Alzheimer's: This
disease touches many lives. Those with cognitive disorders are at
risk of becoming a missing person due to confusion and becoming lost
or wandering. Many of those who have gone missing have families that
depend on us to help locate their missing loved one.
Developmentally Challenged
Those
who are developmentally challenged are very much at risk and we work
with many families whose missing loved ones disappear who are
developmentally challenged. There is a higher rate among those who are
young adolescents due to their vulnerabilities. They are always
considered endangered and may qualify for a "Silver Alert", depending
upon the laws set forth in their state.
Autism
With
the increasing amount of loved ones diagnosed with autism each year,
an increase also occurs with those who suffer with autism who go
missing. We've noticed that many of those who have autism, and go
missing, are usually children or teens. Depending on the level of
their cognitive awareness determines the probability of where we may
need to focus in locating them. Those who are higher functioning may
be "wandering" the streets and find themselves in situations in which
they are at risk of becoming harmed and/or taken advantage by others.
Some are manipulated and persuaded to leave the comforts of their
homes with false promises of "love" in which they are invariably
"preyed upon" and are at high risks of danger.
Those who are
at a lower level of cognitive awareness may wander from their family
and are highly drawn towards water. Studies are ongoing as to why and
unfortunately many that become missing for more than 48 hours are
commonly located passed away in a death by water. (Lakes, streams,
ponds, pools, etc.)
Special and Medical Needs
From
Diabetes, epilepsy to traumatic brain injury, (Stroke or brain
damage) those who have possess any of these condition "types" are also
at risk of becoming a missing person due to a medical
incident/accident to confusion from cognitive awareness.
Emotional Disorders 
Commonly known previously as "mental illness." A large number of
families of missing come to us whose loved ones have battled emotional
disorders and have disappeared. Families are already very exhausted,
stressed and many have spent years helping their loved family members
by advocating for them and assisting them through their low emotional
states. Emotional disorders is a very difficult "find" for a missing
loved one because many have the intelligence capabilities that can keep
them missing for a very long time.
While they may not be
plagued with a lower intelligence level, they are in fact at-risk due
to their emotional disorders, which in many cases can have disastrous
outcomes including self-harm and suicide. Those who are at higher
risk of becoming a missing person are loved ones who have chosen to go
off their medication(s).
Some of the most common diagnosed
loved ones who go missing are those who suffer with depression,
Bi-polar disorder or Schizophrenia. Many times they are young
adolescents who are in the process of receiving a diagnosis but
disappear prior to it being confirmed. (This is very common in those
between the ages of 18-24 and are college students.)
Accidents
Missing loved ones become missing due to numerous "accidental
situations" such as off road vehicle accidents, those lost in mountains
while hiking or even "freak" accidents and can become a missing
statistic due to not being able to locate or find them timely. A large
majority located deceased are also known to have gone missing from a
public gathering in which alcohol was served.
One does not have
to be intoxicated or legally drunk to suffer an accident which can be
fatal. Far too often we assist families of young college age students
(primarily young men) who leave a public gathering, pub or nightclub
(under the influence and not legally intoxicated) only to be located
deceased with a death by water. (Same common to those with cognitive
disorders, above.)
LostNMissing established the campaign, and website, "Friends Don't Leave Friends Alone"
[2]
as the same young deaths we believe could have been avoided had the
person left with someone else and did not stray off alone from their
friends.
Divorce/Separation/Break-Up
It
is very unfortunate but it is known that many women, and men, who go
missing and are in the process of a separation from their spouses, or
boyfriend/girlfriends, may disappear and a very high rate is due to
foul play and by the hands of those they were leaving. This is a very
complicated missing person case as families are enduring not only the
pain of their loved one missing but also in states of confusion as to
why law enforcement processes seem so complicated.
Families
find there are many barriers, due to the legal system and laws, that
stand in the way of finding their missing and loved family member. In
nearly all cases the family already is aware that their missing will
not be located safely and this adds to the stress and trauma.
Detectives and investigators must adhere to the law of "just cause" in
order to find needed answers. This frustrates law enforcement, as
well. While many may want to do full "homicide investigative
procedures", if there is not "just cause" to enable them...their
"hands are tied." (Example: Luminol spraying a home, arresting a
potential suspect and "making them talk" are just two examples of many
tactics families expect, but is halted due to laws that protect those
who are suspect.) Because a case may turn to a homicide
investigation, or may be classified as missing with foul play,
organizations are limited in what information is presented to them
(and sometimes to the family, as well) to enable finding the missing
loved one.
