Photo Courtesy Of Berkeley Police Department
The body of a 15-year-old girl that went missing was found.
Janiya Brown’s body was identified and found in a Detroit alleyway on Wednesday.
Berkley Police Detective Lt. Andrew Hadfield said, “It is confirmed with the family that she is deceased.”
Brown ran away a few days after moving to Michigan with her aunt after her mother was murdered last year in Cleveland, Ohio. Her aunt brought her to Michigan in hopes that she would escape the bad crowd she surrounded herself with. The teen disconnected her phone after running away but continued to share photos on social media. Police were hoping to use the images to help track her.
“There were certain posts where she was in vehicles, traveling, other people with firearms, flashing guns in front of the camera,” Hadfield said.
Berkley police reported Brown had been missing since April 25. She was found in a 2013 Chevy Malibu that was reported stolen. Police believe the teen was involved in the carjacking and noted she was with two armed men.
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Loved ones say she was pressured.
“She was forced to do it. She’s a kid. She’s a child,” Jason Brown, her father, said.
Deputy Detroit police Chief Rudy Harper said the case “is still an open and active investigation.”
“We offer our sincerest condolences to (her) family and friends. We are on the hunt for suspects and ask anyone with information to come forward,” Harper continued.
Her father and the community are grieving her loss. “Words can’t explain. My baby girl was right here. She was forced here.”
Hadfield said, “We want to make sure that every kid returns safe home. If they’re having problems at home, we can work with those, but right now, we’re having to grieve the loss of a young child.”