HOW TO FIND A MISSING PERSON
FIND A MISSING PERSON
from America’s Top Private Investigator
Are you trying to find a missing person? Are you searching for a missing person with a drug or alcohol problem or mental illness? Has your subject been in prison? Is the subject a younger child or a missing adult child? If so, we have compiled a list of information that will guide you to finding your friend, family, or loved one. If, however, you are coming up empty based on your searches, it is necessary to call a private investigator sooner than later.
As Thomas Martin, a California-based top Private Investigator, stated, “After 50 years of experience in searching for missing persons, you will want to have a private investigator right by your side from the onset.” Now, while you search for a PI, here at Martin Investigative Services, we have tips on choosing the right private investigator; we also compile other free methods where you can do the footwork the PI agency doesn’t do. Some may overlap, so ask your PI team what level of search they will be completing.
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HOW TO FIND A MISSING PERSON
20 WAYS TO FINDING A MISSING PERSON
Number 1
File a missing person report:
You must file a missing person report within 72 hours of the missing person with the police department.
» Contact the local police department or 911
» Note: A private investigator may not work with you if you don’t get this first step done!
Number 2
Check with friends and family:
Today, most people are on social media, and friends could have seen a social media post about possible whereabouts. Note: If you only know some of their friends, a PI firm can help you connect with their remaining friends.
» Collect Photos, the last location seen, and media posts: Collect all information from their friends and family. Data may include their full name, date of birth, and other identifying information, such as their social security number or driver’s license number.
» You should also gather information about their whereabouts or clues that may help with the search.
Number 3
Hire a private investigator:
Hiring a private investigator is almost essential because a PI can work closely with the law enforcement agency to which you submitted the case and helps to bring in front and center of their missing person cases.
» Identify data: Share the collected photos and description of your missing person, and have it ready for emailing. PIs will post on their website and all other social media platforms.
» Ask for a Press Conference: The PI may very well ask for a press conference with the family in attendance.
» Give the investigator any tip straightaway: Time is of the essence. One tip can open up the case and help find your missing person.
» Use Phone Records: Check their Phone’s Location. It would be best if you worked with the police and your PI to get the go-ahead to ping the phone or get the last time the phone was triangulated, as well as records.
Number 4
Look to offer a reward:
You can use platforms like GoFundMe. GoFundMe is a popular crowdfunding platform that can be used to raise funds for various causes, including missing-person searches.
Many families and organizations have used GoFundMe to raise money for search efforts and offer rewards for information about the missing person’s whereabouts.
Number 5
Contact Local television and radio stations:
If you can do so, you can reach out to the local television and radio stations.
Type in “local television channels near me, or “local radio stations near me” to help start you in the right direction.
Number 6
Contact jails, local hospitals, and coroners:
Our suggestion is to use the word “near me” in your search so you can find the local jails, local hospitals, and coroners list.
Number 7
Use tracking dogs:
Contact a K9 dog sniffing team. Should the person be kidnapped, call for a K9 dog sniffing team before a mass search to reduce your cross-contaminate of the area. Type in “K9 search a missing person near me” and find a K9 team.
HERE ARE SOME SEARCH AND RESCUE DOG GROUPS AND ADVICE:
- American Kennel Club: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/how-search-and-rescue-dogs-find-missing/
- CARDA: https://carda.org/
- Other: https://k9sardog.com/f/how-to-find-missing-persons
Number 8
Do an Online Search:
There is various online search platforms to use. Here is a list below:
- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: https://www.missingkids.org/
- National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs): https://www.namus.gov/
- The Charley Project: https://www.charleyproject.org/
- Missing Persons of America: http://www.missingpersonsofamerica.com/
- The Doe Network: https://www.doenetwork.org/
- FindThemMissing: https://findthemmissing.org/en/
- Project Jason: https://projectjason.org/
- The National Runaway Safeline: https://www.1800runaway.org/
- Black and Missing Foundation: https://www.blackandmissinginc.com/
- GINA For Missing Persons FOUNDation: https://www.ginamissing.org/Missing Persons Guide: http://missingpersonsguide.com/
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Missing Person Resources: https://www.nami.org/
- LostNMissing: https://lostmissing.org/
- United States Department of Justice: https://www.justice.gov/
Number 9
Look into Online Directories:
Online directories differ from the online searches above. These are platforms where they have data but may have to pay a small fee to extract the information. These online directories can provide information on individuals, such as phone numbers, email addresses, and social media profiles, which can help locate a missing person.
