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Beneath Muncie’s Surface: Debt, Blood, and Protection by Influence

 Lakendra Tolbert—once Lakendra Jones—changed her name in public record. Jeremy Jones, father of three of my children, owed a substantial debt to a well-known drug dealer in Muncie. That debt wasn’t just financial—it became a shadow that followed us. I vividly remember standing outside 713 S. Lancaster Rd., where that dealer sat on the front porch with Ronald Jennings. What I heard wasn’t just chilling—it was a threat disguised as casual cruelty: “Just pour acid on them—that’ll get rid of them.” He said it like we were disposable. Like our existence was inconvenient. Later, after he met Acelin, my son, he told me, “That boy’s white—he can't be Rodney’s.” Then he leaned in and called him “Little Jeremy,” followed by a promise to “take care of him.” Not with love. Not with kindness. It was something darker. Something that echoed the control and intimidation he wielded over people like Jeremy—and tried to extend to our children. This man isn’t just another local dealer. He moves th...
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💔 From Indiana to West Virginia: How My Family Was Scripted Into a Systemic Trap

We moved to West Virginia believing we were leaving behind threats—seeking safety, stability, and a chance to heal. But our transition wasn’t a random relocation. It felt orchestrated from the start. Back in Indiana, my family was threatened with CPS involvement. It was intimidation disguised as concern, a signal that someone was watching. After crossing state lines, these veiled threats solidified into action—timed, coordinated, and disturbingly familiar. Right before our children were taken, a man known to us as TMAN appeared in our lives. At the time, he was romantically involved with Nadya Whitehurst , who happens to be Rodney’s cousin —the same cousin who encouraged our move to West Virginia. It wasn’t until later, in early 2020, that we learned TMAN had been jailed—and upon release, was no longer with Nadya. Instead, he was now in a relationship with the housing coordinator at Sojourners Shelter , the person responsible for placing us at Hillcrest YWCA . That placement led us di...
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Through My Rearview

I’m behind the wheel just after dusk, cruising down McGalliard Road. The distant rumble of a freight train echoes through the air, mingling with the soft click of my seatbelt winding into place. I crack the window and feel a chill ripple in—mixed with the tang of freshly cut grass drifting in from backyard lawns. In my rearview mirror, the domes and spires of Ball State University glow amber under newly lit streetlamps. A lone barista steps out of the corner deli and calls after me, “Kayla, your usual’s on the counter!” Her voice carries across the gravel parking lot, a small moment of warmth before I slip back into solitude. Tailights stretch into the distance, but I notice something odd: a brand-new silver SUV parked beside a battered blue pickup. It’s a contradiction that mirrors my own path—half polished dreams, half dusty reality. Further down, the neon marquee of the old Uptown Theatre flickers its last “COMING SOON” sign, while footsteps crunch past Mrs. Jenkins’s porch, wher...
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A Closer Look at Muncie: An Introduction

When people hear “Muncie, Indiana,” most don’t picture much. Just another small town with strip malls, fast food joints, and folks trying to make ends meet. But to me, it’s more than a dot on the map—it’s a place that’s shaped me, challenged me, and in a lot of ways, grounded me. I’ve seen Muncie from the inside out. From running my own cleaning and yard service business across town, to juggling jobs and conversations with neighbors who’ve lived through every twist this city’s taken. There’s beauty tucked into the cracks of the sidewalks and honesty in the way people greet you at the gas station. If you’re not paying attention, you’ll miss it. But if you slow down and listen, you’ll see there’s a whole story here worth telling. This blog isn’t just about landmarks or headlines—it’s about the real Muncie. The one that doesn’t always get a spotlight. I’m inviting you to walk the streets with me, meet the people, and understand the rhythms of a city that’s trying, every day, to hold ont...
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