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Step 5 Call police
You need to be prepared for the police and what they will and won’t tell you. Remember to keep a log of all the activities include the dates, times, people, etc.
When you call law enforcement, provide missing persons name, date of birth, height, weight, and any other unique identifiers such as eyeglasses, braces, facial scars, medications, etc. Tell them when you noticed that the person was missing and if you know it, what clothing he or she was wearing.
5.1 Try to have a written page of what you know and put it in chronological order starting with the last time you know they
were accounted for.
5.2 Have a written list of the missing person’s friends and enemies with notes about each one. How long they have known each
other, why they are enemies, contact info, etc
5.3 Give the police a recent photo of the missing person.
5.4 Give the police descriptions of unique physical features. Bald spot, body art, Tattoo. Jewelry that they always wore.
NOTE: Jewelry is important as it may be sold and many pawn shops keep records.
5. 5 If you suspect the person was abducted from their home or car INSIST ON FINGER PRINTING THE HOUSE or
Car. The police may tell you that there is no reason to finger print. They may try to tell you that since you and or others
have been in the house that finger printing would be a waste of time. TELL THEM TO DO IT. Or immediately find
and pay a private detective with police connections to do it for you. And try to keep others out of the area to be
fingerprinted until it has been done.
NOTE: Private Investigators aka PI - Some PIs really want to help and will be willing to do so for a portion of the reward money. Others will ask you for exclusive contracts and payments. There are reputable firms and there are be less ethical firms. Ask the police for recommendations, check references, check the Better Business Bureau. Ask about the fees and be sure that you and the PI have a written understanding of the services to be provided and the associated cost.
In my parent’s case, the police did not dust for prints. Frankly it did not appear anything accept maybe an old VCR and their truck were missing. Police first assumed the truck had been driven off, willingly by my parents. Thus, the police thought there was no crime. However, when the case was solved it turned out the criminals took many miscellaneous items from inside drawers, cabinets, etc. They had been in the house, sheds, etc for hours looking for inconspicuous items of value. Two of the three abductors had prior criminal records. We spent a year in hell looking for our missing parents, had the house been fingerprint dusted, the finger prints could have lead us to the criminals within days.
5.6 Before you give written items, photos, etc to the police you may want to make copies for yourself or ask the police if they
can do it for you. Because, it is likely you will not get the items back for a long time and maybe never.
5.7 For adults the police will most likely try to pass it off as there is nothing wrong and may not want to investigate. If you do
not agree with the police, you need others to support suspicions or have some “evidence” to persuade them. With
children, especially preteens, that sentiment goes away as children typically do not have the independence or means to
disappear on there own.
5.8 After the police decide that there is truly a missing person and/or if they suspect foul play, they will come looking for
suspects. The first suspect will be you, family members, or other persons who knew them closely. Statistically speaking
most cases of foul play are committed by a family member or someone close. So be ready. Lie detector test and
interrogation techniques can be very unsettling, but it is necessary.
5.9 Police - Ask the police what their plans are and how you can help?
5.9.1 Ask if they have other depts or agencies assisting.
5.9.2 Press them hard to get as many agencies to help as you can. NOTE: the investigating officer(s) will not like your
asking. They have a sense of “ I can do it on my own” and maybe they will, BUT… if you were missing wouldn’t you
hope dozens of officers and multiple agencies are looking at the evidence and searching for the truth?
5.9.3 Be helpful but do not be a hindrance.
5.9.3.1 Ask for regular updates and be respectful.
5.9.3.2 Do not tell the police how to do their job.
5.9.3.3 Real life missing persons, crime cases, and the processes around them are far different than TV sluths and CSI
shows.
5.9.4 Be clear with the police about what you know to be a fact verses what is an opinion or hunch.
5.9.5 If the missing person is a child request that your child's name and identifying information be immediately entered into the
National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Missing Person File. After you have reported your child missing to law
enforcement, call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, NCMEC on their toll-free telephone number:
1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678). Or you can use our Live Hotline to talk to NCMEC through our web site. |
Step 5 . Call police
