MAY 2024
We have finally been appointed a new cold case officer after a year of asking for updates which have been spasmodic and dismissive then finding we actually didn’t have a case worker at all due to staff changes.
Something has to change. Families and friends of LONG TERM missing need better communication from the police. I appreciate there are staffing issues and many threats in society they have to deal with. But a email reply with some reassurance we are not forgotten and more importantly our missing person is not forgotten - shouldn’t be too time consuming.
It should be a frustrated family to nudge them for feedback, especially when information, that may or may not be relevant, has been passed to them. We deserve an update. Who else can you give it to? Ultimately it’s the police.
My son going missing is, still, out of character and suspicious. The disappearance of our son is surrounded by much controversy and speculation that he was murdered. Yet this case, in 27+ years been a MisPers case except briefly a suspected murder when arrests were made and searches done. 14 years after he vanished. Too late! Then back to MisPers and now Cold Case. The sad truth is unless we make a fuss, it would all just go away like it never happened. We need change in attitude. It’s a human being - missing. We may never find out what happened. But that doesn’t mean we have to give up trying to get to the truth.
Since DNA keeps getting more advanced we hear of cases where remains were found shortly after a person went missing. However, not identified till decades later due to the advances in DNA. So there is hope. It may not give us all the answers. But finally being able to lay that person to rest and having some resolution would go some way to giving peace to the loved ones and a decent burial for a much loved family member.
It’s a social dilemma. The numbers of missing are chronic. Many choose to go missing for a myriad of reasons which is a different slant on the issue and incredibly important too. But many just vanish without any reason and there are not the resources available to stay with a case, except for a few high profile cases - vast numbers of cases are in limbo along with family, friends, co-workers and community at large.
I am going to do what I can to help by raising awareness and sharing my experience with those who are working for change. But it’s a long haul effort but hopefully one day attitudes will improve surrounding the missing issue. Thanks for reading.
I have written a personal account of living through this unsolicited career of ‘mother of a missing teen.’ But it’s a career I am fiercely dedicated to!
