Eleven years after 16-year-old Kaylan Ward was found dead beside Interstate 10 near the Bullard Avenue exit on June 4, 2015, New Orleans is still waiting for answers. Her killing remains unsolved, but this week WGNO's "Wheel of Justice" put the case back on television and reported that the New Orleans Police Department has identified a person of interest. Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans has also bumped the reward to $5,000 as Ward's family keeps pushing for new leads.
Discovery and cause of death
Police found Ward's body on the eastbound lanes of I-10 at the Bullard Avenue exit on June 4, 2015. The Orleans Parish coroner later determined that she died from multiple blunt force trauma, according to WDSU. At the time, reporters noted that traffic had struck her remains, which made identifying her and reconstructing what happened more difficult in the early days of the investigation. Police first described the case as an "unclassified death" while detectives worked to figure out how Ward ended up on the interstate.
Last seen and the family's search
According to WVUE-FOX8, Ward was last seen around midnight, walking riverbound on Earhart Boulevard near Magnolia Street, trying to get a ride to North Miro Street, according to family members and police. In the weeks and months that followed, relatives and neighbors kept canvassing the neighborhood, hoping for a tip that would crack the case. Instead, the killing settled into the long list of unresolved homicides that families say they are forced to live with. Authorities at the time again urged anyone with information to reach out to detectives or Crimestoppers.
Renewed TV spotlight and reported person of interest
More than a decade later, Ward's case is back in the spotlight. WGNO's recent "Wheel of Justice" segment revisited the killing and reported that the NOPD has named a person of interest in the long-running investigation, according to WGNO. That on-air mention is one of the few public developments in years and is part of the station's broader push to highlight cold cases that might otherwise fade from public memory.
Reward increased to $5,000
Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans has raised the reward to up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest or indictment in Ward's killing, according to its website. Crimestoppers GNO lists Ward's file among its open cases and posts a dedicated tipline. Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111, and tips may be submitted anonymously.
Why the case still matters
Unsolved homicides like Ward's remain a stubborn problem for New Orleans detectives and a constant source of grief for families who say they deserve answers. "Wheel of Justice" has become one of the tools used to keep those files from gathering dust. The series has helped prompt arrests and has led to more than 485 people being booked after their cases aired, according to WGNO. For now, Ward's case remains open, and investigators say they are still listening for the tip that could finally break it.
