JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Families of missing adults gathered inside Jacksonville City Hall on Friday, sharing stories of loss, faith, and persistence as they marked the 16th annual Missing Adult Day.
The event, organized by Project: Cold Case and the families of John Rowan Jr., Mark Degner, and Bryan Hayes, brought together relatives, advocates, law enforcement, and community members. Many in attendance clutched photos of loved ones who vanished years, and in some cases, decades ago.
“It’s always important to see people show up, because most of these families feel like people have forgotten their loved ones,” Ryan Backmann said, founder and executive director of Project: Cold Case. “When they come to an event like this, this is a reminder that they have support and that there are people out there that care.”…