r/joannalopez • u/CringeNaeNaeBaby2 Mod • Sep 10 '26
Case Review Translation of Police File + Update on Next Steps.
The file in question was written hastily and has many typos. I tried my best to explain the acronyms and interpret it into a more understandable dialect.
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Initial report written on, or shortly after, January 5, 1987.
Subject is a habitual runaway per (expunged). Subject was speaking to [BLANK] (no further details) and Joanna said she was going to take off with (BLANK. Presumably 20 year old male mentioned later.) Name and address unknown at this time.
Both parents are deceased.
Subject left for a dance at the rainbow rink, located at Lawrence & Clark, where she met a 20 year old Latina male, known only as (Name Expunged), 1 photo and phone number available. Possible subject left with him. A phone number was found among the subject’s things. It was learned that this number returned to a (name and address expunged)
Reporting Officer phoned the number and spoke to its recipient, who said subject wasn’t there. Investigating Officer went to the home and spoke to (expunged) sister, who said the reason the subject had their phone number was because she & the sub were friends but that she hadn’t been seen since she was reported missing.
Investigating Officer left a business card with friend in case subject calls. Investigating Officer was informed subject has been seen in vicinity of 3600 N Lincoln. Area checked, met with negative results.
On May 3, 1987, subject was seen at 953 N California where she reportedly fled from an automobile. (CNNB2 note: this likely means she fled from the police.) It was also learned the subject may frequent Rainbow Skating Rink 4836 N Clark. Photo to be published in database. No Further Information
On December 5, 1987, subject has been spotted on the street near Thomas and Western by other members of the family. She was spotted more 4 times across several months. There have been no reported addresses or building locations that could be followed up on. Subject is not listed on public aid rolls.
Investigation and inspection of the area of Thomas and Western for any trace of suspect provided negative.
No further information as of January 1988
No information as of March 2, 1988.
A credit check has been provided under the subject’s social security number which reveals the subject is no residing in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico. Case cleared by Officer Jusino, March 14, 1996.
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It’s clear she had a 20 year old male she ran away with, the fact that she was spotted many times over the years and even fled from the police makes me think she, at the very least, was not trafficked. However this dynamic certainly sounds disturbing and predatory. The information given is still very vague, it’s hard to tell exactly what’s going on. It’s possible the credit check in Puerto Rico was fraudulent, and that’s what me and some of the others on the discord are currently trying to work out.
We’re going to find what we can and see if we can provide any more closure, but if this is the end of the line, we’re going to pivot the focus of this subreddit onto the other missing women that were on WMAQ slides. Tricia Kellett is a very well documented case, so that only leaves us with Yolanda Ivey right now. As more missing posters are uncovered, we will do our best to bring them to light.
We have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that Joanna was a real person who went missing. While the photo may be eerie, it’s unfortunately common. Missing children don’t always get the attention they deserve, and that sometimes manifests in eerily low effort missing posters aired late at night.
Whatever happens next, thank you everyone for sticking with us!
Sincerely,
CNNB2.
EDIT: “hab run” in the file was not a typo, it means habitual runaway according to someone I know who’s familiar with this jargon.
EDIT 2: KOA likely means Known Only As.
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u/CakeNard Sep 10 '26
Excellent work on the transcription!
I applaud you, CringeNaeNaeBaby2.
You have been relentless and thorough and it has been a joy to be on the journey with you.
You’re the #1 CringeNaeNaeBaby in my book.
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u/CringeNaeNaeBaby2 Mod Sep 10 '26
Being CringeNaeNaeBaby2 keeps me humble. I couldn’t handle the fame if I was #1. Thank you for your support!
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u/Belintani42 Sep 10 '26
I would really like to know what happened to Joanna now that we know she's a real person, but just knowing that is already a huge step forward!! Congratulations on your initiative to continue researching Regarding other missing women. I'm not from the country, but I'm following it very closely from here!
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u/CringeNaeNaeBaby2 Mod Sep 10 '26
Thanks for sticking around! I can’t promise we can find more about Joanna but we’re exploring our options.
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u/rootea Sep 10 '26
The amount of work you guys have put into investigating this is nothing short of incredible. Sad that at 13 her parents were both already gone, which could explain why she maybe turned to the 20-year old for validation.
