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3/26/2026 0 Comments A Famous Journalist and a Migrant Farm Worker: Now Part of a Club No One Should Belong ToOn the same day Savannah Guthrie, cohost of the Today Show, gave her first on-camera interview about the Feb. 1 disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, I received a message from a missing person advocate in New Jersey. Brenda Trinidad, who helps spread the word about missing people in the Garden State, told me about the case of a mother in the town of Hammonton, located 35 miles south of Philadelphia, who is searching for her son, Lizandro Sartiaguin. The 27-year-old vanished on February 27, 2026.  Lizandro Sartiaguin vanished in Hammonton, New Jersey on 2/27/2026 As I listened to Savannah Guthrie talk about the pain and uncertainty her family has faced since her mother was taken from her home in Tucson, AZ, my thoughts also turned to Lizandro’s mother, Fabiola. Despite their worlds being vastly different—Savannah, a high-profile journalist, and Fabiola, a migrant farm worker—both women now belong to a club no family should ever have to join. I called Fabiola and explained that Brenda had told me about her son’s case. Right away, she said in Spanish, “¡Necesito encontrar a mi hijo! Él también merece recibir atención.” I need to find my son. He, too, deserves attention. Fabiola hesitated to share information, at first, explaining that she had received calls from scammers who claimed to have her son and demanded payment in exchange for his return. “They wanted $50,000, then $10,000. One man even told me to meet him in downtown Hammonton,” Fabiola said. “He told me to show up alone and bring the money.” Sadly, this happens a lot to families of the missing. Scammers also targeted the Guthrie family with fake ransom demands (although in her recent interview with NBC, Savannah said she still believes some of the demands were legitimate). The more I talked to Fabiola, the more she opened opened up. Who is Lizandro?I asked Fabiola to tell me about her son. She explained that Lizandro works in the blueberry fields near Hammonton. The family is originally from Nayarit, Mexico, but have been living in the U.S. for almost two decades. His wife and daughter live in Mexico. “We're farm workers and permanent legal residents of the United States,” Fabiola said. “My son is here legally.” It saddened me that she felt compelled to immediately clarify their legal status—a reflection of the times we live in. Fabiola said Hammonton police did check with the Department of Homeland Security, but that Lizandro is not in their custody. His wife in Mexico has not heard from him either, according to Fabiola. She then explained that in 2020, her son was involved in a motorcycle accident that left him with cognitive issues and that he now suffers from depression. “He hadn’t been able to work because of the weather," Fabiola explained. “We can’t work the fields when it’s cold, and he gets depressed and anxious because he really enjoys working and because he worries about not being able to provide for his wife and child in Mexico.” Fabiola last spoke to her son around 10 a.m. on Feb. 27. She called to ask how he was doing. “He said, ‘I’m doing good, mom,’ but that he was really tired and was going to take a nap. When I called him later that evening, he didn’t pick up anymore,” Fabiola said, fighting back tears. She asked her other son, Simon, to look for him. Simon told me that he and his friends searched the neighborhood and nearby areas for two days before reporting his brother missing to the Hammonton Police. Fabiola explained that it has not been easy dealing with the authorities. “We went to them for help, but it seems to bother them when we call or go there in person," Fabiola said. “The detective seemed very annoyed with us.” That’s when Brenda, the missing person advocate, stepped in to help. “She advocated on our behalf, and we are very grateful,” Fabiola said. “Thanks to her insistence, the detectives came and gathered personal items, including a toothbrush and a razor, for DNA purposes, in case they find him.” The family said Lizandro does not own a car and left his phone, wallet, ID, and medication behind. A home surveillance video posted on Facebook supposedly shows him walking on Bridge Avenue in Hammonton on the day he disappeared. Unlike the Guthrie case, which has received wall-to-wall media attention, coverage of Lizandro’s disappearance has been minimal. Although the local Telemundo station in Philadelphia mentioned Lizandro’s