The DC Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing 16-year-old girl, Tyaijah Ellis, who was last seen in the 300 block of Anacostia Road, Southeast, on the first day of the new year. According to the DC Police Department’s social media post, Tyaijah’s disappearance is being treated as critical, and they are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Critical #MissingPerson 16-year-old Tyaijah Ellis, who was last seen in the 300 block of Anacostia Road, Southeast, on January 1, 2026. Have info? Call (202) 727-9099 / text 50411 pic.twitter.com/9Gfqi5LicH
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) January 4, 2026
Having vanished without a trace since January 1, 2026, the community has grown increasingly concerned. Tagging her description, police described Tyaijah as a young woman whose absence resonates with a familiar echo of worry that pervades the city when a child goes missing. The police have not indicated any suspicion of foul play, but as anyone who knows the hurt of a loved one’s disappearance, the passage of time does little to ease the mind; rather, it fuels the dread with each passing day.
Shortly after reporting Tyaijah missing, efforts were made by the police department to disseminate her information widely. Utilizing both traditional modalities and digital platforms, the call for help echoed across the digital landscape; a beacon for a community’s gaze to perhaps catch a glimpse, to spark recognition, to bring Tyaijah home. “Critical #MissingPerson 16-year-old Tyaijah Ellis, who was last seen in the 300 block of Anacostia Road, Southeast, on January 1, 2026,” the DC Police Department’s post read, succinct yet charged with an urgency that needs no embellishment…