okay so i wasnt going to be this guy, but i am this guy so why fight it? First I want to say everyone entitled to their own opinion and I respect everyone's thoughts. Im merely the provider of adult missing person cases data. So to graduate we have to write a 10,000 word research paper on a topic. I chose adult missing persons cases (and imo its on the same level of one of picassos paintings) ive looked at the law, and policy, and just as general rule LE doesnt not care about adult missing persons, and legally they have no obligation to. (now this varies state to state and jurisdiction to jurisdiction.) but at the federal level theres not a single law that requires LE to investigate adult missing persons over the age of 21.
Adults can and are allowed to leave if they want so their not considered high priority. LE has to take the report when its filed (its illegal for them to make you wait to file, no law prevents it) HOWEVER theres no procedures or legal standards that require them to take action. It usually gets pushed off a few days to see if the person shows up. This is the worst possible things that can happen because the first 48 hours after someone goes missing are the most important. statically if they arent found within that time frame they are likely dead and whats worse is wait to start the investigation causes important evidence to be lost or ruined (ie the preservation of a crime scene) . The National Crime Information Center (NCIC) reports over 600,000 people are reported missing each year and thankfully a majority of these are solved but Adult individuals over the age of 21, accounted for roughly 48,642, or 56 percent, of current open missing person cases. I mean how many missing persons do we hear about a year? a few dozen maybe? but the reality is at any given time in thiss country their are 48,642 missing adults and a majority of them arent being looked for.
The media coverage in SM's case is probably falling with the top 2% of all adult missing person cases. (and im in no way saying it shouldnt be, no person deserves to be forgotten, every person deserve this much coverage but its just an impossibility) Most missing perons get to mention a few times on the news and get a few article but that it. And sadly the data shows these spots are typically reserved for upper-middle class/middle class white men and women from good families. It your poor, if your a person of color, if youve ever done a drug or made a mistake your cases is statically proven to get much less coverage AND when these cases are covered the media speaks about the victims in a way that suggest their choices lead to the situation (aka they are less worthy of finding) which leads LE and the community, in general, to feel less of a sense or urgency to find them. White women, however, are categorically described as victims in need of rescue
LE is not required to federally report adult missing persons to NCIC, or ViCAP, or to submit DNA to codic. this is left up to the states to handle and unfortunately, that can mean theres inconsistency in procedures and theirs no real consequence to the LE agency if they forget. Adults dont get Amber alerts,the programs establish by non-profits are less funded and well put together then the resources provided to le and family members of adult missing persons. , and their case as a whole are not prioritized as much as other crimes. LE is usually so busy they just dont have the time or resources to continue making these cases a priority long term and they have no model or roadmap for how to best utilize what they do have. so sadly alot of people just get forgotten. IMO its not right, these families deserve answers and no one, and i mean no one deserves to just be forgotten. However, given the limitations of the current system, these are unfortunate realities. Im really not okay with, im horrified acually and its like a lesser known secret that this happens pretty often. The cases that keep LE attention over time are usually only done so as a result of a loved one that resfuses to give up.
All that being said I have no idea what LE has done in SMs case or how through they were, but I can tell you they took the case seriously and they acted right away. Thats invaluable to finding SM and ensuring evidence is collected and sadly there are a decent amount of agencies that dont feel that same sense of urgency when they get a report. I know theyve gotten multiple warrants and they've conduct multiple searches and their working with the support of the FBI. Their taking this case seriously, following up on leads. There behavior reflects that their acting with SMs best interest in mind. We probably wont know how much hey did do or if more could have been done for a while, but there not giving up on SM. Thee not letting her become an afterthought and to me thats significant because unfortunately that doesnt happen or most missing people. SM absolutely deserve the attention. and these should be standard operating procedures but for a variety of reasons their not. and every one is 100% justified in being frustrated, logically is seems impossible that theres nothing they can share or that theres no way the public can help, but their working every day on this cases and for that fact alone I believe, at least for now their actions have earned the benefit of the doubt and IMO There are over 40,000 other missing person case sitting in some officer gathering dust and being ignored that back that up.
Its still frustrating AF but i think if we look at SMs case in terms of how adult missing person cases are handled across the country, LE in this cases is doing pretty good (and i by no means am criticizing LE there are a variety of factors at play here often well out of the investigator's hands
Now I know what your thinking, isnt still doing their job the bare minimum they should be doing? heck yeah, its sad and we absolutely need reforms here but the current acceptable standard nationwide is much much lower. I personally find this to be appalling and cleary its an issue im passionate about. I hope i didnt come of preachy, not at all my intent just wanted to highlight the extremely depressing realities. sorry for bringing mood ruining vibe I just thought it might be helpful to have context as to wildly inadequate laws and procedures
thank you for coming to my ted talk
