You should understand the limits of what the police can do, especially if the missing person is an adult. It is not usually illegal for a person to go missing.
At least three recent photos of the person A list of nicknames or aliases used by the person A physical description, including height, weight, age, hair color, eye color, build, etc. A description of the clothing and shoes the person was last seen wearing A list of possessions the person might be carrying, such as jewelry, glasses, contact lenses, accessories, a purse, a wallet, ID cards, etc. A list of scars, tattoos, and/or any other identifying characteristics A list of medications the person takes, if any, as well as allergies, handicaps, and other medical conditions A list of relatives or friends of the missing person, along with contact information A list of places the person frequents A description of the person’s car or a different mode of transportation (a bicycle, for example) if applicable A description of the situation surrounding the person’s disappearance
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children[3] X Research source specializes in providing services for families of children who are missing. After you have reported a missing child to law enforcement, you can call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST(1-800-843-5678). The National Alliance on Mental Illness[4] X Trustworthy Source National Alliance on Mental Illness Grassroots mental health-focused organization providing resources, support, and education for those affected by mental illness Go to source provides resources for families of people with mental illness who have gone missing. Their website contains potentially useful materials, including suggested guidelines and forums.
Keep a log of the people to whom you’ve spoken and what they had to say about the missing person. Keep it updated with as much detailed information as possible. Encourage people to call you back if they find out more information from another source. Report new findings to the case worker in charge of your missing person’s case at the police department.
When you make the calls, ask for the missing person by name. If no one by that name is on record there, ask if they have unidentified people in their care who resemble your missing person.
Print out correspondence and activity that seems as though it could lead to the missing person’s location. Report any activity that might be a clue to the case worker at the police department.
Hang your fliers in prominent locations. Gas stations, grocery stores, post offices, banks, drug stores, local libraries, churches, hospitals, homeless shelters, parks, and hiking trails will all work well. Be sure to include a recent, clear photograph of the missing person. Include the person’s age, a physical description, and the date they went missing. Include contact information as well.
Send photos and videos of the missing person to your local TV stations. Call your local newspapers, and ask them to publish an article on the missing person. Take out an ad in a weekly newspaper. Send information to local blogs and websites.