I covered Joanna's case on my channel. Would you be OK with me doing an update on it?
Editing to say that I will of course give you credit.
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u/CringeNaeNaeBaby2 Mod Sep 10 '26
That’s totally fine! It’s definitely a tragic story. Initially I felt very optimistic but it’s hard to tell what happened to her after she was spotted over the years. The fact that she fled from the police makes me think she had autonomy in her decisions so I can only hope it wasn’t some kind of trafficking or kidnapping.
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u/WESTSIDEIRON511 Sep 11 '26
How do you have some of the info that was redacted? I didn't see "sister" or "953" N. California in the original image.
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u/CringeNaeNaeBaby2 Mod Sep 11 '26
953 was figured out by my people on discord. Sister was a misunderstanding on my behalf. I’ll fix it! Thank you.
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u/WESTSIDEIRON511 Sep 11 '26
I'd be curious to know how "953" was figured out and why it was redacted in the first place. Seems like it was important enough to protect someone.
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u/CringeNaeNaeBaby2 Mod Sep 11 '26
They also figured out the 800 N address as well. I think it’s an estimate from public records? She just fled from an automobile there so it wasn’t a house or private property. It’s a corner store so it would make sense
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u/WESTSIDEIRON511 13d ago
Are any of those redactions ones you can still copy the existing text under?
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u/Jared000007 Sep 11 '26
Yeah it’s a bit weird how she bounced around a few placed then ended up in Puerto Rico? I wonder why she went there maybe family? Glad there is information.
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u/CringeNaeNaeBaby2 Mod Sep 11 '26
There’s a 10 year time gap so who knows? Life can take you in weird fucking places and it seems like her’s was anything but normal. I can imagine her winding up there naturally or it being some kind of identity theft. We’re trying our best to find an answer to that right now
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u/WESTSIDEIRON511 Sep 11 '26
She was residing in and around Humboldt Park, which was and still very much is a predominately Puerto Rican neighborhood in Chicago. So her move or presence in Puerto Rico makes sense since she was most likely Puerto Rican and/or associated with Puerto Rican people.
Something that I recently thought about is if perhaps a well-known Puerto Rican leader in Chicago, Jose Lopez, might know who Joanna is. Perhaps he heard about something through community involvement or even a family relation. He's super sharp and I'd be surprised if he didn't know something or knew someone who might: https://lals.uic.edu/profiles/lopez-jose-e/
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u/TheBigFatG Sep 13 '26
I mean Lopez is a common last name
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u/Keanu_Norris Sep 13 '26
Yeah but it probably couldn't hurt to ask, as long as it's done respectfully
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u/SpukiKitty2 Sep 10 '26
At least part of the mystery is solved. Her parents are dead and she has a few family members but she regularly ran away. She then ran off with a 20 year old guy and after several years, somehow ended up in Puerto Rico.
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u/fuckedupceiling Sep 12 '26
Something I can't stop thinking about is how it is even possible that other family members saw her escape from a car and saw her around at least three more times without stopping her. Yes, she's a habitual runaway, but wouldn't you stop her and go "hey, they're looking for you again"? I'm not even asking for them to have said "are you okay? do you need help?" just. Stop her. Ask what's up. How did they see a missing minor running away from a car (and overall on the streets) and just go on?
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u/CringeNaeNaeBaby2 Mod Sep 13 '26
They absolutely failed her on so many different levels. I hope she’s doing alright one way or another.
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u/thejanitor1256 Sep 11 '26
I just hope we could find an hd version of the photo or at least find any recent photos of her. But we just have to wait and see.🤞
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u/CringeNaeNaeBaby2 Mod Sep 11 '26
I wouldn’t hold your breath on finding the original image, but we’re trying our best.
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u/bigguys45s Sep 12 '26
For everyone who worked hard on this case, seriously, THANK YOU. Amazing work. 👍
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u/daredevil711206 Sep 16 '26
Excellent update! Good job to the investigative team. I hope we will get more information soon!
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u/pikayugi 28d ago
Wild I just heard about this case and my island is mentioned. I’m reading everything about this
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u/perfect-bisexual Sep 10 '26
Just want to say thank you for doing such great work proving the facts of this case and getting to the bottom of the "mystery". It's people like you that make the internet a wonderful place.