Joanna Ryan, a 52-year-old woman battling Stage 4 cancer, went missing under distressing circumstances on September 28, 2024, shortly after attending her daughter’s wedding in Webberville, Michigan. The news of her disappearance sent shockwaves through the local community and beyond, sparking concern and fear for her safety given her critical medical condition. The mother of the bride had left the wedding in her husband’s car to briefly return home to Lansing, intending to change clothes and come back to the celebration. However, hours passed, and Joanna never returned, sparking a frantic search led by her family and local authorities. After an agonizing ordeal that lasted almost 24 hours, Joanna was found safe, much to the relief of her family and friends. Her daughter, Darian Garcia, who had taken to social media to raise awareness and plead for help, made the announcement with overwhelming gratitude on her Facebook page: “SHE’S BEEN FOUND EVERYONE THANK YOU!”
This emotional and alarming sequence of events began when Joanna, dressed in an elegant black floor-length gown and silver shawl, left her daughter’s wedding venue in Webberville at around 5-6 p.m. She had taken her husband’s 2018 Dodge Charger, planning a quick trip home on the north side of Lansing to change into more comfortable clothes before returning to continue the celebration. Joanna’s departure was normal enough, but as hours passed and her absence became increasingly concerning, her family realized something was terribly wrong. Her daughter, Darian, who had been overjoyed on what was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life, quickly descended into panic as her mother did not return to the wedding.
Darian’s immediate concern was not only for her mother’s whereabouts but for her precarious health. Joanna had been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, a relentless and terminal illness that had already taken a significant toll on her body. She relied heavily on medication, a feeding tube, and a breathing tube to manage her condition, all of which were left behind when she disappeared. Her phone, which could have provided a lifeline to her family, was turned off or had gone dead, leaving all calls going straight to voicemail. The urgency to find Joanna escalated with every passing hour, as Darian and her family knew that without her medical supplies and care, her mother’s health could deteriorate rapidly.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Darian immediately took to Facebook to spread the word about her mother’s disappearance. She made an emotional plea, sharing detailed information about Joanna’s last known location, her medical condition, and the vehicle she was driving. Her post read: “My mom Joanna Ryan is missing, she left my wedding in Webberville, MI yesterday evening around 5-6pm in my dad’s car to go home on the north side of Lansing & change her clothes then come back, she never returned. SHE NEVER MADE IT HOME. I have been there & so have the police she is not home. She has stage 4 cancer and needs her medicine, feeding tube, & breathing tube. I’m very worried about her, & her phone is going straight to voicemail. So if anybody sees or hears from her please let me know!”
Darian also provided details about the vehicle Joanna was driving—a black and gray 2018 Dodge Charger with license plate number 73AFG5. A police report was filed, and authorities quickly began searching for Joanna, issuing alerts to the community to be on the lookout for the car and the missing woman. In a matter of hours, Joanna’s disappearance became a topic of deep concern not just for her family and friends but for the wider Lansing and Webberville communities, with many individuals sharing Darian’s post and offering assistance.
The search for Joanna was complicated by several factors. First, her phone being unreachable made it difficult to track her location, and since she had left the wedding voluntarily and appeared to be acting within her normal behavior at the time, there was initially little to suggest foul play. However, her health condition made it imperative to locate her quickly. The knowledge that she was missing vital medical equipment heightened the stakes for everyone involved.
Hours passed with no word from Joanna, and the fear of the unknown began to weigh heavily on Darian and her family. Where could she have gone? Was she lost, confused, or in danger? These questions swirled in their minds, and the anxiety became almost unbearable as they worked with police and volunteers to find any clue that could lead to Joanna’s whereabouts. The Lansing Police Department mobilized resources, checking local hospitals, reviewing traffic cameras, and coordinating with nearby jurisdictions in case Joanna had traveled outside the immediate area. Meanwhile, the family reached out to Joanna’s friends, colleagues, and neighbors, hoping that someone might have seen or heard from her.
Joanna Ryan had lived in Lansing for many years, where she ran a successful business, Unique Touch Housekeeping, for nearly 13 years. She had built a solid reputation in the community as a hard worker and a compassionate person, and the news of her disappearance resonated with many of her clients and acquaintances. People who knew Joanna described her as a warm, kind-hearted woman who had faced her cancer diagnosis with grace and determination. Despite her illness, she continued to work and stay active in the lives of her children and grandchildren. Her disappearance seemed uncharacteristic, and those who knew her best struggled to understand what could have led to this sudden and alarming event.
As night fell and still no word came from Joanna, the concern for her safety deepened. Darian, already emotionally exhausted from the day’s earlier celebrations, spent a sleepless night coordinating with the police and following up on leads. She refused to rest until her mother was found, fearing that each passing moment reduced the chances of a positive outcome. The community rallied around the family, with many offering to join the search, distribute flyers, and assist in any way they could.
Then, sometime in the early hours of September 29, just shy of 24 hours after she had first gone missing, Joanna Ryan was found. The details of how she was located have not been fully disclosed by authorities, but what is known is that Joanna was found safe and alive. Darian, overjoyed and overwhelmed, took to Facebook to share the good news with everyone who had been following her mother’s case: “SHE’S BEEN FOUND EVERYONE THANK YOU!” Her post was met with an outpouring of relief and congratulations from friends, family, and community members who had been anxiously awaiting news of Joanna’s fate.
While the exact circumstances of Joanna’s disappearance and subsequent recovery remain unclear, what is most important is that she was found safe and is now receiving the medical care she desperately needs. Her family has expressed deep gratitude to everyone who helped in the search, from the Lansing Police Department to the numerous individuals who shared Darian’s posts, offered information, or simply kept them in their thoughts and prayers.
Joanna’s recovery is nothing short of miraculous, especially given her precarious health. Stage 4 cancer is an advanced and often terminal diagnosis, and Joanna’s reliance on a feeding tube, breathing tube, and medication makes her survival in the hours she was missing all the more remarkable. Her family has been incredibly supportive throughout her battle with cancer, and Darian’s quick action in mobilizing the community likely played a critical role in ensuring that Joanna was found before her condition could deteriorate further.
For Darian, the emotional rollercoaster of her wedding day will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression. What was meant to be one of the happiest days of her life quickly turned into a nightmare when her mother went missing, and the sheer relief of finding her safe will be forever intertwined with the memories of that day. As Darian reflects on the events, it is clear that her love and concern for her mother knew no bounds, and her determination to find Joanna, coupled with the overwhelming support from the community, resulted in a positive outcome in what could have been a tragic situation.
As the family takes time to recover from this ordeal, they have chosen to keep the specifics of Joanna’s disappearance private. What is certain, however, is that the outpouring of love and support from the Lansing community played a pivotal role in the successful resolution of this case. Joanna Ryan’s story serves as a reminder of the power of community and the importance of coming together in times of crisis. It also highlights the incredible resilience of individuals like Joanna, who, even in the face of overwhelming odds, manage to find their way back to safety.
The family has asked for privacy as Joanna recuperates and they work to process the events of the past 24 hours. Darian has expressed her deepest gratitude to everyone who reached out, offered help, and shared in her family’s relief. Joanna’s survival is a testament to the strength of the human spirit, and the Lansing community is celebrating alongside the Ryan family as they welcome her back home, safe and sound.
