The Vivid Faces of the Vanished works directly with families to amplify their voices and keep their loved ones in the public eye. These are the stories entrusted to our advocacy efforts:
- Vicxon Gray Murder: Fort Wayne Father Killed During Louisville Visit
Louisville, Kentucky | May 18, 2023 The sister of Vicxon Gray, Shidazja Lucas, reached out to The Vivid Faces of the Vanished regarding her brother’s unsolved homicide—a case that has now been moved to cold case status while his family continues searching for answers. Vicxon Gray was just 24 years old. He was from Fort… Read more: Vicxon Gray Murder: Fort Wayne Father Killed During Louisville Visit - Niani Finlayson Death: California Mother Fatally Shot After Calling 911 for Help
Lancaster, California | December 4, 2023 Niani Finlayson was 27 years old. A Black woman. A mother. A survivor of domestic violence who did what so many people are told to do when they are in danger. She called 911 for help. That call would cost her her life. A Call for Protection On December… Read more: Niani Finlayson Death: California Mother Fatally Shot After Calling 911 for Help - Sparkle Michelle Rai Murder: Georgia Woman Killed in Contract Murder Plot
Union City, Georgia | April 26, 2000 She had been married for one month. She was the mother of a 7-month-old baby girl. She was only 22 years old. On April 26, 2000, Sparkle Michelle Rai was found just inside the front door of her Union City apartment. Her husband, Rajeeve “Ricky” Rai, had returned… Read more: Sparkle Michelle Rai Murder: Georgia Woman Killed in Contract Murder Plot - Marchelle Freeman Murder: Family Seeks Accountability After Domestic Violence Tragedy
Columbus, Ohio | March 21, 2024 Marchelle Freeman did what so many victims of domestic violence are told to do. She called the police. She asked for help. She begged for protection. According to a lawsuit filed by her family, help never came. A Plea for Protection On March 21, 2024, Columbus Division of Police… Read more: Marchelle Freeman Murder: Family Seeks Accountability After Domestic Violence Tragedy - Jonah Tanner and Damarion Jones Deaths: Syracuse Families Honor Best Friends Lost in Tragedy
Syracuse, New York | June 24, 2026 What began as an ordinary evening between two best friends ended in a tragedy that devastated two families and an entire community. On the night of June 24, 2026, 13-year-old Jonah Tanner and 16-year-old Damarion Jones were inside a home on Lincoln Avenue in Syracuse, New York. They… Read more: Jonah Tanner and Damarion Jones Deaths: Syracuse Families Honor Best Friends Lost in Tragedy - Nichole Gowdy and James Overall Murders: Louisville Double Homicide Remains Unsolved
Louisville, Kentucky | February 6, 2000 For 26 years, Nichole Gowdy’s family has lived with unanswered questions. Twenty-six years of wondering who pulled the trigger. Twenty-six years of wondering who ordered the killings. Twenty-six years of waiting for the phone call that has never come. Nichole’s sister, Tia Shumake, reached out to The Vivid Faces… Read more: Nichole Gowdy and James Overall Murders: Louisville Double Homicide Remains Unsolved - Tyrone “Dro” Davis Jr. Death: Family Continues Seeking Answers in Gainesville Case
Gainesville, Florida | December 27–29, 2025 One of our amazing followers brought Tyrone “Dro” Davis Jr.’s case to the attention of The Vivid Faces of the Vanished after seeing the growing calls for justice across social media. After learning about his family’s fight for answers, we knew his story deserved to be shared. What Police… Read more: Tyrone “Dro” Davis Jr. Death: Family Continues Seeking Answers in Gainesville Case - Richard Jordan III Murder: Memphis Boy’s 2017 Drive-By Death Remains Unsolved
Memphis, Tennessee | November 13, 2017 Some mothers count the years by birthdays. Rosland Shields counts them by the number of years she has been waiting for justice. Richard’s mother reached out to The Vivid Faces of the Vanished because she refuses to let her son’s name become just another unsolved case file. Every day… Read more: Richard Jordan III Murder: Memphis Boy’s 2017 Drive-By Death Remains Unsolved - Gianna “Gigi” Rosales Death: Father Continues Fight for Child Protection Reform
Denver, Colorado | August 2–4, 2020 Some parents spend years fighting for justice after losing a child. Anthony Rosales has spent years living with another kind of pain—the belief that his daughter could still be here if someone had listened. Anthony reached out to The Vivid Faces of the Vanished because although one person was… Read more: Gianna “Gigi” Rosales Death: Father Continues Fight for Child Protection Reform - Gregory K. Travis Jr. Murder: Chicago Family Still Seeks Justice Nearly One Year Later
Chicago, Illinois | August 6, 2025 Gregory K. Travis Jr.’s sister reached out to The Vivid Faces of the Vanished because nearly a year has passed, and her family is still waiting for the phone call that tells them someone has finally been held accountable. Instead, they continue to wake up every day with the… Read more: Gregory K. Travis Jr. Murder: Chicago Family Still Seeks Justice Nearly One Year Later