Law enforcement will always take the lead and
organizations assist by making pleas to the public for awareness of
the missing person. At LostNMissing we will focus on looking for a
"living missing loved one" and respect that law enforcement is looking
for a deceased missing person. By doing this we are making sure the
family of the missing receive both aspects of a missing persons' case.
When presenting a missing loved one as possibly being "alive and out
there" invariably is also assisting law enforcement because the
awareness campaign of seeking the missing loved one may bring
tips/leads that can help make a break in the case.
We also
know, and have experienced, many cases in which all indicators show
the missing may have been a victim of foul play (with homicide
investigating) and the missing person is invariably located
safely. Unless solid evidence (such as an obvious crime scene) exists,
we always go with the hopes that the missing can be found alive and
well.
Human Trafficking
Missing loved ones can become victims of human trafficking and quite a
majority that are trafficked is for sex purposes. According to the FBI
website, they explain, "It's sad but true: here in this country,
people are being bought, sold, and smuggled like modern-day
slaves.They are trapped in lives of misery-often beaten, starved, and
forced to work as prostitutes or to take grueling jobs as migrant,
domestic, restaurant, or factory workers with little or no pay.
We're
working hard to stop human trafficking-not only because of the
personal and psychological toll it takes on society, but also because
it facilitates the illegal movement of immigrants across borders and
provides a ready source of income for organized crime groups and even
terrorists."
[2] While primarily those missing are young women, young men are known to have been trafficked as well.
Drugs of Abuse
When
a loved one is under the influence of drugs and/or associates with
those who buy, sell or take drugs...this puts them at risk of danger in
which they can possibly become a missing person. We've had cases in
which those have been located safely and living a life "off the streets"
in a drug dazed world and we've had missing loved ones who were
located deceased a victim of drug activities, suicide under the
influence (or through withdrawal) or due to an overdose.
Of One's Own Choice with cognitive awareness and decision making
Surprisingly, this is one of the lowest common causes of an adult person's disappearance. Highest among minors. Yet, adults receive very little media and public awareness.
Unfortunately the "general public" has the misconception that this is the "number one reason" someone is missing, especially as it pertains to adult males.
We
certainly do need to have this category, and fact is...we wish this was
the reason most loved ones go missing as the alternative reasons are
not usually with a good ending. 85% of our missing adult cases end each
year with the missing adult either located deceased or known to be
deceased and no body recovered.
Those missing, of their own
free will, are due to their own choice to leave their present life.
Again, a very low percentage of adults, high for teens. (ex: runaways.)
These decisions are made with cognitive awareness, are usually
planned and usually are the easiest cases to locate the missing person
as they leave more "trails" for investigations to track their
whereabouts. Some of the more common reasons are: To start over a new
life, to escape and hide from law enforcement, to experience life
outside the rules of a parent/guardian (commonly known as "runaway"),
to escape an abusive person by going into hiding or to "live off the
land" away from everyone, to start a new life with another person, or
due to joining a cult.
Abduction/Kidnapping
While rare, abduction is a possible cause for a missing loved one (both
adults and children) to have disappeared. Parental abduction is the
leading cause of missing children in this particular category along with
abduction for trafficking purposes. Lower on the rate of statistics
is the kidnapping for the purposes of rape and/or murder. It is also
extremely rare that one is kidnapped for the purpose to extort money in
exchange for their safe return. According to the National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children, the major causes for missing children
are:
- The most recent, comprehensive national study for the number of missing children estimated in 1999: [3]
- Approximately 800,000 children younger than 18 were reported missing.
- More than 200,000 children were abducted by family members.
- More than 58,000 children were abducted by nonfamily members.
- An estimated 115
children were the victims of "stereotypical" kidnapping. These
"stereotypical" kidnappings involved someone the child did not know or
was an acquaintance. The child was held overnight, transported 50 miles
or more, killed, ransomed or held with the intent to keep the child
permanently.
So why do we keep asking for donations?
Over 2,000 go missing in the United States EVERY day in the USA.
No person, no family is exempt from the trauma of having a loved one
disappear. Every person, and every family, from all walks of life can
have this happen at any time....and feel lost, confused, worried,
fearful and will turn to us for help. We are here for those families
and hope this public awareness campaign provides more clarity as to the
plight families of missing have and the need for the public to assist
whenever someone goes missing in their community.
Please take a moment and view the below video on YouTube.
