Going West: True Crime – Episode 570 – Joyce Chiang // 570
Release Date: January 6, 2026
Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft & Heath Merryman

Overview

This episode of "Going West" by Dark West Productions revisits the haunting disappearance and murder of Joyce Chiang, a young D.C. immigration attorney. Daphne and Heath explore Joyce's background, the mysterious circumstances surrounding her vanishing in 1999, the protracted investigation, and the ultimate closure (or lack thereof) of her case. They also draw striking parallels to the infamous unsolved murder of Chandra Levy, another young, ambitious woman who disappeared under eerily similar circumstances in Washington D.C.

Episode Structure & Key Discussion Points

Joyce Chiang: Early Life and Ambition

[03:13–06:59]

• Joyce's Background:
  • Born December 7, 1970, in Chicago, graduated Smith College and Georgetown Law.
  • Family of high achievers; two brothers, John (former controller of California) and Roger (worked for Clinton administration).
  • Described as lively, fun, hardworking, and deeply connected with family:

    “She was my soulmate.” – John Chiang (Joyce’s brother)
    “She’d light up a room. … Everything you’d want your daughter to be.” – Jean Smith, Chief of Staff to Howard Berman

Joyce’s Disappearance

[06:59–15:20]

• The Lead-up:

  • Joyce was independent, career-focused, and living in D.C. with brother Roger.
  • Had reported feeling followed on the subway and a peeping Tom incident in the months before her disappearance. The family suspects these incidents were related.

• The Day of Disappearance – January 9, 1999:

  • Met friends for shopping and coffee, then saw a legal drama movie ("A Civil Action") with friend Kathy.
  • Last seen around 8:15 pm near Dupont Circle Starbucks; intended to walk home after tea.
  • By January 10, her brother Roger realized she never returned.

• Initial Clues & Search:

  • Joyce’s ID found in Anacostia Park (20-min drive from disappearance site), far from her usual route.
  • Her coat, keys, glove, and loyalty cards found on the riverbank; police deduced she was likely transported by car.
  • A grim discovery: while searching, dive teams found another missing person’s body, not Joyce’s.

The Investigation & Family’s Critique

[15:20–20:44]

• Body Recovered:
  • April 1999, Joyce’s decomposed body found in Potomac River, 8 miles from where her belongings were found.
  • Authorities unable to determine cause of death due to decomposition.
• Family’s Frustration:
  • Roger: “Every passing day gets harder and harder.”
    The FBI originally suspected abduction but later leaned toward suicide — a theory the family strongly opposed.
  • Evidence like Joyce’s torn coat and prior stalking incidents were, according to her brother, neglected by investigators:

    “This team right here restored Joyce's character, restored her honor, and in doing so, corrected the history.” – Roger Chiang, reflecting on later developments [48:55]

Media Attention and Parallels: Chandra Levy

[25:40–44:13]

• Chandra Levy’s Case:
  • 24-year-old government intern disappeared in 2001 near Dupont Circle, just blocks from Joyce's disappearance.
  • Both frequented the same Starbucks, lived in the same neighborhood, and had government connections.
  • Chandra’s affair with Congressman Gary Condit became a media storm. Police eventually ruled out his involvement.
• Suspect & Investigation:
  • Ingmar Guandique, an MS-13 gang member, later linked to attacks on other women in the same park.
  • Guandique confessed (via jailhouse informant) to accidentally killing Chandra during a robbery, but later recanted.
  • His conviction was vacated due to prosecutorial misconduct; confession by informant found to be fabricated. Guandique was deported; the case remains unsolved.
• Comparison & Theories:
  • Strong speculation about a serial offender or politically motivated murder, but no solid connection ever established between the two cases.

Final Developments in Joyce Chiang’s Case

[44:13–50:05]

• Reopening the Case:
  • D.C. Police Chief Kathy Lanier reopened Joyce’s case in 2011. It was finally ruled a homicide, but officially closed without charges.
  • Two suspects identified: Steve Allen (serving life in Maryland) and Neil Joaquin (deported to Guyana; no extradition treaty). A third (unidentified) possibly involved.
  • Police believe Joyce was abducted during a robbery, fought back, and may have drowned trying to escape.
• Ongoing Frustration:
  • No one charged; family left with unanswered questions.
  • Roger wrote a book, My Peace I Offer: The Disappearance of Joyce Chiang, to honor his sister’s memory.

“How did these guys find her? Were they the ones following her before? Did they see her at Starbucks? Did they apprehend her? Throw her in a car that was parked on the side of the road? Like, how did they get her out of the area without anybody seeing?” – Daphne, expressing the family’s lingering questions [50:24]

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the unlikeliness of two similar disappearances:

  “Which is wild just considering those similarities. The same city, disappearing from the same block, frequenting the same Starbucks, living pretty close to each other, and also working for the government.” – Daphne [44:48]

• On law enforcement’s changed stance:

  “This team right here restored Joyce's character, restored her honor, and in doing so, corrected the history.” – Roger Chiang [48:55]

• On investigators dropping leads:

  “Yeah, you might want to look into those.” – Heath (regarding police ignoring stalker/peeper leads) [20:44]

• Describing the unresolved pain for families:

  “I have a lifetime sentence of a lost limb missing from our family tree. It's a lifetime of a broken heart.” – Susan Levy, Chandra Levy’s mother [41:23]

Important Timeline & Timestamps

• [03:13] Joyce Chiang’s background
• [08:13] Details of day she disappeared
• [10:27] Discovery of ID and search begins
• [15:20] Joyce’s body recovered; case goes cold
• [18:54] Family’s criticism of suicide theory
• [25:40] Introduction and summary of Chandra Levy’s disappearance
• [33:19] Discovery of Chandra's remains; focus on Gary Condit
• [36:39] Jailhouse informant and Ingmar Guandique’s alleged confession
• [41:23] Ingmar’s conviction and victim family’s reaction
• [44:13] Connections and distinctions between cases
• [45:01] D.C. police reopen and close Joyce's case with named but untried suspects
• [49:07] Roger Chiang's response to case closure

Conclusion & Host Reflections

• Joyce Chiang’s family received partial answers, but no convictions.
• Chandra Levy’s case remains officially unsolved after years of investigation and legal proceedings.
• The hosts emphasize continued cold case efforts and the profound impact on families left with unresolved questions.
• Call to Action: Listeners are encouraged to follow the podcast's social media for photos and updates and to reach out if they want a deeper dive into either case.

Tone & Style

Hosts Daphne and Heath balance a compassionate, respectful approach with moments of incredulity and frustration at official missteps and unsolved mysteries. They use natural conversation and occasional humor to process tragic, complex cases, always emphasizing empathy for victims and families.

For listeners: This episode offers an emotionally resonant and thorough exploration of two entwined D.C. mysteries, highlighting the rippling consequences of unresolved violence and the enduring push for justice.