Missing Persons Investigations

Missing Persons

What is a Missing Person?

A missing person is an individual whose whereabouts are UNKNOWN and is UNREACHABLE through any form of communication. A critical aspect of a missing person’s disappearance is that it is believed to be INVOLUNTARY. The involuntary basis of one’s disappearance can arise from a number of reasons.

Reasons for Disappearance

MEDICAL INCAPACITATION
ACCIDENT
MENTAL INCAPACITATION
KIDNAPPING
FOUL PLAY

A missing person situation is a TIME-CRITICAL SCENARIO. Utilizing any and ALL RESOURCES in the initial stages of disappearance is a crucial component to mitigating a missing persons case.

Operational Experience in Sensitive Casework...

Our operational experience in federal criminal investigations has provided for deep-level exposure to extremely SENSITIVE SUBJECT MATTERS involving the manipulation of individuals against their will and the HIGH-LEVEL CRIMINAL SCHEMES THAT exploited them.

Equally, our background in federal criminal investigations provides for a deep working knowledge of US Embassy protocols and procedures for crimes and issues involving an international nexus.

Learn More About Our Background

How Long Should I Wait....

Every case is different and driven by CIRCUMSTANCES. If the circumstances of an individual’s disappearance falls far outside their routine behavior or normal activity, an investigation should begin IMMEDIATELY. A missing person’s investigation should always be circumstantially driven, not time-driven. THERE IS NO SET TIME by which a person is officially deemed missing. A person is considered missing when their whereabouts are unknown, attempted communication with the individual fails, and the circumstances of their disappearance demonstrate a break from expected behaviors and routines.

Circumstantial Concerns That Support The Need for Investigation:

Unattended Children
Missing From Employment
Calls Going To Voicemail
Electronics Showing Geographical Displacement
Abandoned Vehicle
Separation From Required Medication
Missing Important Time-Sensitive Events

What Information Do I Give The Police?

Individuals should be completely TRUTHFUL and HONEST with the police, providing them with any and all known information concerning their disappearance, even if it means disclosing personal or revealing details normally kept private ( illicit activities, extramarital affairs, substance abuse issues, threats, or mental health issues). CRITICAL INFORMATION TO PROVIDE to the police should include:

Recent Picture + Description ( Age, Height, Weight, Hair Color, Aliases, Tattoos or Identifying Marks)
Last Known Location
Vehicle Description and License Plate
Cell Phone Number and Carrier Information
List of Electronics believed to be carried ( laptops, Apple AirTags, tablets )
Social Media Accounts and Passwords ( if known)
List and Contact Information of Close Friends, Contacts, Romantic/Intimate Partners
List of Medications

Should I Contact The Police?

Individuals should ALWAYS CONTACT THE POLICE as soon as they suspect an individual is missing. The police maintain the capacity to quickly cycle through databases or recorded information and incidents that may reveal the individual’s whereabouts and or information directly related to one’s disappearance to include:

Checking Databases for Accidents
Contacting Hospitals and First Responders
Evaluating The Missing Persons Against Other Calls For Police Service, Such as Noise Disturbances
Locating Abandoned Vehicles
Contacting and Inquiring With Neighboring Jurisdictions
Checking and or Inputting Information into NCIC ( National Crime Information Center)
Disseminating Information to Other Police Agencies and First Responders

How Does a Private Investigation Differ Than a Police Investigation?

The TWO BIGGEST FACTORS that differentiate a private investigation from a police investigation are RESOURCES and JURISDICTION. Most police agencies have limited resources to dedicate to a missing persons investigation and are forced to divide their time and resources among a number of cases.

Equally, many police agencies are limited by jurisdiction and are forced to rely on the jurisdiction and coordination of other police agencies to conduct simultaneous investigations, which are equally CONSTRAINED by their own resource management.

A private investigation as resourced by the hiring party can dedicate exclusive resources to an investigation, coupled with unlimited jurisdiction. What may take a police agency to perform in a matter of weeks in terms of witness interviews, surveillance footage retrieval, interstate or international travel, can be done in a matter of days.

How Can a Private Investigator Help?

After the initial police contact, a missing persons investigation is assigned to the detective bureau. Depending on the police station or agency, these investigations become one of multiple investigations that are being conducted. Thus, the resources for a missing persons investigation compete with other investigations, slowing down the investigation during time – critical phases.

Hiring a licensed professional private investigator provides a DEDICATED INVESTIGATOR to the investigation who focuses their resources ENTIRELY ON THE MISSING PERSON.

Does a Private Investigation Hinder an Official Police Investigation?

If done properly a private investigation works to assist and bolster an ongoing police investigation. As former federal criminal investigators, we are thoroughly aware of police procedure and how best to COORDINATE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, becoming a tremendous asset to the investigation versus a liability

Where We Begin....

Our investigation begins with a THOROUGH REVIEW of everything known to date and the investigative steps taken by the respective police agencies and the results of their investigative work.

Our focus is then applied to revisiting thin or underinvestigated aspects of the investigation, followed by DEEPER DIVES into areas that necessitate them.

Lastly, our investigative efforts is spent on developing new and unexplored avenues of investigation in addition to visiting often underutilized and OUT-OF-THE-BOX THINKING and approaches to developing new leads.

Using Videography and Social Media....

The use of still imagery to bring public attention to missing persons has long been saturated and now competes with running social media feeds of constant information. Our use of VIDEOGRAPHY takes full advantage of the MODERN MEDIUMS by which effective information circulates. We work to outline the case file while providing key facts aimed to PROVOKE THE PUBLIC MEMORY and participation in the video as a standalone investigative platform working to solicit the public for help, assistance, and cooperation.

What Our Clients Can Expect...

Above all, our clients can expect PROFESSIONALISM coupled with SINCERITY and empathetic understanding of the very dynamic and heavy challenges a missing persons investigation brings. Clients can expect the best use of their resources that is placed to find and locate the missing individual or bring the investigation closer to answering the unknowns.

Clients can expect ROUTINE COMMUNICATION WITH INVESTIGATORS AND regular updates on discovery, findings and progress.