Private investigators use a wide variety of tools and experience to find missing persons. As of April 30, 2018, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), reported a total of 86,927 missing persons in the United States. Though this number fluctuates month to month, the average number of 87,000 missing persons listed as active missing person cases in the National Crime Information Center at the FBI remains fairly consistent. Access to the NCIC computer database is restricted to use only by law enforcement.
It’s important to know there are different kinds of missing person cases in the NCIC database. The FBI categorizes missing persons into six different categories.
- Juvenile
- Endangered
- Involuntary
- Disability
- Catastrophe
Most missing persons are found alive and well. Some may have a history of illness, want to avoid financial responsibilities, or may be simply avoiding family members (for varying reasons). Some may be in jail, a block away from their residence, or even a continent away, having left without notifying friends or family properly. However, there are also disappearances that are considered suspicious or “at risk” when a person may have diminished mental capacity suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease or another mental health condition, and any juvenile runaway or missing child or when foul play is supected. These are referred to as Critical Cases.
When a person goes missing, family members typically report the missing person to a law enforcement agency but commonly begin to also conduct an investigation on their own. Without guidance, this can become an extremely emotional and daunting task.
The Use of Private Investigators in Missing Person Cases
The use of a private investigator during the investigation of the disappearance of a loved one, can be vital to finding them.
Private investigators commonly refer to missing persons as “locates”, and the majority are found fairly quickly. Some may be ecstatic a long-lost family member or friend has found them, while others may be annoyed, they have been located by a creditor, attorney, or someone they perceive as the enemy.
For most locates, a “checklist” is used of in-house resources that include accessing current and detailed data using a Social Security or driver’s license number, along with a date of birth. Detailed information can be obtained by multiple, professional and proprietary databases that licensed private investigators have access to. Social networking profiles and accessing a social circle or people can also be instrumental is missing person investigations. These databases can often provide addresses and even current employment for an individual. If that method does not produce the desired results, a more thorough investigation of the circumstance of the disappearance may be warranted, especially is “foul play” is suspected in the disappearance.
How a private investigator investigates a missing person case varies depending on their skill set and experience with only a handful in the country considered experts in their field.
A private investigator, commonly referred to as a PI or private detective, with expertise in missing person investigations, typically work directly with the family members of the person reported missing. Equally important, if a police agency is involved, a private investigator also works directly with the investigating law enforcement agency to preserve the integrity of the investigation.
Investigations are designed to route out common reasons that may contribute to the disappearance of a loved one, to confirm the facts surrounding the disappearance and make discovery. In the case of potential foul play, these discoveries are designed to discover probable suspects by the mistakes they make, as well as unintentional or intentional clues provided by the victim themselves.
This may involve pounding the pavement and knocking on some doors and important this type of investigation be conducted by a professional.
This may include discovering a person’s habits, hobbies and interests, questioning friends, neighbors or witnesses and even monitoring a “person of interest’s” activities. Of course, all information that is uncovered during an investigation by a professional PI is shared with the investigating law enforcement agency so as not to compromise the case.
In addition to an old-fashioned Sherlock Holmes investigation, some private investigators may also help raise public awareness of the disappearance of a loved one by providing guidance, assisting with social media efforts and coordinating with victim advocates from nonprofits, such as the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and other local advocacy groups for missing persons.
Thomas Lauth, CEO of Lauth Investigations International has been a private investigator for over 25-years and headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind. With expertise in missing person investigations and working with media to raise awareness for missing person cases, Lauth has been featured in national media like USA Today, Essence Magazine, New York Times, and more. In addition to working with local and state police agencies, Lauth has also worked with most federal agencies such as, Interpol, the FBI, Department of Justice and Office for Victims of Crime.
Lauth has worked with hundreds of families of missing persons, while also working cooperatively with police and judicial agencies throughout the country, to include working with the National Center for Missing Adults. With over 40 years combined experience at Lauth Investigations, Lauth and his team specialize in the investigation of complex missing persons investigations of endangered or “at risk” missing children and adults.
“Finding missing persons is often more than just having experience in missing person investigations, it is a cooperative effort between the family, private investigators, advocacy groups, law enforcement and most importantly, the media,” says Lauth. “In the more difficult cases, it sometimes becomes imperative to reach out to the public because each time you generate the public interest and awareness, you increase the potential of generating that one lead needed to recover the missing person.”
Individuals go missing. Sometimes it’s a whole group of people vanish. All too often a ship or plane goes missing. One can even up that ante and have whole communities vanish into apparently thin air. In a few cases, an entire culture or civilization has come and gone with no one the wiser. The questions really are, are such events from the personal to the collective, of relatively little interest since natural explanations abound, or are there ‘paranormal’ influences at work?
their financial commitments to you because of the service you rendered or a product you gave them.
The news has been full of the disappearance of the Malaysian Flight MH370, and while we all hope for a positive outcome to the mystery, it is not the first plane to go missing. Some of them have never been found. Here’s a look at some of the most famous.
I’m impressed, I must say. Really rarely do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me let you know, you’ve got hit the nail on the head. Your concept is excellent; the issue is one thing that not enough people are talking intelligently about. I am very comfortable that I stumbled throughout this in my seek for something referring to this.
It is really a great and helpful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this blog. Thank you, I’ll try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your site?
he blog was how do i say it… relevant, finally something that helped me. Thanks
Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this info. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossips and internet and this is really irritating. A good web site with exciting content, that’s what I need. Thanks for keeping this web site, I will be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Cant find it.
