What you should do if your child goes missing
The first 24 hours
Immediately report to local police authorities that her son is missing. Ask investigators to register their child in the Missing Persons File of the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). There is no waiting period for registering children and youth under 18 years in the NCIC.
Ask the police issued a bulletin warning (BOLO). Averique whether to involve the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the search of the child.
Limit access to your home until the police arrive and have collected all possible evidence. Do not touch or remove anything from your child's room or home. Remember that the clothes, sheets, personal items, computer and even trash may hold clues to the whereabouts of her son. The checklist in chapter 1 (Gathering Evidence in the first 48 hours) includes detailed information on how to close the nursery and pre-serve evidence.
Ask for the name and telephone number of the police investigator assigned to your case and retain this information in a safe and convenient.
Give law enforcement investigators all the facts and circumstances surrounding the disappearance of her child, even the steps that have already been made to find it.
Write a detailed description of the clothing worn by her son and personal items he had when he disappeared. Include in your description any personal identification marks such as birthmarks, scars, tattoos and gestures that can help find the child. If possible, find a picture of your child that shows these identification marks and give it to the police. See more details in the checklist in chapter 1 (Gathering Evidence in the first 48 hours).
Make a list of friends, acquaintances and anyone who might have information or clues to the whereabouts of his son. Include phone numbers and addresses, if possible. Tell your law enforcement investigator about anyone who has moved into the neighborhood during the previous year, anyone whose interest or relationship with the family changed in recent months, and anyone who seemed to be interested in your child.
Gather recent photos of his son, both in color and in black and white. Make copies of these pictures to the police, the media, the state clearinghouse on missing children, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and other nonprofit organizations. Chapter 4 (Photo and Flier Distribution) contains suggestions on how to produce and distribute leaflets and posters.
Call NCMEC at 800-THE-LOST (800-843-5678) for help in the distribution of photos. Also have the phone numbers of other nonprofit organizations that might help.
Look in the Additional Resources section at the end of this Guide, center phone number information for your state missing children. Then call the information center to be told what they can provide resources and services in the search for his son.
Ask the police to organize the search for his son. Ask him to use tracking dogs (preferably bloodhounds) in the search. Read chapters 1 (The Search) and 5 (Volunteers) as you prepare for the search.
Ask the police to help you contact the media. Chapter 3 (The media) has tips on how to work with the press.
Designate one person to answer the phone. Keep a notebook or pad by the phone for this person can jot down names, phone numbers and hours of the call, and all information concerning the call.
Have all the time a notebook or pad to write down your thoughts or questions and record important data such as names, dates and phone numbers.
Take good care of your family and yourself, because your child needs to be strong. However difficult it may be, force yourself to rest, eat nutritious foods and talk to someone about your feelings. When you can read chapter 7 (Personal and Family Considerations).
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