case, his family has struggled to generate additional media coverage. They have been searching for him mostly on their own, with Brenda’s assistance and community support, and are using social media to share updates. “God is good, and he’s going to help us find him. I just know it,” Fabiola told me. Savannah Guthrie has also spoken publicly about relying on her faith during this difficult time. By doing so, and given that she is famous, she is showing the grief that thousands of families endure when a loved one goes missing. That is what grief looks like. Her pain was palpable in that interview, as was Fabiola’s when I spoke to her by phone. Both women have something else in common: they desperately need the public’s help to find their loved ones. There is a $1 million reward for information that leads to Nancy Guthrie's whereabouts.  As of now, there is no reward offered in Lizandro's case. He is 5’6, weighs 175 lbs., and was last seen wearing blue jeans, a gray jacket, and brown work boots. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call the Hammonton Police Department at 609-561-4000. Lizandro Sartiaguin NAMUS profile
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2/24/2026 0 Comments Today co-host, Savannah Guthrie, offers a $1 million reward for the recovery of her mother: "Someone out there knows something that can bring her home."Savannah Guthrie is a familiar face on one of America’s most popular morning shows. As co-host of the TODAY Show, Guthrie is used to interviewing the rich and famous and holding the powerful accountable. But on Feb. 1, 2026, the focus shifted to Guthrie herself after her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, was taken in the dark of night from her home in Tucson, Arizona. Investigators confirmed blood drops found on the front porch of Nancy's home belong to her. Despite an ongoing massive search led by the Pima County Sheriff's Department and the FBI, as well as the release of surveillance footage of the masked, armed person they believe took Nancy, investigators still do not have a suspect or proof of life. A family's desperate pleaIn the latest video posted on her Instagram account, a visibly emotional Savannah Guthrie pleads with anyone who has information about her mother's whereabouts to come forward. Guthrie also announced a family reward of up to $1 million that leads to her mother's recovery. "Someone out there knows something that can bring her home. Somebody knows, and we are begging you to please come forward now." Although she urged the public to keep the 84-year-old in their thoughts, Guthrie also acknowledged the possibility that her mom may already be gone. "We still believe in a miracle. We still believe that she can come. Hope against hope. As my sister says, 'We are blowing on the embers of hope.' We also know that she may be lost. She may already be gone. She may have already gone home to the lord that she loves and is dancing in heaven with her mom and her dad and with her beloved brother, Pearce, and with our daddy." Gone without a traceAccording to Pima County Sheriff, Chris Nanos, Nancy Guthrie spent the evening of January 31 with her daughter and son-in-law, who live nearby. The son-in-law dropped her off at home at 9:48 pm, according to Nanos. Nancy's family reported her missing at 12:03 pm the following day after friends notified them that Nancy had not shown up for an online church service. Nanos provided the following timeline: January 31, 2026
February 1, 2026
As news media from around the country descended on Nancy's home, questions surrounding her disappearance began to emerge. Was this a burglary gone wrong? Was she kidnapped? If so, why would the person(s) take an elderly woman in fragile health? Was the person trying to send a message to Nancy’s famous daughter? In the days and weeks that followed, Savannah Guthrie and her siblings released multiple videos pleading for their mother’s safe return. They also acknowledged purported ransom letters sent by someone to TMZ and some local news outlets, demanding payment in bitcoin. It is unclear if these media outlets are still receiving letters but are no longer sharing the information publicly. A break in the caseTwo weeks after Nancy Guthrie was taken, investigators released surveillance footage they managed to recover from the Nest camera on her front door, which shows an armed, masked person, carrying a backpack and wearing gloves, tampering with the camera. The footage resulted in thousands of calls to the FBI tip line, but none have panned out.
