The Missing Person Crisis in America
A digital library exploring the numbers, circumstances, demographics, investigative challenges and human impact surrounding missing-person cases in the United States.
More Than a Number
Missing-person cases do not fit into one category. Children, teenagers, adults and older adults disappear under many different circumstances, including runaways, endangered disappearances, abductions, exploitation, trafficking, accidents and cases where the circumstances remain unclear.
This digital library brings together Magnolia Missing Network's existing resources so visitors can explore the crisis by subject and better understand the people, circumstances and investigative challenges behind the numbers.
Explore the Digital Library
Each section below connects directly to an active Magnolia Missing Network resource. Together, these resources create a larger picture of the missing-person crisis in America.
Missing Persons Data
Explore information and data surrounding missing-person cases and the national scope of the issue.
Open CollectionDemographic Dashboard
Examine demographic information and patterns involving missing-person cases and the communities represented within the national landscape.
View DashboardWhy People Go Missing
Explore the many circumstances that can place a person into the missing-person system.
Read ResourceRunaway Does Not Mean Safe
A runaway designation does not automatically eliminate risk. Children who leave home can face exploitation, trafficking, violence and other dangers.
Read ArticleExploitation and Trafficking
Missing-person cases can intersect with exploitation and trafficking. Understanding those connections is an important part of understanding risk.
Explore TopicThe Impact
A disappearance can affect families emotionally, financially, legally and practically while the search continues.
Explore ImpactThe Unidentified
Unidentified-person cases can remain unresolved for years. Identification may involve DNA, forensic science, fingerprints, anthropology and investigative databases.
Explore The UnidentifiedCold Cases and Long-Term Missing
Some disappearances remain unresolved for years or decades. New information, renewed attention and advances in investigative technology can change what is possible.
Explore Cold CasesResources
A collection of resources and information relevant to missing persons, identification, investigation and support.
Open ResourcesWhy People Go Missing
There is no single explanation for why someone disappears. Circumstances can include family conflict, running away, exploitation, trafficking, abduction, accidents, medical or behavioral circumstances and situations that remain unknown.
Enter This CollectionSee the Demographics
Explore the demographic dashboard for another way of looking at the people represented within the missing-person crisis.
View Demographic DashboardFind Your Starting Point
Choose a subject based on what you want to understand about the missing-person crisis.
Every Case Has a Story.
The purpose of this library is to make information surrounding missing persons easier to understand, easier to find and harder to overlook.