There is no guide or playbook when it comes to what to do when a loved one goes missing.
Families of missing persons describe feeling scared, desperate, helpless, and uncertain about what to do when they can’t locate their loved one.
“This is a club that nobody wants to be a part of. But we are,” said Aimee Chapman, whose brother, Andy Chapman, has been missing since December 2006.
Families like Chapmans want to offer tips, ideas, and compassion to others in similar situations.
There’s the important initial step of reporting the person missing to the police, but where can family members go from there?
Advocates, law enforcement officials, and families of missing people talked to The Dispatch about what they’d recommend families do if someone they love goes missing.
Here’s what they had to say:
Be as descriptive as you can
When filing a police report, it’s important to be as descriptive about the person as possible, said Lori Davis, a victim advocate who works with families of missing people.