Who Are the Missing Missing?

According to the FBI, as of December 31, 2023, there were 96,955 active missing person records in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database. Of these, 29,451 (30%) were juveniles under the age of 18, and 38,276 (39%) were individuals under the age of 21.

In contrast, the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), which relies on voluntary reporting by law enforcement and families, reported 23,972 unresolved missing person cases as of January 2024.

These figures represent individuals who have been officially reported and entered into national databases. However, there exists a "silent shadow population" of lost individuals who are unaccounted for in any official database. These are the "Missing, Missing"—people who are missing but have never been reported as such.

WHO ARE THE MISSING MISSING? 

• Adults with Mental Illness or Addiction: Individuals who, due to mental health issues or substance abuse, have become disconnected from their families and communities.

• Children of the Unreported Missing: Infants and children born to individuals who themselves are missing and unreported, rendering the children invisible to social services and law enforcement.

• Unreported Runaways and Homeless Youth: Youth who have fled abusive situations or have been abandoned, yet are not reported missing.

• Estranged Individuals: People who have severed ties with family and friends, leading to a lack of awareness about their disappearance.

• Chronically Homeless Persons: Individuals who live on the streets for extended periods, often without identification, making it difficult to track their well-being.

• Undocumented Immigrants: People who are in the country without legal documentation and may go missing without any official notice.

• Unidentified Deceased (John and Jane Does): Remains found without identification, with no matching missing person report to aid in identification.

The challenge is compounded when adults with mental health issues go missing. Even though they are adults, many lack the capacity to recognize the dangers they face, leaving families desperate to find and help their vulnerable loved ones.

Addressing the plight of the "Missing, Missing" requires a concerted effort to recognize and report all missing individuals, regardless of their circumstances, to ensure they receive the protection and assistance they need.

Read articles about "missing, missing" persons.