In some cases, the general public can play a significant role. Vigilance, reporting suspicious activity and sharing info can all help.
Investigators can also check a missing person’s virtual footprint, like their cell phone records and credit card or bank account information. Additionally, they can reach out to those that knew them well and interview family members.
1. Contact the Local Police
As soon as you suspect that someone has gone missing, contact the local police. In most cases, the police will be very helpful and can use a variety of resources to find the person.
It is important to be honest with the police and tell them exactly what you know about the missing person. This will help them to find the individual more quickly.
Providing law enforcement with the name, date of birth, home address, job, and other details that are known can be very helpful in finding someone who has disappeared. It is also important to know if the missing person has any medical conditions that could affect their safety or health.
It is important to remember that most adults who go missing are not victims of foul play and they often leave their homes because they are unhappy with a relationship or situation. This means that it is very important to check hospitals and prisons and jails in the area where you believe your subject may be. Also, it is a good idea to check social media profiles.
2. Contact the Local Hospitals and Clinics
People often end up in hospitals and clinics for a variety of reasons. They might be hurt on the streets, have mental health issues, or have been transported to hospital after an arrest. If you think that your missing loved one has been admitted to a hospital, call them immediately. Depending on HIPPA laws, it may be difficult to get the information you need; but try your best to make contact.
Also, if you have access to the person’s social media accounts, monitor them for clues. Many runaways set up Facebook pages that remain active, letting their friends and family know where they are.
Finally, put up flyers at locations they are known to frequent. Post them along paths they take regularly like the route from home to work, school or the grocery store. Also, hang them in areas where they might have been seen. You could even consider enlisting the help of a private investigator to search for your loved ones. Private detectives can dedicate themselves to investigating missing persons and can be more thorough than police officers, who have to focus on other cases.
3. Contact the Local Prisons and Jails
As you conduct your search for missing persons, it’s important to reach out to local hospitals, jails, and coroners in the area. These people can be valuable sources of information as they have first-hand experience in the criminal networks and gangs that are operating in the region. They can provide information about the missing person’s last known whereabouts and even offer clues to their disappearance. However, you should always cross-check the information they give you with other sources.
Family members and friends of a missing person can also be helpful sources of information. These people can help you determine whether the person voluntarily disappeared or was a victim of foul play.
Another valuable resource is the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), which allows law enforcement officials to cross-reference data about missing persons. You can add a missing person to this database by submitting a report. You can also contact your local and state representatives to urge them to create and support policies that address this issue. These efforts can make a significant difference in the lives of people who have disappeared.
4. Contact the Local Media
The media can be a valuable resource in the search for missing individuals. If a disappearance is receiving significant public attention, it can put pressure on law enforcement agencies to devote more resources and attention to the case. It can also generate tips from members of the public who may have information relevant to the investigation.
It is important to work with the local media when investigating disappeared persons, particularly in situations where corruption and a lack of transparency are at play. This can help ensure that the investigation is conducted thoroughly and fairly.
For example, you might ask your local radio and television stations to run a news story or interrupt their regular programming with a special broadcast on the case—similar to how they might announce a weather warning. In addition, you should reach out to national and regional media—particularly television shows like America’s Most Wanted—to have your child’s picture and story included in their next broadcast.
5. Contact the Local Government
It is important to keep in mind that disappearances of individuals may be voluntary, unintentional or as a result of a crime. Depending on the circumstances, the investigation may require search-and-rescue operations in wilderness areas of our National Park System or urban SAR and police resources.
When you report a missing person, it’s helpful to provide law enforcement with all the information you have. Be sure to include the missing individual’s full name, age, birth date, home address and contact information (cell phone and landline number). Also, a detailed physical description of the missing person is very helpful to investigators. Include scars, marks, tattoos and piercings that could help identify the person.
Be careful not to investigate the disappearance on your own, such as searching a missing person’s home or going through their social media accounts. This could hinder the investigative process. It is also important to let your loved one’s close friends and family know about their disappearance so that they can alert them if the person does not contact them at certain times. Also, make sure that your missing person’s case is entered into the National Crime Information Center database.