More than 15,000 people, including more than 400 Latinos, were reported missing in North Carolina during 2023, according to the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons (NCCMP).
So far this year, 3,524 cases have been reported, of which 102 have been among Hispanics. Of all, there are currently only 30 active cases.
What to do if a minor disappears
No parent or caregiver wants to go through the agony of their child or family member disappearing or getting lost. The first 48 hours are critical, but it can be very difficult for family members to think clearly when faced with so many emotions.
The first thing to do, as recommended by authorities, is to call the local police department, which is usually the 911 emergency number , or to the county Sheriff's Office.
The authorities will in turn provide the name and number of the officer in charge of the investigation, as well as the incident report number.
If the missing person is over 21 years of age, many law enforcement agencies accept reports until the person has been missing for at least 24 hours, with the exception of unusual circumstances, incompetence, senility, evidence of foul play, and other extenuating factors. .
How to help authorities if a child goes missing
- The authorities will request a recent photograph of the minor, his physical description, height, weight, and clothes he was wearing the last time he was seen.
- It is also helpful to include unique identifying signs, such as scars, birthmarks, or tattoos, and even better if you can provide photographs of these features.
- Authorities will ask about the missing minor's habits, behavior, medical condition, or any recent changes that have been noticed, and if there have been family problems with the minor.
- Provide a list of friends, relatives and others, such as teachers, who regularly interact with the missing child.
What to do if a teenager or adult disappears
There is no waiting time for reporting a missing adult, but responding authorities may be limited because people over 18 have the right to leave, including breaking any contact with family or friends.
If authorities do not want to take the report, recommendations for missing children can be followed, such as providing information about their appearance, what they were wearing, and any mental, medical or behavioral issues.
Also recommended:
- Contact friends via text message or on social media.
- Likewise, give details of any bank accounts or credit cards to investigators, or any vehicle the person is driving, and whether they have any GPS equipment on the on-board navigation system.
What types of alerts exist
The NCCMP is in charge of all missing persons alerts in North Carolina. Each alert is for a specific group of people.
- AMBER alert
- Missing in Danger Alert
- Silver Alert
- Ashanti Alert
Since 1985, he has worked with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to assist in locating missing persons and reuniting them with their families.
AMBER Alerts . Established since 2002 by the State Legislature, with the purpose of establishing a state system for rapid dissemination of information about kidnapped children .
Missing in Danger Alert o Missing Endangered Alert . Help protect the growing population of individuals suffering from cognitive impairment , in order to quickly locate missing people who may be in danger, with the help of the area community and local media.
Silver Alert or Silver Alert . It is to help protect the growing population of people suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's . This way, information about the description of the elderly person who could be in danger is quickly disseminated, with the collaboration of the community in the area and local media.
Ashanti Alert Notification System . Established into law in 2018 by President Trump, it establishes a nationwide voluntary communication network to help search and find missing people between the ages of 18 and 64. The law was created in honor of Ashanti Billie, who was kidnapped and murdered in 2017.
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More than 3,524 reports of missing people in 2024
So far in 2024, 3,524 cases of missing people have already been reported. Of these cases, there are 30 active, meaning they have not yet been found by police departments.
Of all the cases, this year, 2,222 have been reports of missing youth, and 1,303 of adults.
The majority are black or African-American, of which 1,251 cases of young people and 521 of adults were reported. White people follow, with 836 cases of young people and 708 of adults.
The Hispanics They are the minority with the most missing cases, with 71 young people and 31 adults.
Looking at the cases by age of missing young people, the majority of reports are of 15-year-old girls, with 278 cases, and 263 of barons of this same age.
2023: more than 15,000 reports of missing
NCCMP statistics indicate that, in 2023, there were a total of 15,262 people reported missing in the state. Of them 9,474 young people (from 0 to 17 years old), and 5,788 adults.
The table below shows the breakdown of missing persons according to their race or ethnicity:
| RESEARCH GROUP / | ASIAN | BLACK | Hispano | NATIVE AMERICAN | WHITE | UNKNOWN | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youngsters | 66 | 5,634 | 267 | 78 | 3,256 | 173 | 9,474 |
| Adults | 70 | 2,237 | 170 | 92 | 3,156 | 63 | 5,788 |
| Total for the year | 15,262 |
Among the disappearances of young people, the majority of reports have been of 15-year-old girls, with 1,324 reports. Also 16-year-old girls, with 1,129 cases, followed by cases of 15-year-old boys, with 1,031 reports.
Among Hispanics, the majority of cases were in 15-year-old boys, with 41 cases, followed by 16-year-old girls, with 39 cases, as well as 15-year-old girls, with a total of 34 cases.
Cases of 4 girls between 6 and 11 years old, 26 of 14-year-old girls, and 21 of 13-year-old girls were also reported. It can be seen in a NCCMP table all age ranges of missing minors.
Counties where the most missing persons reports originated
The following table shows the North Carolina counties where the most youth and adults were reported missing during 2023:
| COUNTY | YOUNGSTERS | ADULTS | TOTAL |
| Mecklenburg | 1956 | 888 | 2844 |
| Wake | 887 | 520 | 1407 |
| guilford | 770 | 437 | 1207 |
| Forsyth | 533 | 264 | 797 |
| Cumberland | 500 | 270 | 770 |
| Durham | 393 | 209 | 602 |
| Gaston | 339 | 204 | 543 |
Other resources to locate missing people
- Ask the police to enter the name of the person and their information in the missing persons file of the National Crime Information Center of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
- If it is a missing minor, you can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at the number: 1-800-843-5678.
- To report missing teenagers, there is the “Runaway Safeline ” or Runaway Teen Safe Line. This resource provides help to teens and their families, including 24-hour referrals to community resources. You can call: 1-800-786-2929.
- Alzheimer's Association
What else can be done
- You can also create a flyer with the photo of the missing relative and put it on sites to request information.
- Ask family and friends to share information and photos on social networks, or create a Facebook page. Likewise, contact the local media.
- If you have access to the missing person's cell phone account, you can review their call records. You can use the “Find my iPhone” application on Apple or Android cell phones. This call and text message data is usually available to police and requires a court order.
- If the missing person returns or is found by his or her family, the authorities must be notified so that their information can be removed from the databases.
To find help and resources about missing persons in North Carolina go to the website of the NC Center for Missing Persons
You can access more resources for missing persons in the United States by visiting the website of the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System NamUS
Find lost immigrant help resources by visiting the site Human Borders
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After the storm
A year ago, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina. The Latino community responded with something stronger than the storm: solidarity.
🎧 In this episode, learn how Latino organizations transformed crisis into resilience.
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