In the autumn of 1991, a 41-year-old woman named Janel Anne Schwartz, who also went by the name Janel Van Etten, vanished from the bustling environment of New York City. The last time anyone is known to have had contact with her was on or around November 1st of that year. At the time of her disappearance, Janel was described as a white female, standing at five feet four inches tall with brown hair and hazel or green eyes. A notable characteristic was a previously fractured elbow she had sustained in a car accident. Friends and family also knew that she contended with a history of mental illness, a personal battle that may have contributed to the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
In the period leading up to when she was last heard from, Janel's life appeared to be transient and financially precarious. The last known communication from her was a telephone call made to her mother from LaGuardia Airport in Queens. During this call, she asked for money.
It was a stark indication of her circumstances, as she revealed to her mother that she had been living at the airport. At the time, Janel was receiving Social Security benefits and also had a small income from her late father's inheritance, which came to her in modest checks. Despite these sources of income, her situation appears to have been unstable, leading her to seek shelter in a public transportation hub.
The details of what happened to Janel Anne Schwartz after that final phone call from LaGuardia Airport remain unknown. The New York Police Department was tasked with the investigation into her disappearance, a case that has since grown cold with the passage of time. No information has been publicly released regarding her clothing or any personal items she may have had with her. The absence of dental records, fingerprints, or DNA on file has further complicated efforts to locate her. The overview of her case paints a somber picture of a woman grappling with personal challenges who ultimately disappeared from a place of constant motion, leaving behind a quiet and enduring mystery. Her case is documented under the Doe Network file 2468DFNY.Last Seen: Nov 1, 1991
