Unfortunately, in the United States, it is common for people to go missing. While some people go missing on their own accord, others don’t have a choice. Some common reasons people go missing include death in unknown locations, kidnapping, crimes, accidents, and voluntary disappearance. The number of missing people also continues to be alarming, with more than 520,000 people reported missing in 2021. While these numbers are trending down from 2018’s 600,000+ cases, that’s still half a million people who need to be found.
Finding someone missing is challenging if you’re not using tools. We’ll take you through a handful of methods to help you find someone who’s missing. We’ll cover people search engines, social media, and traditional practices. Read more below.
Reasons that people go missing
When someone is reported missing, our minds tend to fear the worst. While, in rare cases, missing people aren’t found, there’s always a chance that missing people can be found – even without involvement from the police or FBI. Thousands of people go missing yearly due to miscommunication, mental illness, and accidents.
Some people might also go missing because they want to start a new life in a new place. We’ll cover some of the reasons people go missing below.
Undiagnosed mental health disorders
One of the most common reasons people go missing is an undiagnosed mental health disorder. People with mental health disorders go missing for many reasons, like not wanting to communicate with therapists, miscommunications or disagreements with family members, and more. More severe cases can be caused by mental health disorders like schizophrenia that cause people to distrust others.
The most common mental health issues that cause people to disappear include:
- Bipolar disorder
- Anxiety problems
- Depression
- Suicidal thoughts
- Psychosis
- Schizophrenia
Depending on the person, other mental health issues might be a factor. For example, elderly individuals diagnosed with dementia have an increased risk of going missing. People search engines can help you find people who go missing because of mental health disorders. This may be simpler than getting the authorities involved.
Deliberate disappearance
Deliberate disappearances are another common reason for people to go missing. In these cases, people go missing because they want to. Some reasons include:
- Wanting to start a new life
- Getting away from financial obligations
- Running away from family members
- Escaping an abusive domestic partner or family
- Troubles with work
People can also disappear deliberately for other reasons. At the end of the day, it depends on the person’s situation. The good news is that you can find most people who disappear deliberately with a people search engine. Remember, there’s always a trace left behind.
Unintentional disappearance
Unintentional disappearances are what many people think of when someone goes missing. An unintentional disappearance occurs when someone goes missing due to causes outside of their control. In these cases, the person typically goes missing for nefarious reasons.
The most common reasons for unintentional disappearances include:
- Kidnapping
- Homicide
- Domestic abuse
- Hostage situations
- Misadventure
- Accidental suicide
- Loss of memory or amnesia
When people go missing for these reasons, it’s best to use the authorities for help. They have the best resources to find someone quickly.
How many missing people are found?
Missing people are usually found quickly. 485,000 out of the 521,705 people missing in 2021 were found within a year. Additionally, the number of missing people has declined since 2018.
It’s also important to note that people search engines from reputable resources like Information.com have prevented people from going missing. Plus, they’ve aided in thousands of searches.
5 ways to find a missing person
Finding a missing person is possible when you have the right tools. There are several ways to find someone, but some methods are better than others. We’ll take you through the five best ways to find a missing person.
1. People search engines
People search engines are the best way to find a missing person. Unlike regular search engines (like Google), people search engines help you find specific information about someone. You can find someone with only their first and last name, which makes it convenient and fast.
To use a people search engine, like Information.com, you need to enter the search bar’s first and last name of the person you’re looking for. You can open a full report about their address, phone number, relatives, and more. Performing a people search will help you find the following:
- Known addresses and associated addresses
- Phone numbers
- Email addresses
- Social media pages
- Background check
- Traffic violations and criminal history
- Financial records
- Dating profiles
- Family members
- Friends
Once you find information about someone missing with a people search engine, you can reach out to family members and follow any leads you find.
Another good use of a people search engine is to provide the authorities with any information you find. Doing so can help speed up cases and result in people being found faster. Plus, you might find someone before you need to contact the police when using a people search engine.
2. Reaching out to friends and family
Reaching out to friends and family is another way to find a missing person. Friends and family members can provide information about who someone is and why they may have gone missing. To reach out to friends and family, we recommend starting with a phone call or text message.
When these avenues fail, or you run out of people to contact, you can use a people search engine to find additional family members and relatives. Doing so will also provide you with the necessary contact information to reach them.
