Jody Lynn Brant was 16 when she left Lawrenceville, Georgia, on the evening of May 27, 1994, driving a black 1987 Ford Escort to visit a cousin in Pontiac, Michigan. Her route should have followed I-75 north, but she became disoriented and on May 28 called her cousin saying she believed she was near Erie. Later that evening a brief answering‑machine message from Jody said she had arrived in Pontiac, but investigators say that call may have been made under coercion.

On the morning of May 29 her Escort was found abandoned and deliberately set on fire on a rural road at Turk and Consear Roads in Ottawa Lake, Michigan, a few miles north of Toledo. The blaze was started in the front passenger area after 10 p.m. the previous night. Keys remained in the ignition, the driver’s seat was pushed fully back despite Jody’s 5 feet 3 inches stature, a new dent appeared on the rear fender, and her burned suitcases were recovered in the trunk. A ground and aerial search turned up no sign of Jody.

Reports say Jody had recently driven with two male acquaintances to Michigan carrying about ten pounds of marijuana and had been paid, but it is unknown whether that is connected to her disappearance. No suspects or persons of interest have been publicly named. If anyone knew Jody, saw her Escort that night, or has information about the road near Turk and Consear, please share what is known.