In 2007 the U.S. National Crime Information Center, NCIC, recorded more than 100,000 actively missing persons. Youth under the age of 18 accounted for just over half of those missing. Records are kept on missing people who disappeared under circumstances indicating that they are in physical danger, those who go missing after a catastrophe like a hurricane or during war, and people whose disappearance is believed to have been involuntary, such as those who were abducted or murdered. Other reasons for disappearance include people fleeing to avoid gambling debts, abusive partners or drug addiction.
If your family member recently went missing, contact local police precincts, hospitals and medical examiners immediately.
Step 1
Send an application to the International Soundex Reunion Registry. Download a reunion application at ISRR.net, sign and mail to ISSR, P.O. Box 371179, Las Vegas, NV 89137. The ISSR is a non-profit organization that helps reunite people separated by abandonment, divorce and institutional care, and for other reasons. Your case is kept open until your reunion has been made or you request closing it.
Step 2
Report your family member to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). The NCIC keeps files on missing and unidentified persons in the United States, its territories and Canada. To open a file on a family member you need to contact the National Center for Missing Adults by calling 1-800-690-FIND or email the agency at register@missingadults.org. Your file will be assigned to a case manager.
Step 3
Search through the NCIC's Web page of unidentified persons. This page includes photographs, sketches and computer renderings of deceased people whose identities have not been verified. The NCIC warns that the images on this page are not suitable for children and some adults may also be disturbed by the content.
Step 4
Post an ad on the Lost & Found Bulletin page at GISearch.com. If your family member ever served in the military, you can post his or her photo on this page. Include the full name, nickname, and the years and location of service. You do not need to be a member of the military to post an ad here.
Step 5
Search for your relative's name on Internet search sites. Many sites provide current city and state of residence, a last known phone number or names of family members. For more detailed information, you will likely need to pay a fee or sign up for a premium membership. Zabasearch.com and Intelius.com are two sites that provide basic information on individuals.
Step 6
Search obituaries. You can search death notices in newspapers from your family member's hometown, but many newspapers do not archive obituaries. Legacy.com will search through 124 large newspapers in the United States and more than 800 newspapers worldwide.
Step 7
Call local homeless shelters and homeless advocacy groups. Although there are no databases of homeless people, advocacy groups try to help folks down on their luck to reunite with family members.