- Here is a list:
- Whitepages: https://www.whitepages.com/
- Spokeo: https://www.spokeo.com/
- PeopleSearchNow: https://www.peoplesearchnow.com/
- Instant Checkmate: https://www.instantcheckmate.com/
- Pipl: https://pipl.com/
- Intelius: https://www.intelius.com/
- ZabaSearch: https://www.zabasearch.com/
- PeekYou: https://www.peekyou.com/
- BeenVerified: https://www.beenverified.com/
- MyLife: https://www.mylife.com/
Number 10
Post Photos of the Missing Person in Local Places:
Posting photos in and around the area will further expand your search.
You can also connect with the National Child safety council to join the Missing Children Milk Carton Program. https://www.nationalchildsafetycouncil.org/about/missing-children-efforts/228-missing-children-milk-carton-program
Number 11
Utilize volunteer organizations:
Various volunteer organizations can help your cause. Many have other ancillary groups they go to, so tap into their connections! Here is a list:
- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: https://www.missingkids.org/home
- Project Jason: https://projectjason.org/
- NamUs: https://www.namus.gov/
- Team Adam: https://www.adamwalsh.org/team-adam/
- Let’s Bring Them Home: https://www.lbth.org/
- Klaas Kids Foundation: https://www.klaaskids.org/
- The Polly Klaas Foundation: https://www.pollyklaas.org/
- Texas EquuSearch: https://texasequusearch.org/
- Missing Persons Advocacy Network: https://www.mpan.com.au/
- LostNMissing Inc.: https://www.lostnmissing.org/
THESE ORGANIZATIONS OFFER SERVICES SUCH AS SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS, CASE MANAGEMENT, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES, AND PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS.
Number 12
Utilize Social Media:
If you are not tech savvy, have a family, friend, or your private investigator, use social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, Twitter, and Snapchat to see if the missing person had posted in social media. Utilizing social media is key!
Number 15
Utilize drones:
Drones can search large areas quickly and efficiently and may help locate a missing person who is lost in a remote location.
Number 16
Contact the embassy or consulate:
If the missing person is traveling internationally, contact the embassy or consulate of the country they are in to see if they can offer any assistance in the search.
Number 17
Consider cultural or religious institutions:
If the missing person is a member of a cultural or religious institution, reach out to leaders or community members to see if they have any information.
Number 18
Use billboards:
Consider placing a billboard or large advertisement with information about the missing person in a high-traffic area to increase visibility and reach more people.
Number 19
Stay positive:
Finally, it’s essential to stay positive and not give up hope. Keep searching and spreading the word until the missing person is found. Persistence is essential, and keep going until the missing person is found. Every effort made can bring us closer to finding them! File a report, then contact us.
Number 20
How to select a Private Investigator
If you are considering hiring a private investigator to help with a missing person’s case, choosing a reputable and experienced firm is crucial. Our PI firm’s investigators include former FBI, DEA, IRS, and Secret Service agents.
Contact us at 1-800-577-1080 or fill out our web form for help with your missing person’s issue. We can help you throughout the continental USA. Call our PI today. We can help!
We offer a free consultation. No risk. Our friendly staff can help with your issue or point you in the right direction. The consultation is free and confidential. Ready? Call (800) 577-1080. We look forward to helping you!
When faced with the difficult task of locating a missing person, it's crucial to approach the situation with a comprehensive plan. Hiring a professional private investigator can increase your chances of success. Martin Investigative Services understands the emotional turmoil that comes with a missing person case, and we're committed to providing support throughout the process. You don't have to keep wondering how to find a missing person on your own; we're here to help you reunite with your missing person and bring peace to your life.
WHAT TO DO IF A LOVED ONE GOES MISSING
When a loved one goes missing, your first course of action should be to contact local law enforcement. Once they're involved, it's time to bring in the professionals at MartinPI.com. Our specialized team is trained to find missing persons, whether they are estranged family members, missing due to a mental illness, or runaway teenagers. Our private investigators will start by gathering all the necessary information about the missing person. We'll need as much detail as possible about the person's physical appearance, personal life, habits, and recent activities. It's essential to provide us with any tangible leads such as letters, emails, personal belongings, etc. Once we have all the information we need, we develop a detailed plan of action. Our skilled private investigators analyze all the information and create a roadmap for the investigation. At this point, our investigators start their on-ground efforts. This could involve canvassing areas where the person was last seen, interviewing friends, neighbors, and colleagues, or even conducting covert surveillance. At MartinPI.com, we believe in keeping our clients in the loop. We maintain continuous communication and provide you with updates on our findings and the progress of the investigation. Once the missing person is located, we ensure a safe return if possible and provide the necessary support to our clients in managing the next steps. In unfortunate cases where the person cannot be found or if they've passed away, we ensure the news is delivered in the most compassionate and supportive way possible.
Finding a missing person requires the experience, resources, and expertise that MartinPI.com offers. Our team is well-versed in the legal aspects surrounding missing person cases and understands the need for swift and confidential action. We work diligently to provide answers and closure for our clients.
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