Not Forgotten: Missing Person of the Week: January 2026

Summary

Clues with Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore

Episode: Not Forgotten: Missing Person of the Week: January 2026

Date: January 31, 2026
Hosts: Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore
Podcast: Crime House

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Episode Overview

This special installment of Clues shines a spotlight on unresolved missing persons cases, featuring a January 2026 recap. Hosts Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore revisit four cases previously discussed this month—John Tucson Doe, Shakaya Blue Harding, Keshia Sylvester, and Janiah McMichael—urging listeners to keep these disappearances in the public eye. The episode provides new details, context, and updates, while encouraging the audience to share missing persons posters and contribute any information they may have.

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Key Discussion Points and Case Summaries

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1. John Tucson Doe (Case No. UP7236 — DNA Doe Project)

[03:06 - 04:14]

• Discovery: Remains of an unidentified young man found by water surveyors outside Tucson on October 1, 1998.
• Physical Description:
  • Approx. 6 feet tall, 252 pounds
  • Short curly hair, tan shorts, pullover shirt
  • Estimated age: 17–23
  • Race: Unclear
• State of Remains: Authorities believe he'd been dead for multiple days before being found.
• Current Efforts: Composite sketch available and shared on podcast socials. Listeners are directed to Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner if they recognize him.
• Identifying Info: DNA Doe Project ID UP7236.
• Quote (Morgan Absher, 03:33):
  “If this person looks familiar to you, we will have a link for you to get in contact with the agency of jurisdiction ... There’s also a few other links that we’ll put in the description with a bit more information.”

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2. Shakaya Blue Harding

[04:14 - 06:19]

• Background: Missing indigenous woman, last seen in Billings, Montana, July 25, 2018.
• Key Details:
  • Bus ticket to Grand Junction, CO was bought (July 4th weekend, 2018) but likely unused.
  • Multiple possible sightings in Phoenix, AZ (Children’s Hospital, Sky Harbor Airport, local clubs/intersections).
  • Sightings also reported near Sam’s Club and Walmart in Great Falls, MT, often with an older male.
• Personal Connections: Family in Fort Belknap, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Fort Riley, Kansas.
• Description:
  • DOB: Nov 28, 1998 (19 at disappearance)
  • 5’4”, approx. 125 lbs, black hair (may be short), brown eyes, 5” scar on left shin, may have limp
  • Alternate names: Kaya, Blue, or spelling variations (Shakia, Shakayah, etc.)
  • Alternate surname: Haughtyng
• Significant Note:
  “It is believed at this time that Shakaya is a victim of human trafficking.” (Kaelyn Moore, 06:10)
• Contact Info: Detective Jam (406-256-2925) or Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office (406-256-2929).

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3. Keshia Sylvester

[06:19 - 08:13]

• Background: Disappeared on September 22, 2017, from Brobridge, Louisiana.
• Descriptors:
  • 29 years old, described as Black female
  • 5’2”, 145 lbs
• Suspicious Circumstances:
  • Purse and cellphone left at home
  • Dinner left on stove, last paycheck never picked up, missed daughter’s prom
  • Had been excited for her daughter’s event and was in frequent contact with family
  • Landlord quickly moved Keshia’s belongings and her trailer, potentially destroying evidence
  • Law enforcement seized landlord’s computers, but no updates yet from these items.
• Quote (Morgan Absher, 06:45):
  “Her purse and cell phone were left behind at her home. The food that she had made for dinner was left on the stove. ... She also missed her daughter’s prom. This was all super uncharacteristic of her behavior.”
• Quote (Kaelyn Moore, 08:23 & Morgan Absher, 08:25):
  "Sounds like one of those ones where someone knows something."
  "Someone definitely knows something."
• Contact: St. Martin’s Parish Sheriff’s Office, 337-394-3071.

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4. Janiah McMichael

[08:30 - 10:28]

• Case Overview: 14-year-old from Gary, Indiana, reported missing August 12, 2024.
• Current Status: FBI and local police strongly suspect foul play.
• Mother’s Statement:
  • Initially treated as possible runaway, but now considered highly suspicious.
  • Ongoing investigation and search warrants executed (details withheld to protect investigation).
• Reward: Combined $30,000 for information leading to arrest and conviction.
• Description at Disappearance: Black hoodie, black pajama pants, red/black shoes.
• Memorable Quote (Janiah’s Grandmother, 09:28):
  “One year ago today, I got a phone call from my daughter saying that my granddaughter Janaya ran away. I... don’t believe she ran away. There have been leads, but no solid leads. Nothing. It’s just like she vanished.”
• Contact: Lead Detective Sgt. David Umbarger, Gary PD (219-881-1209 / [e-mail]), FBI Tip Line (1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov).

