A missing person is defined as someone who is absent from their accustomed network of social and personal relationships, to the extent that people in those networks consider their absence to be interfering with their performance of their expected social responsibilities. There are a variety of reasons people go missing. Some are involuntary, like those who disappear during a natural disaster such as a hurricane or an earthquake. Others are a result of a social problem or an internal conflict, such as family dysfunction and conflict, substance abuse, mental health issues, coping problems, or problems associated with puberty and peer pressure.
When a family member or loved one goes missing, the search for them can be a lengthy and painful process. It is important for families to have an investigative team to support them through the journey of finding their loved ones. This includes investigators, law enforcement, forensic laboratories, and the National Missing and Unidentified Person System (NamUs).
While the main reason to report a missing person is for safety and welfare concerns, it is also crucial that a case be reported as early as possible. This is to ensure that any potential eyewitnesses are interviewed while their memories are still fresh.
The first step is to file a missing persons report in the jurisdiction where the person was last seen. This will enter them into a missing persons database that can be searched by police departments across the country. The next step is to do a thorough investigation of your loved ones life. This can include examining their email and communication records, investigating online transactions, searching their device location services, interviewing friends, and even undergoing genetic analysis using DNA kits.