In the summer of 2022, a 15-year-old female named Joniah Walker disappeared from her Milwaukee, Wisconsin home. On June 23, 2022, she was last seen in the vicinity of the 400 block of West Brown Street. On the day she went missing, Joniah was supposed to be picked up by her father in the afternoon to get a work permit for a new summer job. Surveillance footage captured her walking near East Reservoir Avenue and North Buffum Street, just a short distance from her mother's apartment,
carrying a large backpack. She was wearing a green t-shirt with writing on the front, blue jeans, and white and blue shoes.
Joniah's family grew concerned when she didn't answer her phone later that afternoon; their calls went directly to voicemail. Her mother had exchanged text messages with her earlier in the day, but then communication abruptly stopped. That evening, Joniah sent a text to her therapist stating that she was running away. Her family found this out of character, as she had no history of running away. Joniah's mother expressed concern that her daughter, who had a history of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, may have been lured away by someone she met online.
The Milwaukee Police Department investigated Joniah's disappearance, following up on several leads, though none initially confirmed her location. Her family held onto hope for her safe return, with her mother remaining in the same apartment, believing Joniah would come back there. The case brought attention to the disproportionate number of missing Black individuals and the call for more resources and media attention for these cases. After she went missing, Joniah Walker was eventually found alive. The details surrounding when and how she was located are not widely available, but the case is no longer considered an active missing person investigation.Last Seen: Jun 23, 2022
