Key facts
- A teenager who disappeared from Chicago in June 2022 has been found alive in Virginia.
- The now 19-year-old was allegedly held captive for four years.
- She met the alleged captor, Owen Anderson, online.
- Milwaukee authorities have filed kidnapping and child abduction charges against Anderson.
- Anderson faces additional charges in Virginia, including abduction and immoral acts with a juvenile.
A teenager who disappeared from Chicago in June 2022 has been found alive in Virginia after allegedly being held captive for four years. The now 19-year-old, identified as Joniah Walker, was 15 when she traveled from Milwaukee to Chicago to meet a man she had been communicating with online.
Investigators said the man, identified as 37-year-old Owen Anderson, convinced the teen to meet up, and he held her captive ever since. Her family and friends had criticized the Milwaukee police for what they perceived as a slow response to her disappearance.
Walker was discovered in a home in Blacksburg, Virginia, approximately 730 miles from Chicago. Police allege she was subjected to sexual and physical abuse during her captivity. Anderson reportedly disposed of her cellphone and a burner phone he had provided her.
Milwaukee authorities have filed charges of kidnapping and child abduction against Anderson. He also faces charges in Virginia, including abduction, immoral acts with a juvenile, strangulation, child abuse, and preventing a 911 call. The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges are pending.