It’s been six long, emotional months since 19-year-old John Gandy was last seen. And for his mother, Shae Gandy, the waiting hasn’t gotten any easier.
“It’s overwhelming,” she told WDAM 7. “I am very tired.”
Back on January 8, John reportedly got into a red vehicle on Holly Bush Church Road in Waynesboro, Mississippi. Since that moment, there’s been nothing—no confirmed sightings, no solid updates, no real closure for a family desperate for answers.
According to Shae, not much has changed since those first few terrifying days. “From the tips and leads we got, he was set up, and that he may have been shot and killed,” she said.
Despite the heartbreak and growing concern, the community hasn’t turned its back on her. Just a few weeks after John’s disappearance, people came together on January 25 for a large-scale search. It didn’t lead to any breakthroughs, but the support meant everything to the family.
“They’ve been backing us up, been there for moral support,” Shae said. “For anything that I need, they have been reaching out to me.”
Wayne County Sheriff Jerry Mosely wasn’t available for an in-person update this week, but he told WDAM 7 over the phone that investigators are still working leads and haven’t given up. He also confirmed that the department is working with Crime Stoppers to offer a reward in hopes that someone will come forward with a key piece of information.
Shae believes change might be on the horizon, especially with new local leadership stepping in. “We have new officials here,” she said. “We’ve got a new mayor, so I do believe things will start coming together quickly.”
Still, she knows it’ll take more than that. For real progress, someone needs to speak up.
“Any leads, small or big, that you might have heard or may know, don’t be afraid to reach out,” she urged.
In the meantime, she’s not backing down. “I’m 100% committed,” Shae said. “I’m determined to get answers for my family, to get closure for my family and to get the justice that John deserves.”
John Gandy is described as a Black male, around 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing approximately 140 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair styled in short twists.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Waynesboro Police Department at (601) 735-3192 or the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office at (601) 735-2323. Even the smallest tip could be what finally brings this family some long-awaited answers.