Investigators also questioned at least two men, but both were eventually released. They have also tested forensic evidence, including a latex glove that was found a short distance from Nancy's home, but the DNA on it did not result in a match on the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), a national database maintained by the FBI used to link crime scene evidence to known offenders. The Guthrie family is praying for a miracle, but they know that time is of the essence, and the more time that goes by, the more difficult it will be to solve the case.  How you can helpClick on the image above for additional pictures of the person in the footage and the backpack and gloves. Anyone with information about Nancy Guthrie's whereabouts is urged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.gov.fbi. You can also call the FBI field office in Phoenix and ask for Brooke Brennan or Kevin Smith, (623) 466-1999  The name Jeffrey Epstein has (unfortunately) become a household name. Not a day goes by that we don't hear about the disturbing allegations against the late financier and convicted sex offender detailed in the so-called Epstein Files. The 66-year-old died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking in Florida and New York, according to reports. His death was ruled a suicide. Fast forward to 2026, in the latest 3.5 million documents recently released by the Department of Justice, one name appears multiple times. According to the Press of Atlantic City, missing child Dulce Maria Alavez is mentioned six times in the files. Dulce Maria Alavez was just 5 years old when she disappeared on September 16, 2019. She was playing with her younger brother in Bridgeton City Park in New Jersey, while their mother was about 30 yards away sitting in her car, reportedly helping her younger sister with homework. Despite an extensive search and widespread media coverage, Dulce’s whereabouts are unknown. Although Dulce's name is mentioned in the Epstein files, it's important to clarify that her disappearance doesn't appear to be directly linked to the infamous federal trafficking case. According to the Press of Atlantic City, Dulce, is mentioned as part of a daily FBI morning news briefing that highlights newsworthy events of the day. While no connection has been made between the two cases, this is an opportunity to highlight Dulce's case again and remind people that she's still missing. I've spoken with her mother and grandmother over the years, and they continue to ask for the public's help to bring Dulce home. In 2021, FBI Special Agent Daniel Garrabrant told me it's very possible that Dulce's disappearance was a crime of opportunity. But local investigators haven't ruled anyone out. They also haven't named a suspect but did release a sketch of a light-skinned Hispanic male whom they referred to as a potential witness. Most recently, investigators are also using AI technology to re-examine case files and to identify potential connections they may've missed. Both, Dulce's family and authorities, continue to turn to their most powerful tool: the public to help bring the now 11-year-old home. Anyone with information about Dulce Maria's whereabouts is asked to call the Bridgeton Police Department at 856-451-0033 or 856-207-2732 for Spanish speakers. You can also contact 1-800-CALL-FBI. There's a $75,000 reward available for information that leads to an arrest.
1/29/2026 0 Comments EXCLUSIVE: The children of missing Baltimore mom, Joanna Clark, endure new heartbreak after their father's sudden death at 51First, their mother, Joanna Clark, and older sister, Shariece Clark, vanished. Nine years have passed, and their case remains unsolved. Now, Joanna's younger children are facing more heartbreak: the untimely death of their father, Dennis "Demo" Queen, according to a statement on a GoFundMe page.  Screenshot of GoFundMe page for Dennis "Demo" Queen The announcement of Queen's passing reads in part: "It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we have to share the unexpected passing of Dennis Michael Queen on January 20, 2026. He suddenly lost his life to pancreatic cancer. Dennis was a son, brother, and father of seven kids: Kaiza, Kato, Tre, Eden, Dennis, Destiney, and Kane, whom he was raising." While the official cause of Queen's death is not yet known, the GoFundMe page states the money raised will go to pay for funeral expenses and to help Queen's surviving children who lived with him in Baltimore. The message doesn't mention Joanna, Queen's ex-partner and mother of six of his children, or her eldest daughter, Shariece, whom he had known since she was a baby. Both disappeared hours apart on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017. According to reports, Queen was the last person known to have seen Joanna and Shariece at their South Baltimore apartment. When I interviewed him in 2017, he strongly denied any involvement in their disappearance.
