A long term missing person refers to someone who has been missing for an extended period of time, typically months or years. There is no universally agreed upon timeframe for when a missing person case becomes “long term,” but many law enforcement agencies consider any case still unsolved after 30 days to meet this classification.
What are the statistics on long term missing persons?
According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), there are over 600,000 missing persons cases reported each year in the United States. The vast majority of these cases are solved relatively quickly, but approximately 2,000 cases per year remain open after one year. Here are some key statistics on long term missing persons in the U.S.:
- As of December 2022, there were over 10,000 open missing persons cases that had been active for over a year.
- Nearly 90% of long term missing persons are adults between the ages of 18-65.
- Approximately 40% of long term missing adults are people of color, disproportionate to the general population.
- Over 75% of long term missing minors are endangered runaways.
- There are approximately 100 unidentified remains discovered each year that could potentially be linked to long term missing persons.
What are some of the key challenges in solving long term missing person cases?
There are a variety of factors that make long term missing person cases difficult to solve:
- Lack of leads – With little information to go on, detectives struggle to identify directions for the investigation.
- No systematic databases – Until recently, missing persons databases were limited and not cross-checked with other sources.
- Mobile lifestyles – Missing persons often relocate frequently, making them hard to trace.
- Delayed reporting – Many missing adults aren’t reported right away, losing crucial investigation time.
- Inactive cases – Limited resources mean some cases inevitably go “cold” over time.
What investigative strategies are used for long term missing person cases?
Modern missing persons investigations employ a variety of high-tech and specialized strategies to continue pursuing leads even in long term cases. These include:
- Social media monitoring – Investigators scan platforms like Facebook and Instagram for activity by or about the missing person.
- Public database DNA – Missing persons’ DNA profiles are compared to unidentified remains in NAMUS and CODIS databases.
- Cell phone records – Detectives utilize phone records, pings, and other mobile data to identify locations and associates.
- Forensic evidence testing – Technological advances help re-examine existing evidence using new techniques.
- Dedicated task forces – Multi-agency units coordinate efforts and share resources across different jurisdictions.
What technologies are emerging to help find long term missing persons?
Some new technologies that show promise for improving long term missing person investigations include:
- Facial recognition – Software that can compare aged missing persons photos to newer images found online.
- Social media monitoring AI – Algorithms that automatically scan sites and flagged relevant data points.
- Genetic genealogy – Using consumer DNA databases to identify genetic relatives and ancestry data related to unidentified remains.
- Big data analytics – Cross-referencing massive national databases to uncover potential connections between cases.
- 3D printing – Reconstructing faces from skulls of unidentified remains to generate new leads.
What can families of long term missing do to assist investigations?
Loved ones of long term missing persons can help move difficult cases forward in several ways:
- Act as the missing person’s advocate and maintain regular contact with detectives.
- Participate in media and publicity campaigns to keep the case in the public eye.
- Consult with experts and seek support from missing persons organizations.
- Provide investigators with continued access to the missing individual’s personal effects and accounts.
- Submit DNA samples to various databases that could potentially generate new leads.
- Have realistic expectations about progress, as long term cases often lack rapid breaks.
Are there additional challenges in cases of missing children?
Long term missing children cases come with added layers of difficulty, including:
- Cases not always being reported quickly, due to caretaker involvement or circumstances.
- Children’s likelihood of becoming hidden victims of human trafficking.
- Rapid changes in children’s appearances as they age.
- Children’s lack of a documented paper trail as compared to adults.
- Jurisdictional conflicts between child welfare agencies and law enforcement.
However, task forces like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provide specialized resources focused on child cases. And advances like age progression technology, predictive analytics, and DNA matches with relatives help counter the added challenges.
What broader reforms could improve outcomes in long term missing persons cases?
While individual investigators pursue every lead, broader reforms could systemically improve long term missing persons investigations:
- Federal funding for local cold case units and multi-agency task forces.
- National standards for evidence collection, database management, and interagency collaboration.
- Improved reporting mechanisms and reduced stigma around reporting adults.
- Expanded DNA collection from family members of the missing.
- Public-private data sharing partnerships with tech companies and DNA testing services.
- Victim centered approaches including services for marginalized communities.
Conclusion
Long term missing person cases present some of the greatest challenges in law enforcement. But leveraging new technologies, coordinating across agencies, and involving families and communities provide real opportunities to reunite more missing loved ones even after months and years. While time often works against investigations, persistence, resources, and systemic reforms can counterbalance age-old mysteries with modern breakthroughs.