JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Throughout the month of November, First Coast News has been featuring a missing persons case every Thursday. Today we are focusing on the disappearance of Janay Wiley.
"It's weird, how could you just disappear and nobody saw nothing?" said George Wiley. It has been four years of searching for his daughter, Janay.
"Every day is a struggle, you know what I mean. I hurt everyday, I just want her back home," he said.
The youngest of 11 siblings, Janay was the baby of the family. Described as friendly, creative and a people person, but George Wiley said some of the people around her weren't the best influences.
"She got caught up in the world," he said quietly.
Janay was last seen alive on June 29 of 2020, celebrating her sister's birthday.
"Never had a clue that would be the last time I saw her," said George.
He said he spoke to Janay on the phone the next day and she said she was over on Wright Avenue just off St. Augustine Road, but she called him from a number he didn't recognize.
"When she was ready to get off the phone she said, I got to get off the phone because the lady wants her phone and she said 'yes ma'am'. So I knew it had to be an older lady she respected," he describes, "So that is the last time I heard from her."
After a week of not hearing from Janay, George Wiley reported his daughter as missing to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
Detective Jonetta Buxton began working the case. She said JSO began searching the areas Janay was known to frequent like Moncrief and Myrtle Avenues area.
"We flooded the area. Myself, patrol and the missing persons unit. We used all of our resources, we spared none," said Buxton, "We even brought out the command bus on numerous occasions."
They also spoke with those who knew Janay Wiley.
"I did not hear any negatives about her, I did not hear someone was looking for her in a criminal manner, I did not hear she had an altercation with anyone," said Buxton, "That's what made this case so hard and it continues to be hard."
It remains unknown whose phone Janay used to call her father for the last time, but George Wiley said he is certain, no matter where she was, she would have called if she was OK.
"If she was able to communicate, use anybody's phone, she would have called me or her mom," he said.
Sadly, Janay's mother passed away last year, but George Wiley and other members of Janay's family will continue to press for answers. Buxton said someone out there knows where Janay is and it is time they step up and help.
"You have to get beyond yourself. A lot of times people take the position: it's not my business or what did that person do for someone to cause harm to them? No matter what a person does, you do not have the right to cause harm to anyone or withhold information that you know can assist with bringing that person home," said Buxton, "It is time for her to come home, it is time to bring closure to the family."
If you know anything about the disappearance of Janay Wiley, contact the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500 or CrimeStoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS(8477) or email JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org