19 INVESTIGATES: 3 years later, no arrests in Cleveland EMT kidnapping case

Añadido: 2026-05-09

[00:00:01]Tonight on 19 Investigates, was La'Shalle Jordan really abducted in 2023? The Cleveland paramedic claims she was kidnapped and nearly burned alive, but police say some of the evidence doesn't add up. So, why are there still no arrests 3 years later?

[00:00:19]A new supercharged designer drug linked to dozens of deaths nationwide, and the DEA warns it's now in Ohio. Our team exposes the risks. And many see a college degree as part of the American dream, but experts warn some for-profit schools can be an absolute nightmare. We dig into claims being made by colleges across the country that are leaving thousands of students feeling misled and massively in debt.

[00:00:54]Good evening, everyone. I'm Brian Duffy.

[00:00:55]It's now been 3 years since a missing Cleveland EMT turned up at a convenience store telling police kidnappers tried to burn her alive. We've been asking questions for years after police uncovered inconsistent evidence in her case, and to this day no one has been arrested or charged. Tonight, senior investigator Sarah Goldberg is asking why.

[00:01:22]Dishoveled and in shock, disturbing surveillance video back in May 2023 showed a woman, reportedly missing for 5 days, walk into a convenience store on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland barefoot, her shirt ripped, asking to call 911. She says someone tried to kill her.

[00:01:40]>> Cleveland EMS worker La'Shalle Jordan, trained to save others, appeared to need help herself. A dispatcher who took her call in shock. You'll never believe this. We just got a call from La'Shalle Jordan.

[00:01:53]She said she got away from the people that kidnapped her and they tried to burn her alive. The 30-year-old mother of two mysteriously vanished from outside of her Glenville home on May 6th, 2023, setting off a massive, days-long search. After she returned, police never put out any information about a suspect or suspects involved in Jordan's reported disappearance and said there was no threat to public safety.

[00:02:17]That July, a city spokesperson told us investigators had found inconsistent evidence in the case. Jordan returned to work that month, and the questions remained. Was she really kidnapped? And if so, by who?

[00:02:32]Early on, 19 Investigates learned Cleveland's chief prosecutor, Akilah Jordan, is Laquisha Jordan's sister.

[00:02:39]That fall of 2023, Mayor Justin Bibb said the prosecutor's personal connection to the case didn't leak into the investigation. Uh we've been very focused on being transparent and letting the police department do its due diligence to make sure we get all the facts to come to the right conclusions as it relates to this case. We first asked the city back in 2023 if they would pursue criminal charges against Jordan if it's determined that she wasn't truthful about the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. They told us they would be seeking outside counsel once the investigation is complete and ready for prosecutorial review. In October 2024, while under investigation, Jordan became a paramedic, according to the city, a promotion with more responsibility and better pay. Fast forward to April 2025, the city of Cleveland told us they sent Jordan's case to a special prosecutor for review.

[00:03:34]Attorney Michael O'Malley, who also serves as law director for the city of Rocky River, took over the investigation earlier that year. The city of Cleveland told us they remain committed to an independent, objective review of the case. Now, 3 years after she went missing, May 2026, where does the case stand? A spokesperson for the city tells us the investigation is still open and ongoing and they can't provide an update on an open investigation. We checked in with Michael O'Shea, the special prosecutor for an update on this case and he did not have a comment at this time. The city tells us Jordan is still employed by Cleveland EMS. We also reached out to CARE, the Cleveland Association of Rescue Employees, the labor union for Cleveland EMS. They had no comment. It's now been 3 years with a lot of key questions unanswered. We'll keep you posted when we learn more.

[00:04:30]Reporting from Cleveland EMS headquarters, Sarah Goldberg, 19 News.

[00:04:35]Did a local police department ignore warning signs about one of their own? An officer fired after punching a handcuffed woman is now being sued by a man who says his complaint about that officer was dismissed months earlier.

[00:04:50]Investigator Mike Mason digs deeper into the allegations.

[00:04:55]Juan Wyckoff has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the Brooklyn Police Department and five of its officers, including former Sergeant Paul Stein.

[00:05:04]Stein's accused of assaulting Wyckoff on April 30th of last year. The suit alleges Stein, who was off duty, hit the man's car on I-90 in West Lake then fled at more than 100 miles an hour.

[00:05:17]>> He literally tried to run me off the highway. Wyckoff says he followed Stein to the Brooklyn Police Department and reported what occurred. THE A COP HIT MY CAR AND TOOK OFF.

[00:05:27]ON THE HIGHWAY. THE LAWSUIT ALLEGES Stein was driving recklessly and was under the influence. Body cam video shows Wyckoff telling officers he smelled alcohol on Stein's breath. You know what else I told the guy people that they drug test people that get in accidents? He need to get drug tested and alcohol all that. That's why I said smell some liquor on his breath. There's no record to show Stein was ever tested.

[00:05:48]Surveillance cameras were rolling when Wyckoff confronted Stein at the employee entrance. Video shows Stein shoving and kicking Wyckoff. The lawsuit claims that's assault and battery under Ohio law.

[00:06:01]The chief gave Stein a written reprimand for traffic violations, but he cleared him of assault. Is that enough?

[00:06:07]No, it's not enough. Wyckoff is represented by three attorneys, Keith Hansbrough, Anthony Jordan, and Clarissa Smith. Unfortunately, the management or the chain of command in the Brooklyn police seem to be the only people in the country that don't see this as police brutality. If what had been done with Wyckoff was done appropriately, then we wouldn't have had the situation with the second person. Five months after the hit-and-run, the department fired Stein for punching a handcuffed woman in the face. It happened last September after she was arrested on an outstanding warrant for aggravated menacing. Stein was then charged with misdemeanor assault and has pleaded not guilty. That case is ongoing. I think if anybody else had done what he did, they would be charged with a felony. 19 Investigates obtained a copy of Stein's personnel file from the Brooklyn Police Department. In a 2023 performance review, his lieutenant said he needed to work on two things: de-escalating situations and reducing the number of citizen complaints. We requested copies of those complaints from the city in March, but still haven't received them. And we can't get those records from the city of Brooklyn.

[00:07:21]I also think there should be an investigation launched into how the police department in Brooklyn functions.

[00:07:25]The lawsuit alleges the police department has a custom of encouraging or tolerating the use of excessive force. It claims Stein and four other officers intimidated and threatened Wyckoff when he tried to report the incident. Police Chief Scott Milkie is also named as a defendant. He's accused of violating Wyckoff's civil rights after saying he'd pull a gun on him. I would have told you I would have handled the situation if I would have got I would have I would have pulled my gun out. Wyckoff's lawsuit also accuses officers of obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence. I'm kind of confused why nothing was taken serious about what he did. Two days after the lawsuit was filed, Chief Milkie announced his retirement. We reached out to Stein, his attorney, and the Brooklyn Police Department for comment, but we haven't heard back. The woman from the September incident plans to file a lawsuit sometime this summer.

[00:08:21]Mike Mason, 19 News.

[00:08:24]For some, college may seem like the path to a better career, but typical four-year schools are not for everyone. Instead, students may choose for-profit schools, often taking out loans to pay private companies for an education they're told will give them fast training and a better job.

[00:08:42]But Josie Sturman discovered some schools are not living up to their promises while students are being weighed down with a lifetime of debt.

[00:08:53]I originally borrowed $33,000.

[00:08:56]It is currently over $71,000. [music] When Michelle Reed enrolled in the Art Institute of Pittsburgh's online program nearly 20 years ago, she had dreams of becoming a graphic designer for a magazine like Rolling Stone. Instead, her life ended up more like a story inside its pages. She's battled cancer and homelessness, been sick and struggling to pay [music] the federal loan she took out, the debt ruining her credit. The money went to a school the Department of Education says made pervasive and widespread substantial misrepresentations about things like employment rates for graduates, salaries, and career services. It all was too good to be true.

[00:09:40]The Art [music] Institute, which is now out of business, was a for-profit college. Unlike traditional four-year private or public nonprofit universities, typically [music] funded in part by tax dollars or donors, these institutions are privately owned businesses run by companies or corporations. They may have a career-specific focus [music] and shorter programs. Career Education Colleges and Universities, a lobbying group that represents some for-profit schools, says they're key to training workers for important, [music] in-demand jobs, especially non-traditional students, adult learners, or working parents who need flexibility. But agencies from the Federal Trade Commission to state attorneys general have been vocal that some for-profits can be problematic.

[00:10:28]They have advertising programs that make them look like the answer to a prayer.

[00:10:32]Well, they're not. Our national investigative team, with help from the Arnold Center for Investigative Journalism at Indiana University, looked at advertising for more than 100 for-profit schools across the nation.

[00:10:44]>> [music] >> We found dubious claims about post-graduate employment rates, colleges saying grads have been hired by major companies like Google and Amazon with no proof, and bold salary claims that have no backing in research. What they wanted was the federally subsidized student grant or loan money, and they needed warm bodies to do it. That's where a government program called borrower defense comes in. It allows students who feel like they were misled to apply to the Department of Education to have their loans forgiven. What we're seeing is real fraud and real misleading statistics and tactics to get students to enroll in these schools. Still, Robert Farrington with The College Investor website says some [music] for-profit schools do have value, especially for specific trades and careers and people who need flexibility.

[00:11:33]But, students need to look closely at their claims and file for borrower defense if they're not met. Between 2015, when the program really took off, and January, our team found there have been more than a million applications to the program. California, Florida, and Texas students account for more than a third of those applications, and at least 75% of all claims have been filed by students from four-profit [music] institutions.

[00:12:00]It's just been a a a financial >> [snorts] >> nightmare.

[00:12:06]After borrower defense claims from students like Michelle Reed were ignored by the government, a group called the Project on Predatory Student Lending filed suit against the Department of Education, saying it was refusing to process applications. The department didn't respond to multiple [music] requests for an interview, but the lawsuit against the agency has brought victory [music] in ways for borrowers, including Michelle. I just think of the possibility that I could [music] finally not be homeless and buy a house.

[00:12:41]And I could have my own space to [music] heal and recover.

[00:12:50]The trade group, Career Education Colleges and Universities, says it supports students seeking loan forgiveness if they were misled or defrauded, but says many frivolous claims are being submitted with the vast majority thrown out. The group also compares its member schools to community colleges [music] and says for-profit career colleges have much higher graduation and job placement rates, often better training technology, and stronger employer engagement. I'm Josie Sturman.

[00:13:18]The Project on Predatory Student Lending says, as part of its case against the Department of Education, another wave of borrowers should get decisions by mid-June telling them if they're entitled to full relief from their federal student loan debt. A deadly new designer drug [music] is now here in Ohio and it's even more powerful than fentanyl. What you need to know coming up next.

[00:13:43]Where you live can change how far you travel and how much you pay to have your baby. Still ahead, how maternity care gaps can drive up costs and what families can do to plan ahead.

[00:14:07]>> [music] >> A drug up to 10 times more powerful than fentanyl has now led to several dozen deaths from Tennessee and Texas to California. The Drug Enforcement Administration warns this new synthetic opioid is here in Ohio and it could be mixed with other drugs. Senior investigator Sarah Goldberg continues to follow the evolution of opioids and gives us a closer look into this new designer drug.

[00:14:38]It's called cyclorphine, a lab-grown opioid starting to show up in Ohio and about 20 other states. An emerging trend the DEA is keeping an eye on. It's many more times more potent than fentanyl and as we know fentanyl is the leading driver of the overdose deaths that we're seeing nationwide. Brian McNeal is with the DEA Detroit Field Division which covers Ohio. So cyclorphine is something that we are closely monitoring. It's very concerning to have something even more powerful than fentanyl. As we know fentanyl is the leading driver of the more than 70,000 overdose deaths that we saw last year. The powerful drug can be found on its own or mixed with other illegal drugs, too. This is an opportunity to sit down and have those very important conversations. You know, we are coming up on summer vacation where we've got some idle hands and idle time. There's time to sit down and talk to with our our kids and those in our care about just how dangerous these drugs are. You know, gone are the days in the '50s and '60s where there was experimentation. Experimentation can lead to death.

[00:15:39]>> The DEA found 29% of the counterfeit pills they seized contain a lethal dosage of fentanyl. They're trying to stay one step ahead of dangerous drugs like this to prevent overdoses. We have labs throughout the country that we submit all of our exhibits to and those trained chemists can identify uh trends because what might be caught in one region uh is chemically identical that's caught in another region and we can work that investigation and find the source and bring those bad actors who are bringing this poison into our communities justice. Since scopolamine is an opioid, Narcan can help reverse overdoses. Signs of an opioid overdose include the person isn't moving or can't wake up, slowed breathing, cold and clammy skin, and blue lips and nails. If you believe somebody is overdosing, call 911 right away. Sarah Goldberg, 19 News.

[00:16:34]You can find resources from the DEA on the free 19 News mobile app. Just look for this story under the 19 Investigates tab. If you or anyone you know needs help right away, you can call the 988 Lifeline 24 hours a day. Well, did you know there's a team of people in downtown Cleveland who do everything from changing your tire if you got a flat to escorting you to your car if you don't feel safe. They also work to connect the city's unsheltered population with social services. Mike Mason shows us the team working behind the scenes to keep downtown clean and safe.

[00:17:12]759,000 lb of trash, more than 13,000 security checks, and more than 400 safety escorts last year alone. Those are the numbers behind Downtown Cleveland Incorporated, the nonprofit working to make the heart of the city cleaner and safer. Michael Deemer is the CEO. The ambassadors are an integral part of Downtown Cleveland.

[00:17:38]DCI has two types of ambassadors, clean and safety. Clean ambassadors drive these compact cars searching for trash along the streets and picking it up in the parks. They help maintain the sidewalks and beautify with planters and hanging baskets. There are 250 planters spread across downtown.

[00:17:59]Uniform safety ambassadors also patrol the streets around the clock.

[00:18:03]>> They serve as a walking hospitality presence for visitors, residents, and workers in Downtown Cleveland. They serve as additional eyes and ears for the Cleveland police. They also have 20 smart cameras downtown that feed directly into the police department's real-time crime center. We went along with safety ambassador Sam Hyde to see what they do up close. We're kind of headed towards Public Square. Sam says his job is to keep people safe in more ways than one. There's a crosswalk issue that we will report. This one right here?

[00:18:33]>> Mhm. We report those to the city. They do safety escorts, so we'll walk you from your office or from your restaurant house or or apartment to your car garage or wherever you're going downtown. Ambassadors also help stranded motorist. Flat tire?

[00:18:49]They'll change it. Dead battery? They'll jump it. So, if anybody just has a car that needs to be jumped, you guys take care of it?

[00:18:57]>> Yep, we do that. If you lock your keys in your car, we'll get them out for free and we won't tell anyone so you won't be embarrassed.

[00:19:03]Graffiti? It's also on their radar. I'll have someone come over here and knock this graffiti out. Last year, DCI removed more than 3,000 graffiti tags, but perhaps the most personal part of their job, helping Cleveland's unsheltered residents. We have an outreach specialist on staff who focuses specifically on the unsheltered population. Our ambassadors are specifically trained to connect people in need with services. If you see someone laying on the ground, check on them. If all they want is the snack pack or all they want is the blanket and they're comfortable where they're at.

[00:19:41]If we can help them in that way, that's perfect. DCI also works with the city's home for every neighbor program to help find housing for Cleveland's unsheltered population. Mike Mason, 19 News. When it comes to having a baby, where you live can affect how easy it is to get care and how much extra time and money it may take to get it. Consumer investigator Chris Jackman looks at how so-called maternity deserts can add to the challenges families face and what expectant parents can do to plan ahead.

[00:20:16]35% of counties in the United States today are maternity deserts. [music] That means there is not a single birthing facility or clinical [music] professional that can that can deliver your baby and so that can drive up costs because women have to travel further distances for care and often times it results in unnecessary complications [music] because care is delayed. For many families, access to maternity care can depend on zip code.

[00:20:44]Erin MacKay with the National Partnership for Women and Families [music] says longer travel for care can also mean higher cost. She says hospital closures and provider shortages are part of the problem. There are rural hospitals and rural labor and delivery units all over the country that have been closing for the past [music] several years. The National Partnership recently did an analysis and found that with some of the funding cuts that [music] states are expecting and another 130 labor and delivery units in rural parts of the country [music] are at risk of closing.

[00:21:17]Um and so that is going to make care harder to access and going to further drive up costs. McKay says family should think early about what kind of maternity care team they need and what may be covered where they live. Maybe there is a hospital that has a midwifery practice. [music] Maybe they live in a state where their state Medicaid programs covers doula services.

[00:21:40]>> [music] >> Once you have a plan, McKay says call ahead and ask the hospital or provider for a good faith estimate so you have a better idea of what you may owe. With this watching your wallet, I'm Chris Jackman.

[00:21:53]And after your baby is delivered, take a close look at your bill. Review those charges very carefully and then contact the hospital if something simply doesn't look right.

[00:22:03]The stories we showed you today are streaming now on 19 News Plus. You can download the app for free on your Apple TV, Roku, or Amazon Fire TV device.

[00:22:13]Next week on 19 Investigates, companies across America were [music] told to clean up their act and adhere to tighter toxic emission standards. Instead, they asked for exemptions. It has environmental experts crying foul and neighbors who live in a known cancer corridor demanding some explanations. That story and a whole lot more coming up next week on 19 Investigates. I'm Brian Duffy. Thanks for watching.