Missing Persons Uncovered

In this episode we talk with Carolyn Fair and Kathy Marriott. The aim of the episode is to explore the complex issue of children who go missing, share insights from frontline social workers, highlight effective practices, and discuss how social services can better safeguard vulnerable young people.

In this episode we talk with Robert Cocks from Locate International focusing on people who go missing from hospitals. From vulnerable mental health patients to those undergoing routine treatment, we discuss how individuals in supposed places of safety manage to disappear, and why these cases frequently fall through the cracks of the system. Robert Cocks unpacks the patterns, institutional oversights, and urgent need for reform in how hospital disappearances are tracked and handled. Who is responsible when a patient disappears? And how can these systems be changed to prevent future tragedies?

In this episode, Maryana and Damon shine a spotlight on the often-overlooked crisis of missing children in Uganda and Kenya. They delve into the complex realities behind the disappearances, exploring factors such as human trafficking, poverty, weak law enforcement response, and systemic corruption. With a blend of local insights, and advocacy perspectives, Maryana and Damon uncover the scale of the issue and the devastating impact it has on families and communities. They also highlight the critical need for awareness, accountability, and increased grassroots efforts to protect vulnerable children.

In this episode we talk to Altin Hazizaj discussing how the disappearance of individuals is not just a tragedy, but a human rights violation. We discuss how going missing can be right to life and personal freedom but at the same time a violation. International human rights law obligates states to prevent disappearances, investigate them promptly, punish those responsible, and provide remedies to victims and families. Additionally, from research, it is known that marginalized groups—like migrants, Indigenous communities, are disproportionately affected and often reflect a systemic inequality.

In this episode we talk to Bill Andrerson from Locate International, an NGO that raises awareness and investigates cold cases including situations where people go missing abroad. Each year, thousands of people go missing while traveling, living, or working abroad due to a range of circumstances. Disappearances may result from accidents, natural disasters, crime, or abduction, including cases linked to human trafficking or violence. Mental health issues can also lead individuals to become lost or disoriented, while some choose to disappear voluntarily to escape personal problems. Efforts to locate missing persons abroad face challenges such as jurisdictional barriers, lack of local resources, language and cultural differences, and delayed reporting by family members.

In this podcast with Aurora Perez Flores and Busra Sarac, we talk about the serious issue of enforced disappearance—when people are secretly taken, often by authorities, and never seen again. They share their personal experiences working with families who are left with no answers, living in pain and uncertainty. Enforced disappearances are commonly seen in places with conflict or oppressive governments. Aurora and Busra also highlight through their regional expertise of Latin America and Middle East how hard it is to work in this field with the lack of consistent information and the lack of coordination.

People with autism face unique challenges that can make them more vulnerable to wandering, exploitation, and miscommunication with law enforcement. We talk to Tanja Conway-Grim, Senior specialist ND coach and Alan Nanavaty, Executive Director at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children about the resources and mechanisms on how to keep people with autism safe.

In the first episode, we talk to Scott Fitzmaurice from Forensic Analytics and Dr. Mark Harrison and explore the importance of intelligence in a missing person investigation. Effective intelligence building can aid in identifying patterns, tracking movements, and uncovering potential risks, with collaboration extending beyond law enforcement to include various agencies.