If A Child Goes Missing
Act immediately! Forty years ago, domestic laws were different and Jo McFadden could not act immediately. Because of this, she has never found her son and has suffered decades of heartbreak. You’ll find Kipper’s NCMEC case here.
By law, the police must file a report. If you are having trouble getting help, Download this Quick Reference Guide from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Here is some more information from the NCME Web site:
- Search the house checking closets, under beds, inside appliances — wherever a child may crawl or hide.
- If you still cannot find your child, immediately call your local law enforcement agency.
- If your child disappears in a store, notify security or management, then immediately call your local law-enforcement agency. Many stores have a Code Adam plan of action— if a child is missing in the store, employees immediately mobilize to look for the missing child.
- When you call law enforcement, provide your child’s name, date of birth, height, weight, and any other unique identifiers such as eyeglasses and braces. Tell them when you noticed that your child was missing and what clothing he or she was wearing.
- Request that your child’s name and identifying information be immediately entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Missing Person File.
After you have reported your child missing to law enforcement, call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children toll-free: 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678). Or you can use the NCMEC Live Hotline to talk to NCMEC through their Web site.
Adapted from Just in Case…Missing. Copyright© 1985 National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). All rights reserved.
Check our Resources page for more information and resources.