Magnificent goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you are just extremely excellent. I really like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you’re saying and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it sensible. I can’t wait to read far more from you. This is really a wonderful web site.
A great post without any doubt.
Hello! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could locate a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having problems finding one? Thanks a lot!
Appreciating the time and energy you put into your site and detailed information you offer. It’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same unwanted rehashed information. Fantastic read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.
I was very pleased to find this web-site.I wanted to thanks for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.
Yeah bookmaking this wasn’t a high risk decision outstanding post! .
I loved up to you’ll receive carried out right here. The comic strip is attractive, your authored subject matter stylish. however, you command get got an impatience over that you would like be turning in the following. in poor health no doubt come more previously once more as precisely the same just about very often within case you shield this increase.
Today, while I was at work, my sister stole my iphone and tested to see if it can survive a thirty foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now broken and she has 83 views. I know this is totally off topic but I had to share it with someone!
hi!,I really like your writing so much! proportion we be in contact extra about your article on AOL? I require a specialist on this area to solve my problem. May be that’s you! Taking a look ahead to look you.
Hey! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this write-up to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
My spouse and i felt now glad Raymond could complete his survey with the precious recommendations he made from your blog. It is now and again perplexing just to continually be giving out strategies that many many people could have been trying to sell. So we take into account we now have you to thank because of that. The main explanations you have made, the easy site menu, the friendships you aid to create – it’s got all powerful, and it’s really making our son and our family reckon that that matter is enjoyable, which is especially pressing. Thanks for everything!
What i do not realize is in reality how you’re now not actually a lot more well-appreciated than you might be right now. You’re very intelligent. You recognize thus significantly in relation to this matter, produced me in my opinion consider it from numerous various angles. Its like women and men are not interested except it’s something to do with Girl gaga! Your personal stuffs outstanding. All the time maintain it up!
Hi there, I discovered your web site by means of Google whilst looking for a comparable subject, your website came up, it appears to be like good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Excellent goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you are just too fantastic. I really like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you’re stating and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it wise. I can not wait to read far more from you. This is really a tremendous website.
There are certainly a lot of details like that to take into consideration. That could be a great point to convey up. I supply the ideas above as normal inspiration however clearly there are questions just like the one you carry up the place crucial factor shall be working in trustworthy good faith. I don?t know if greatest practices have emerged around issues like that, however I’m sure that your job is clearly recognized as a fair game. Both boys and girls feel the impression of just a second’s pleasure, for the remainder of their lives.
I would like to thnkx for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I am hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.
Awsome post and right to the point. I am not sure if this is really the best place to ask but do you guys have any ideea where to employ some professional writers? Thanks in advance 🙂
I’m curious to find out what blog system you have been utilizing? I’m experiencing some minor security problems with my latest blog and I’d like to find something more safeguarded. Do you have any suggestions?
I have been exploring for a bit for any high quality articles or blog posts on this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this website. Reading this information So i’m happy to convey that I have an incredibly good uncanny feeling I discovered just what I needed. I most certainly will make sure to do not forget this web site and give it a glance regularly.
What i do not understood is if truth be told how you are now not really much more well-preferred than you may be now. You’re very intelligent. You realize therefore significantly relating to this topic, produced me personally consider it from a lot of numerous angles. Its like women and men are not fascinated unless it¦s something to do with Woman gaga! Your personal stuffs outstanding. All the time take care of it up!
What i don’t realize is actually how you’re not really much more well-liked than you may be right now. You’re very intelligent. You realize therefore significantly relating to this subject, made me personally consider it from a lot of varied angles. Its like women and men aren’t fascinated unless it is one thing to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs nice. Always maintain it up!
I like what you guys are up also. Such smart work and reporting! Keep up the excellent works guys I?¦ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my site 🙂
Hey very nice website!! Guy .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds also?KI am glad to find numerous helpful info here within the publish, we need develop more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
Im thankful for the blog. Awesome.
Your home is valueble for me. Thanks!…
This really answered my problem, thank you!
Good post. I be taught something more difficult on different blogs everyday. It is going to all the time be stimulating to read content from different writers and follow a little bit one thing from their store. I’d want to use some with the content material on my weblog whether or not you don’t mind. Natually I’ll provide you with a link on your net blog. Thanks for sharing.
Someone necessarily assist to make critically posts I might state. That is the first time I frequented your website page and to this point? I amazed with the research you made to create this actual submit amazing. Great job!
I like this website so much, saved to bookmarks.
Simply wanna tell that this is very beneficial, Thanks for taking your time to write this.
Hello! Someone in my Myspace group shared this website with us so I came to give it a look. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Great blog and outstanding design.
Great post, I believe people should learn a lot from this web site its real user pleasant.
hey there and thank you for your information – I have definitely picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise several technical issues using this web site, as I experienced to reload the web site a lot of times previous to I could get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your web host is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will often affect your placement in google and can damage your high quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Well I am adding this RSS to my email and could look out for much more of your respective exciting content. Ensure that you update this again soon..
wonderful issues altogether, you just received a new reader. What might you suggest about your post that you simply made some days ago? Any certain?
This is a very good tips especially to those new to blogosphere, brief and accurate information… Thanks for sharing this one. A must read article.
Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.
Very interesting topic, regards for putting up. “Welcome to President Bush, Mrs. Bush, and my fellow astronauts.” by Dan Quayle.
I also think thence, perfectly pent post! .
I believe that is among the most significant info for me. And i’m glad studying your article. However want to statement on few common issues, The website taste is ideal, the articles is truly excellent : D. Good job, cheers