While no one knows what happened to Joanna, then 33, and Sharice, then 15, their family insists Joanna and Queen had a long, troubled relationship. They allege that Queen physically abused Joanna and was stalking her after they broke up. They also believe he physically abused Shariece; allegations that Queen vehemently denied. I asked Queen about the accusations and if he knew what happened to Joanna and Shariece. He didn't want to talk to me at first but eventually agreed to give his side of the story. It's the only time Queen spoke publicly about the case. Investigators questioned Queen multiple times, but he was never named a suspect. Although they suspect foul play in Joanna and Shariece's disappearance, no other information about possible persons of interest has been released. If you have information about the disappearance of Joanna and Shariece Clark, please call: 410-396-2100 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP. 2/3/2025 2 Comments EXCLUSIVE: A tip from a good Samaritan sends Delaware detectives to Texas to search for Janteyl Johnson Janteyl Johnson age progressed from 15 years old (left) to 30 years old (right). Courtesy: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children The phone callIt was 9:15 a.m. on March 23, 2022. I was sitting at my computer, staring at the screen, when my phone rang. Janteyl Johnson's older sister, Janel Kirby, was calling. “Hello?” I answered. Sobbing and barely able to speak, Janel said, "Claudia, they found Puff!" I jumped out of my seat. My heart started pounding, and I felt a lump in my throat. Fearing the worst, I asked Janel to repeat herself. In a louder tone, she said, "They found Puff!" " "Puff" is Janteyl's nickname because, according to her family, Janteyl had puffy cheeks when she was little. I was afraid to ask Janel the obvious follow-up question, but just as I was about to, she said, "She's alive! Some woman apparently found her in San Antonio, Texas!" "San Antonio, Texas?" I asked Janel. "When, how, and what about her child? Was it really Janteyl?" Many questions ran through my mind, but when Janel said Texas, I knew it was a solid lead. As I have been reporting for years on whereisjanteyl.com, the alleged father of Janteyl's child moved to Texas around 2017. Coincidence? You know what they say about coincidences.  An updated missing poster of Janteyl Johnson courtesy of NCMEC Janteyl Johnson was only 15 years old and five months pregnant when she vanished from her apartment in Newark, Delaware, on February 3, 2010. She took nothing with her, not even her contact lenses or her beloved Betty Boop handbag. The only thing she took was her phone, according to her family. The official version from the New Castle County Police Department was that Janteyl had run away, possibly with an older man. However, investigators in Delaware and Texas now fear that she may be a victim of human trafficking. Due to the sensitive nature of the case and the efforts that were taking place behind the scenes, we were careful about releasing information. I will now explain how everything unfolded. The good SamaritanAfter a few minutes, Janel composed herself and began telling me the story. According to Janel, that morning, her parents alerted New Castle County Police after their son received information from a woman who claimed to work at a domestic violence shelter in Texas and had supposedly spoken to a young woman who said her name was Janteyl Johnson and that she was missing from Delaware. Please note: I have also been in contact with the person in Texas and confirmed the details with the San Antonio Police Department. They referred to her as a good Samaritan. The good Samaritan said that on March 21, 2022, she and another advocate stopped at a QuikTrip gas station on West Military Drive and U.S. 90 in San Antonio. There, she physically bumped into an African American woman in the restroom who was carrying a backpack and was on the verge of tears. She said the young woman appeared anxious and malnourished, so she offered her a ride to get something to eat at McDonald's. Afterward, she drove her to Walgreens and then to Levi Strauss Park so they could talk. These locations are all within a mile from the gas station. While at the park, the good Samaritan said she noticed the young woman had what appeared to be cigarette burns and a bite mark on her shoulder. She also said the woman told her she had "escaped" from a La Quinta Hotel not far from the QT gas station. She identified herself as Janteyl Johnson of Newark, Delaware, and said she was 27 and had an 11-year-old daughter, but that she was not allowed to see her. The good Samaritan said the young woman broke down when she talked about her family in Delaware because she had not seen them in many years. The good Samaritan claimed she offered to take the woman to a domestic violence shelter, but had to drive her co-worker somewhere else first. She claimed the young woman asked to wait at the QT gas station, so she dropped her off and gave her money to buy a bottle of water. When she returned, the