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Calls to Action

• Hosts repeatedly implore listeners to share case posters on social media, emphasizing community involvement in keeping these names visible.
• Listener input is welcomed; audience suggestions drive which cases are covered next.
• Quote (Morgan Absher, 10:28):
  “Please again continue to share and amplify these cases and leave any that you want us to cover in the comments. We are picking a lot of our cases now thanks to you guys.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the power of community and sharing:
  “Thanks guys. ... It’s really spread the word.” (Morgan Absher, 03:00)
• On suspicious landlord activity in Keshia’s case:
  “Whoa. The landlord moving the trailer right afterwards. Within just a few days, all of...” (Kaelyn Moore, 07:58)
• On persistent investigation:
  “Gary Police Department continues to work on active leads with the FBI and urges anyone with information related to Janiah’s disappearance to come forward.” (Kaelyn Moore, 09:45)

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• [03:06] John Tucson Doe Case overview
• [04:14] Shakaya Blue Harding Case overview
• [06:19] Keshia Sylvester Case discussion begins
• [08:30] Janiah McMichael recap and reward information
• [10:28] Community call-to-action for sharing and suggesting cases
• [10:41] Podcast wrap-up: new episodes, community engagement

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Tone and Language

The hosts maintain a supportive, urgent, and empathetic tone, regularly addressing listeners as partners in the effort to find missing people and emphasizing how even small actions—like sharing a poster—can make a significant difference.

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Summary

This episode of Clues dedicates itself to ensuring four missing individuals remain in public consciousness and that new leads are pursued. With thorough case recaps, direct appeals for listener engagement, and clear instructions on how to help or report information, Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore activate their audience as a crucial part of each ongoing investigation. This is both a broadcast and a call for action, handled with sensitivity and an unwavering commitment to justice.

Transcript

[Vanessa Richardson]

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[Vanessa Richardson]

Foreign.

[Clues Podcast Host]

Welcome back. Each week on Clues we highlight a different person who has gone missing. Someone with a story, a family and a community. Still hoping for any answers?

[Clues Podcast Co-host]

These are all of the cases that we covered in January that we want to highlight once more just to bring more visibility.

[Clues Podcast Host]

The cases include John Tucson Doe from the DNA Doe Project, Shakyah Blue Harding, Keshia Sylvester, Janiah McMichael. Let's revisit those cases and hopefully get the word out even more, especially because of listeners like you. Please go over to our Clues podcast socials and there are posters you can share on your stories and it's really spread the word. Thanks guys. So we are highlighting the John Tuscan Doe 1998 case. On October 1, 1998, water surveyors from the city of Tucson came across the remains of a young man near a rural road in the desert. He was about 6ft tall, weighed 252 pounds and authorities believe that he had been dead for a number of days. John Doe had short curly hair and wore tan shorts and a pullover shirt. Race is uncertain, however they estimate that he was about 17 to 23 years old. There is a composite sketch we are going to be sharing with you guys so if this person looks familiar to you, we will have a link for you to get in contact with the agency of jurisdiction. It is the Pima County Office of the medical examiner. The ID for the DNA DOE project is up 7236. There's also a few other links that we'll put in the description with a bit more information.

[Clues Podcast Co-host]

When we were doing the research on Jermaine's case, I actually came across another missing indigenous woman in the same area as Jermaine. Her name is Shakaya Blue Harding. She was last seen in Billings, Montana on the morning of July 25, 2018. That is pretty close to Jermaine's case. A bus ticket was purchased in Shakaya's name for Grand Junction, Colorado, but there is no evidence it was ever used. The ticket was purchased the July 4th weekend in downtown Billings. There have been multiple possible sightings in Phoenix, Arizona, specifically the Children's Hospital, Phoenix, Sky Harbor Airport, bad habits, Gentlemen's Club 1, McDowell and at the intersection of North 19th Ave and Dunlap Ave. There's also been possible sightings in Great Falls, Montana, specifically near the Sam's Club by Northwest Bypass, 10th Ave. And 23rd street and near Walmart on 10th Ave. She has been cited in both of these locations with an older male. She also has connections in Fort Belknap, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Fort Riley, Kansas. Her date of birth is November 28, 1998. She was 19 years old at the time of her disappearance. She's described as having black hair, brown eyes. Being 5 foot 4, around 125 pounds. Shakyah has a 5 inch long scar on her left shin and her hair may be short. And there's evidence that she may have a limp at this time. She also may be going by Kaya or her middle name Blue. And she may spell her name S, H, a K, A I, A H, which is different than the spelling we have on the missing poster, which is S H a C, A I, a H. And she also might use the last name H, A U, G, H, T, Y, N, G. It is believed at this time that Shakaya is a victim of human trafficking. So if anyone has any information on Shakaya's whereabouts, you can contact Detective Jam at 406-256-2925 or the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office at 406-256-2929.

