howard is the mother of Janiah Walker. Angeline Hartmann from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children. Thanks to you both. And um we will be on the lookout and I know the audience will as well. And hopefully, the next time we speak, it will be to celebrate uh Tenisha, your daughter walking through the front door. Yes. Thank you. If you know anything about the whereabouts of Janiah Walker, please call the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 1-800-THE-LOST,

1-800-843-5678, or online, missingkids.org. You can remain anonymous and you can certainly make a huge difference in the lives of this family.