young woman was gone. The good Samaritan said she drove up and down Military Drive looking for her, but to no avail. She also claimed to have spoken to an employee of the gas station and asked to see their surveillance video, but was told no. When I asked if she had contacted the police, the good Samaritan said she called 911 after returning to the QT gas station but was instructed to contact the non-emergency number. However, when I filed a public records request with the San Antonio Police and the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, they could not find a 911 call matching the information provided by the good Samaritan. They told me that non-emergency calls are not recorded. The good Samaritan said she searched Janteyl's name online and was shocked to find news articles and missing posters detailing her 2010 disappearance. She said she kept looking for the young woman along Military Drive but did not find her. A couple of days later, she contacted Janteyl's brother on social media. Janel said her parents immediately went to the New Castle County Police. They found the tip credible and sent several investigators to San Antonio. They teamed up with the San Antonio PD Special Victim's Unit to search for Janteyl. My calls to NCCPD at the time went unanswered. My videographer and I flew to San Antonio to follow the story. It would be the first of several trips to the Lone Star State on our own and with Janteyl's parents. San Antonio, Texas Trip 1After speaking with Janel, I immediately reached out to the good Samaritan. She got back to me four days later. She told me she was a crisis intervention specialist (San Antonio Police did not confirm this) and said the young woman from the gas station appeared anxious and spoke quietly. She was also very hungry and did not have a phone. Although there are discrepancies between what she said to Janteyl's family and what she told me, investigators found her credible. I asked if we could meet me in person once I arrived in San Antonio, and she agreed. She provided her contact information and explained that, due to a personal situation, she was staying at a domestic violence shelter. I assured her that I would not reveal her identity or exact location. Once we arrived in San Antonio, our first stop was at the QT gas station. We spoke to the manager the good Samaritan had mentioned and showed him a missing poster of Janteyl Johnson. He said he had seen someone resembling Janteyl at another one of their stores but had no way of knowing she was a missing person. We left the flier just in case he saw her again. We waited outside the store for a few hours, hoping the young woman would show up. She did not, so we called it a night.  QuickTrip gas station on Military Drive in San Antonio, Texas, where a good Samaritan claims to have spoken to a woman named Janteyl Johnson from Delaware. The next day, I contacted the good Samaritan, and she agreed to meet us at Levi Strauss Park near the gas station. We waited for her, but she did not show up. I called her, but she did not answer. I texted her, and she finally replied, saying she was having problems at the shelter and would not be able to meet us. The same thing happened over the next three days. We made one last attempt before returning home, but she stood us up again. We tried Facetiming, but she did not answer. Although investigators found her credible, it remains unclear why neither the good Samaritan nor her supposed co-worker called 911 while the young woman was with them. San Antonio Police said detectives went to bus stops, apartment complexes, hotels, and homeless shelters looking for any sign of Janteyl and her child. They also verified information at other locations mentioned by the good Samaritan. Before leaving San Antonio, we stopped at the QT one last time. We did not hear from the good Samaritan again, and she also stopped communicating with Janteyl's family. San Antonio, Texas Trip 2Since Janteyl Johnson vanished in 2010, New Castle County Police have received dozens, if not hundreds, of leads regarding her possible whereabouts — the March 2022 tip from the good Samaritan in Texas being the most promising. I returned to the Lone Star State in October 2022 to interview Officer Nick Solis of the San Antonio PD and to learn more about human trafficking in San Antonio.  "The good Samaritan was credible enough to launch this investigation and get this case from cold to hot," Solis told me. "Our detectives knew it was a good lead because they teamed up with New Castle [County] Police Department to go ahead and launch a full operation in trying to find Janteyl." Detectives focused on the intersection of West Military Drive and U.S. Highway 90, near the QT gas station where the good Samaritan allegedly met the woman who identified herself as Janteyl Johnson of Delaware. "Officers from New Castle and our Special Victim's Unit saturated that area, made plenty of stops, field contacts, and even arrests to people who could be Janteyl or know Janteyl," said Solis. Detectives also went to multiple businesses in the area. "They talked to managers of La Quinta and managers of the gas station; they really did a full investigation, and they didn't come up with anything," said Solis, "that's not to say it wasn't her [Janteyl] that one day, but in a city which I think is the seventh largest city in the nation, you never know, people come and go." According to Solis, one of the challenges with this investigation is that Janteyl could be using different aliases. There is no record of someone named Janteyl Johnson giving birth in San Antonio or having a history with Child Protective Services, said Solis. "She told the good Samaritan she had a child and that it was taken away from her. When Janteyl went missing, she was pregnant, so who knows if it's that child or another born after that." However, if that was Janteyl, she told the good Samaritan her real name and age and said she was missing from Delaware. She told the truth. It is also imperative to remind the public that Janteyl was only 15 years old and five months pregnant when she vanished in 2010. Therefore, if that was Janteyl, maybe she was referring to the person responsible for her disappearance as the one who took her child. Furthermore, investigators believe that the young woman, whoever she was, could be a victim of human trafficking. "She said something to the good Samaritan...she was being trafficked out of a local motel/hotel here in San Antonio," said Solis, "whenever there's a tip for that, it goes to the San Antonio PD, and an SVU detective has to look into it." The Texas TriangleHuman trafficking is defined as the unlawful act of transporting or coercing people in order to benefit from their work or service, typically in the form of forced labor or sexual exploitation. According to experts, Texas ranks second in the U.S. when it comes to human trafficking, with most cases happening in what is known as the "Texas Triangle," which connects the Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas-Forth Worth metro areas. The San Antonio PD has a unit assigned to investigate human trafficking. Texas law also requires certain businesses, like transportation hubs, hospitals, tattoo parlors, and massage establishments, to post signs with the National Human Trafficking Hotline number near the public entrance or in private areas available to clientele, such as restrooms.  Signs like these are displayed in bathroom stalls at the San Antonio International Airport. "It [human trafficking] is a big issue; you see it a lot. That's why they take every lead seriously," said Solis, "even that small thing that Janteyl said to the good Samaritan, our detective still had to go to the motel/hotel and see for himself what was happening there." Solis said investigators exhausted all leads and emphasized that because Janteyl is an adult, it is now up to her to contact authorities if she wants help. But that approach does not sit well with Dottie Laster, a nationally recognized expert in the field of human trafficking. "I understand police may be out of leads, but to expect her to rescue herself is unacceptable," Laster told me. "She did ask for help, and she didn't get it." Laster has trained law enforcement nationwide on how to identify victims of human trafficking and trafficking patterns. Although she is not working on Janteyl's case, she said putting the burden on a victim sends the wrong message. "This is a child no matter her age now. She is still stuck at the age when she was taken, and we expect her to do the heavy lifting?" said Laster. "Assuming this was her, and we don't know if it was her, but if it was, she has been cut off from everything that would've allowed her to save herself." Polaris Project, a nonprofit organization that tracks human trafficking in North America and operates the National Human Trafficking Hotline, says anyone can be a victim, and traffickers are not always strangers — they can be family members, including parents, and romantic partners, including spouses. Furthermore, Black women and girls are more vulnerable to sex trafficking than other races — with 40% of all victims and survivors of sex trafficking found to be Black, according to a two-year study by the U.S. Department of Justice. "It's our responsibility as a society to work with them [police departments] to leave no stone unturned to find whoever that was that asked for help and didn't get it," said Laster, "you must understand...her asking for help...hopefully, it was her [Janteyl], that was an expensive request and if it's not successful, the pain and suffering she's gonna feel, I can't put words to." New Castle County Police, the lead investigative agency on Janteyl's case, maintains that on the day she vanished, Feb. 3, 2010, Janteyl had been communicating by phone with several older men, including the alleged father of her unborn child. The last call she received was at 1:38 p.m., and it came from his number, according to investigators. Public records show that he moved from Delaware to North Dakota in 2013 and relocated to Houston, Texas, in 2017. New Castle