[Clues Podcast Host]

This week we are highlighting the case of Keshia Sylvester. Keshia has been missing since 9 22, 2017. She went missing from Brobridge, Louisiana. Described as a female black, 29 years old, 5 to 145 pounds. Now, I will say there are very suspicious circumstances surrounding Keshia's disappearance. Her purse and cell phone were left behind at her home. The food that she had made for dinner was left on the stove. She didn't pick up her last paycheck from her job at a casino, and she also missed her daughter's prom. This was all super uncharacteristic of her behavior. She had really been looking forward to her daughter's promotion, had already picked the hairstyle she wanted her daughter to have for the event. According to her family, prior to her disappearance, Keshia had seemed confident and happy, and she kept in daily touch with her family and often visited her father. Only days after her disappearance, her landlord moved her belongings and the trailer in which she lived, something that her family believes led to possible evidence being lost or destroyed. Foul play is possible in her case, which still remains unsolved. Keshia has not been found. I saw in a recent update, computers and items were seized from the landlord, but nothing has been released at this time. So if you have any information in regards to Keshia and her disappearance, Please contact the St. Martin's Parish Sheriff's Office at 337394. 3071. Obviously a very suspicious.

[Clues Podcast Co-host]

Whoa. The landlord moving the trailer right afterwards. Within just a few days, all of.

[Clues Podcast Host]

Her belongings, everything gone.

[Clues Podcast Co-host]

Oh, my gosh.

[Clues Podcast Host]

And like, she went and visited her daughter before, like, as she was getting ready for prom. Like, gave her some money or something. Like for prom. Like it. She was supposed to go back and.

[Mint Mobile Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Clues Podcast Host]

You know, and see her daughter after. So very, very suspicious. If you guys have any information, like make sure it gets, it gets known.

[Clues Podcast Co-host]

Sounds like one of those ones where someone knows something.

[Clues Podcast Host]

Someone definitely knows something.

[Clues Podcast Co-host]

This week we want to highlight the case of 14 year old Jania McMichael of Gary, Indiana, who disappeared. And currently there is a renewed push for answers in her case. So investigators now believe that the teen was a victim of foul play. Now, Janaya's mother, Jasmine McMichael reported her missing on August 12, 2024 from their home near 19th Avenue in Virginia street in Gary, Indian, Indiana. In October, a search warrant was executed. Gary police said that they have not released details of that search to preserve the integrity of the case. The FBI is also involved in the investigation and says it strongly suspects foul play. Janaya was last seen wearing a black hoodie, black pajama pants and red slash black shoes. Janaya's grandmother has said about this case, quote, one year ago today, I got a phone call from my daughter saying that my granddaughter Janaya ran away. I, I don't believe she ran away. There have been leads, but no solid leads. Nothing. It's just like she vanished. On April 28, 2025, the FBI and the City of Gary announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of those responsible for Janiah's disappearance. It also seems like at some point an additional $10,000 was posted by USPA Nationwide Security, a private security company. So now the total reward being offered for information is $30,000 if anyone has any information. And the Gary Police Department continues to work on active leads with the FBI and urges anyone with information related to Janaya's disappearance to come forward. Lead Detective Sergeant David Umbarger can be contacted at 219-881-1209 or dash u m b a r g [e-mail] Additional tips can be submitted to the FBI at 1-800- call FBI. That's 1-800-225-5324 or online at tips.FBI.gov that concludes our recap of the missing people we've covered for the month of January and their stories continue beyond this episode.

[Clues Podcast Host]

So please again continue to share and amplify these cases and leave any that you want us to cover in the comments. We are picking a lot of our cases now. Thanks to you guys, listeners commenting on those that are close to your community.

[Clues Podcast Co-host]

Thank you so much for being a part of this community. And you can tune into clues every Wednesday wherever you get your podcasts, where we cover a new missing person every week.

[Clues Podcast Host]

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[Vanessa Richardson]

Looking for your next listen. Hi, it's Vanessa Richardson and I have exciting news. Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes is leveling up starting the week of January 12th. You'll be getting two episodes every week. Wednesdays we unravel the conspiracy or the cult, and on Fridays, we look at a corresponding crime. Follow Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen.