15-Year-Old La’Niyah “LaLa” Clark – Timeline with sources
A precious young Wilkes-Barre teenager, La’Niyah Clark, has lost her life under suspicious circumstances. Reported missing by her adoptive parents on January 17, 2026, La’Niyah “LaLa” Clark was reportedly found deceased in the snow on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Lt. Detective Matt Shash or Detective James Conmy at 570-208-0911.
Here’s what we know from the reporting:
Timeline
La’Niyah’s adoptive mother is granted a protection-from-abuse order on behalf of La’Niyah against Bobbi Jo Etzel, the girl’s biological aunt, four days before La’Niyah Clark disappears.
La’Niyah Clark is reported missing after leaving home and not returning by dinner time.1
Wilkes-Barre police publicly post Clark as missing. She is not labeled endangered in the initial release.2
Clark would have turned 15 today.
Wilkes-Barre Police Chief Michael Boyle sends out a media release asking for the public’s help in finding La’Niyah
3
The person who would later find the body said he was on that same property on February 13 and 16, but didn’t see anything suspicious at that time. 4
City police are dispatched to 55 Thayer Street after a report of human remains behind a commercial garage. The garage is leased by La’Niyah’s adoptive father. A man who is subleasing part of the garage from him discovers the remains behind a gold Chevrolet Cobalt and calls the police.
The unclothed body is face-down in a pile of snow and shows signs of trauma, with apparent purple bruising to the face, back and arms.
The body also shows two apparent cuts and has a “rope-like item” around the right wrist.
Investigators seize purple-handled scissors that are on the body as well as a MAC knife and some hairs that are beneath the remains.5
Authorities say the condition of the remains initially makes identification difficult.
Detectives search a property connected to the death investigation: 114–116 New Alexander St., less than three blocks from where the body was found. A state police forensics unit is on site. Investigators also remove nearly all the trash from the building’s dumpster.
Clark did not reside at the New Alexander Street apartment building but lived in the neighborhood. 6 7
A lifetime registered sex offender is listed as living at 114 New Alexander Street, per the Megan’s Law website. The man was convicted of rape in 1999 and reportedly has a long history of violent assaults. It’s unknown if he has any connection to this case.
Using dental records and circumstantial evidence uncovered in the investigation., officials confirm the body found behind the garage near Thayer Street is La’Niyah Clark.
Bobbi Jo Edzel, La’Niyah’s biological aunt, is arrested in Hagerstown Maryland, charged with corruption of minors and interference with custody.
Etzel will be transported back to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.8
Investigators found evidence that, at the time of her disappearance, Clark had fled her home to stay with Etzel. Eltzel moved locations several times before traveling to Maryland.
Police ask anyone with information to contact Lt. Detective Matt Shash or Detective James Conmy at 570-208-0911.
Watch local news reporting of the case: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9XOmMu2Hak4GwV2rBoU8dbBrFTem2SKt
SOURCES:
- Roger DuPuis |. WVIA News, “Investigators: Remains Identified as Missing Wilkes-Barre Teen, Biological Aunt Arrested in Maryland,” WVIA Public Media, February 27, 2026, https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2026-02-27/investigators-remains-identified-as-missing-wilkes-barre-teen-biological-aunt-arrested-in-maryland.
- https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid08GwuYSQi1EbRzfmLJ4kwkhvmkm5TuspT65Kk5GdMiKzsDRBPPDdGpAwjJzk7p9SYl&id=100064545737656&rdid=tmasrvFa405AddEv#
- Kat Bolus, WVIA News, “Grieving Family of Missing Teen Faults Wilkes-Barre Police for Lack of Urgency in Search,” WVIA Public Media, February 25, 2026, https://www.wvia.org/news/local/2026-02-25/grieving-family-of-missing-teen-faults-wilkes-barre-police-for-lack-of-urgency-in-search.
- “New Details Released in Wilkes-Barre Death Investigation,” Wnep.Com, February 26, 2026, https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/new-details-released-amid-death-investigation-in-wilkes-barre-luzerne-couty-la-niyah-clark-sam-sanguedolce-thayer-catlin/523-407e6c86-876c-4825-b252-f7f8d86dc077.
- “Teen’s Family Pushes for Reforms as Death Investigation Continues,” accessed February 27, 2026, https://www.citizensvoice.com/2026/02/26/teens-family-pushes-for-reforms-as-death-investigation-continues/.
- “Wilkes-Barre Apartment Building Search Linked to Death Investigation, Missing Female Juvenile,” February 24, 2026, https://www.timesleader.com/news/1733691/wilkes-barre-apartment-building-searched-linked-to-death-investigation.
- “Road Closed in Wilkes-Barre amid Death Investigation,” Wnep.Com, February 24, 2026, https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/luzerne-county/death-investigation-underway-in-wilkes-barre-new-alexander-street-luzerne-county-thayer-catlin-avenue/523-a206a694-0a45-48d9-95f3-08d59e62d2a5.
- “Luzerne County DA Office Identifies Clark, Arrests Aunt on 2 Charges | Times Leader,” accessed February 27, 2026, https://www.timesleader.com/news/1733961/person-arrested-in-connection-to-wilkes-barre-teen-death.