County Police told me everyone Janteyl communicated with the day she vanished remains a person of interest but stopped short of naming a suspect(s) San Antonio Police remain optimistic about finding Janteyl. They want her to know there are many resources available and they encourage her to come forward, said Solis. "I hope the tip was right and the good Samaritan was right because if it was Janteyl, we're getting closer and closer to finding her." The Johnsons travel to San Antonio to search for their daughter: "We miss you and want you home!" We returned to San Antonio for a third time in early December 2022 — nine months after the alleged sighting of Janteyl. This time, we traveled with her parents, Prennis and Kyma Johnson of Newark, Delaware. It was the first time the Johnsons had been to San Antonio since receiving the tip about their youngest daughter in March. "I've got faith that it's gonna work out. We're down here in Texas, she was spotted, and I'm gonna go off that. Y'all are looking, we're looking, and I'm just gonna hold on," said Prennis Johnson Sr. We landed in Houston, rented a car, and spent a few hours distributing fliers at multiple truck stops and other locations. Houston is part of the Texas Triangle — San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas — where human trafficking is said to be highest in the state. Also, the last call Janteyl received the day she disappeared came from the alleged father of her unborn child who relocated to Houston nearly a decade ago. "To me, he's the prime suspect," said Prennis. However, New Castle County Police have not named any suspects. Given the information provided by the good Samaritan, who mentioned a potential sex trafficking element, we went to several truck stops and handed out fliers. We also drove through the infamous Bissonnet Street in southwest Houston, which is notorious for such activity. It was broad daylight, but the streets were full of young women. It was hard for the Johnsons to see this up close because it made them wonder if their daughter could be among them. We then made the three-hour drive to San Antonio. The next day, we went with the Johnsons to the San Antonio Police Department, where they met privately with the detective who assisted NCCPD investigators with Janteyl's case. Their meeting lasted no more than 15 minutes. Afterward, the Johnsons told us the detective was stunned to see them in person; he was not expecting them to travel to San Antonio. The Johnsons left feeling a rollercoaster of emotions. "My baby girl is down here lost and hurt, and I can't...bring her home," said Prennis, fighting back tears. "I'm actually hurt, I'm hurting. To me, it seems like no one is really interested; that's how I feel. They keep saying that they've exhausted all leads."  Prennis and Kyma Johnson search for their daughter Janteyl Johnson in San Antonio, Texas. Janteyl's mother, Kyma, expressed frustration at the lack of media coverage. "He said the media didn't take it up because there was no evidence or proof of something happening to her now," said Kyma, "but you know what happened to her at 15 years old. How did she get down here being a child with no resources and being pregnant? How did she get to San Antonio? Someone had to have brought her here!" They also find it frustrating that detectives have not put more pressure on the alleged father of Janteyl's child. Did she give birth? Where is her child? The good Samaritan claimed the young woman said she had a daughter but was not allowed to see her. "I'm quite sure this guy knows where she's [Janteyl] at," said Prennis. "But the police, they won't help us, and they won't talk to him. They won't do anything!" I have contacted the individual multiple times over the years and tried to reach him in Houston in 2018. He was not home but did respond the following day, stating he was not interested in talking to me or anyone about anything. The Johnsons want the detectives to do more. "Bring him in, harass him, do anything, get him to talk," said Prennis. After the meeting, Janteyl's parents broke down outside the police station. It was heartbreaking to witness. It seemed all their emotions surfaced at once — sadness, anger, frustration, and the overwhelming sense of a missed opportunity to bring their daughter home. Though they appreciate the good Samaritan contacting their son, they wish she had called 911 immediately. "If she had contacted the police, someone could've at least gotten there," said Prennis. "If Janteyl would've stuck around for a little while, somebody would've got there to see her and take her into custody". People forget the heavy toll that having a missing child takes on a family. While the rest of the world keeps moving, the Johnsons' lives have not been the same since Janteyl disappeared. "I turn and look at my wife, and I see her [Janteyl]. I turn and look at my sons, and I see her," a tearful Prennis said, "it drives me insane because me being a father and the man of the house, they're all looking at me to do something, and I'm failing, and it hurts. They want me to bring my baby home, and I can't bring her home."  