Jaidon Michael Mangas, an 18-year-old white male from Findlay, Ohio, was a young man with plans for the future. He had just celebrated his birthday the day before he died. Jaidon was a student at Findlay High School and worked at Plato's Closet. He had a passion for wrestling and football, having played both for schools in Pemberville and Swanton. According to his family, his girlfriend, Lily, was his whole world, and he loved his family and siblings deeply, wanting to achieve great things for
them and for himself. His loved ones said he was planning to propose to his girlfriend and move into his own apartment just days after he was killed.
On the evening of January 4, 2025, Jaidon was found shot in an alley on Congress Street in Toledo. First responders arrived around 6:13 p.m. and transported him to the University of Toledo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy by the Lucas County Coroner's Office later confirmed he died from gunshot wounds to the torso and foot, and his death was ruled a homicide.
Investigators determined that the shooting occurred during a planned gun transaction. Jaidon had met with 16-year-old Michael Silvera in the alley. During the meeting, Silvera shot Jaidon before fleeing with his money. A few days later, Toledo Police arrested Silvera on a murder charge and booked him into the Juvenile Justice Center.
Michael Silvera was ultimately tried as an adult for the killing. He entered into a plea agreement, pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter, robbery, and felonious assault, all with weapons specifications. In exchange for his plea, the original murder charge was dropped. Lucas County Judge Dean Mandros sentenced Silvera to serve 26 to 31 years in prison. Following the sentencing, the county prosecutor expressed hope that the sentence would provide some measure of justice for Jaidon's loved ones.
The case was officially closed with the conviction and sentencing of Michael Silvera in June 2025.