Another tip when reaching out to family members of a missing person is to be direct. Even if they don’t already know someone is missing, alerting them to a potential problem is a good idea. So, don’t be shy and make sure you discuss and share whatever information you know. Doing so can help you find someone who’s missing.
However, be careful not to share location or contact information with a potential abuser that your missing friend or relative may be fleeing.
3. Checking social media
Checking social media platforms will also help when searching for a missing person. These platforms contain messages, statuses, and activities. For example, if someone posts on Facebook or Twitter, there’s a good chance they’re not missing – unless their account was hacked or stolen.
Some great social media platforms to check are listed below:
- Snapchat
- TikTok
- YouTube
Checking these platforms can help you identify if someone is missing.
Social media platforms may also have an “active” status. These “active” statuses can alert you when someone last used the platform. So, if someone was missing but used Instagram an hour ago, there’s a good chance they’re not in danger. Instead, they might not want to be found.
Social media platforms with these statuses include Instagram, Facebook, Discord, and some gaming websites like Steam. If you’re having trouble finding someone’s social media account, we recommend using a tool like Information.com’s people search engine to learn more about them.
4. Reach out to jails and hospitals
When you can’t find someone missing through the conventional methods, reaching out to hospitals and jails is a good idea. People arrested might be missing (in your eyes), but they cannot contact you. The same applies to people who end up in the emergency room. Sometimes, hospital patients cannot get in touch with friends and family.
Therefore, reaching out to hospitals and jails can help you find a missing person. The best way to do so is to reach out via phone. When on the phone, make sure you have this information handy:
- First and last name – middle initial helps
- Age and date of birth
- Physical description – including height, weight, and skin color
- Hair and eye color
- The clothes they were wearing
- Whatever else you can remember
These institutions have records of everyone who passed through them. So, if the person you’re looking for was there, the hospital or jail will have a record of it. If you can’t get through to someone on the phone or if it’s late at night, you can visit these places in person.
5. File a missing person report
When all else fails, filing a missing person report is essential. Filing a missing person report is helpful for several reasons, and there is no minimum waiting period to file one. You can file a missing person report when you suspect someone is missing.
Missing person reports should be filed when you suspect someone is missing due to foul play. Another great reason to file a missing person report is to find a child or a minor. Acting fast in these situations helps you find a missing person faster than usual.
These reports can be filed through your local police department. A federal investigation might occur depending on the circumstances or if the case has gone beyond state lines. Here is what you can expect when you file a missing person report:
- Background checks
- Police or federal agencies will reach out to you, known friends of the person, and known family members of the missing person.
- Hospital visits
- Phone record searches
- Transaction information and history
- Camera surveillance
Police and federal agencies might also use other investigation tactics. Ultimately, it depends on the case.
That said, people search engines contain a lot of the information that police and federal agencies seek. So, Information.com’s people search tool will help you get a head start on the case. It also makes it easier for you to provide agencies with the appropriate information.
When to avoid finding a missing person?
Having tools to find a missing person is excellent, but that doesn’t always mean you should use them. In some situations, it’s better to lose touch with someone or let the authorities handle an ongoing investigation. We’ll take you through some scenarios where finding someone missing is a bad idea.
There’s an ongoing police or federal investigation
First and foremost, you never want to interrupt or mislead police or federal investigations. These investigations take time, and every agency has standard operating procedures. Dumping information on people looking for someone might seem helpful, but it can disrupt a search.
When the police are on the case, we recommend waiting until they contact you to get involved. You should also avoid posting on social media in the early stages because it can disrupt the investigation.
If someone doesn’t want to be contacted
People search engines are great tools; you can reach out to people through other methods. However, reaching out and harassing people who don’t want to be contacted. The Fair Credit and Reporting Act (FCRA) has a clause against this behavior. If someone has gone missing on purpose and doesn’t want you to find them, don’t run their information through a people search engine.
Find your loved ones today
It’s an unfortunate reality that people go missing. While some people go missing because they don’t want to be found, others don’t have a choice. The police and agencies like the FBI do their best to find missing people, but you can also do your part. Using people search engines and other methods can help you find missing people, but we always recommend reaching out to the necessary agencies along with doing your search.