Prennis Johnson talks to a young woman in San Antonio, Texas, who resembles his missing daughter Janteyl Johnson. Photo: March 2022. The Johnsons spent the next two days pounding the pavement and handing out fliers at the locations mentioned by investigators — homeless shelters, bus stops, apartment complexes, the park, the QuikTrip gas station, and hotels. They also spoke with some homeless folks in the area and even spotted a young woman who resembled Janteyl. We all thought it might be her, but it was not. Before we left Texas, I asked the Johnsons what they would say to the person(s) that knows what happened to Janteyl. "Just tell me where she's at. Just let me see my baby. Let us see her, " said Prennis. "She's got her brothers and sisters waiting to see her. And her grandfather and uncles want to see her. Everybody is waiting for her." The Johnsons also have a message for their daughter: "We're waiting on you baby! We love you and we miss you. We're here, we're not angry, we're not upset with you. We miss you and we want you home." If you have information on this case, call the New Castle County Police at 1-302-395-8171 or San Antonio Police at 1-210-207-7273
Also visit www.whereisjanteyl.com for more content on this case 5/1/2024 0 Comments UPDATE: Eight years after Liliana and Daniella Moreno vanished, authorities in Florida finally made an arrestUPDATE: Daniella's father, Gustavo Castano Restrepo, 55, of Miami, was taken into custody on Oct. 28, days after he was indicted in federal court on one count of kidnapping resulting in death in connection with the 2016 disappearance of Liliana (then 41) and Daniella (then 8), court documents reveal. Authorities have released a few details about why they believe Liliana and Daniella are dead. However, according to local media reports, the indictment alleges that Castano kidnapped Liliana, held her "for reward and otherwise," and used a "cellular telephone, the internet, a motor vehicle, and the Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike" in committing the crime. If convicted, Castano is looking at life in prison. Original Story Liliana Moreno, 41, and her daughter Daniella, 8, vanished in Doral, Florida, on May 30, 2016. The mother and daughter were last seen near a Home Depot on Okeechobee Road in Hialeah. Liliana's ex and Daniela's father, Gustavo Castano, is a person of interest in the case. According to investigators, Castano allegedly went to pick up Liliana and their daughter. Castano told investigators that he got into an argument with Liliana, but insisted that he dropped them off on Turnpike Avenue. Investigators have questioned Castano, but don't have enough information to make an arrest. The FBI is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to their whereabouts. If you can help, call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 305-471-TIPS or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Six years. That's how long the family of Akia Eggleston waited for justice. While the legal battle is over, and the Baltimore man convicted of murdering the young mother and her unborn son will spend the rest of his life in prison, for her loved ones the court victory is bittersweet. Investigators never found Akia's body, leaving her loved ones in limbo and unable to say goodbye.  Akia Eggleston vanished on May 3, 2017. I've covered Akia's case since 2017. Sadly, it's one of many stories of young, pregnant women who disappear only to be met with a tragic ending. More often than not, investigators know who's responsible, but it's not what they know. It's what they can prove. Murder cases without a body can be difficult to bring to trial but not impossible. In July, a jury convicted Robertson of two counts of first-degree murder for killing the pregnant mom in 2017. On Wednesday, a judge sentenced Robertson to two consecutive life terms with the possibility of parole. The 42-year-old maintains his innocence and refuses to disclose what he did with the remains of his ex-girlfriend and their unborn son. Akia's stepfather, Shawn Wilkinson, told me via a text message he's grateful Robertson didn't get away with murder. "We are thankful that they were able to charge him, try him, and finally convict him!" Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates also released a statement on the sentence: “This sentence ensures that Michael Robertson will no longer be a threat to the safety of others and will spend the rest of his life behind bars for the egregious violence he inflicted upon Akia Eggleston and her unborn child. My prayers are with Ms. Eggleston’s family, who had to wait such a long time to see justice done. It was the vigilance of our Homicide Division, ASA Kurt Bjorklund, the Baltimore Police Department, and our partners in law enforcement, including Missing Persons and the FBI, that made this conviction possible. My gratitude is with them for ensuring that this defendant was held accountable.”
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