Understanding the search
While you will desperately want to help with the physical search, the best use of your energy will be to share information with investigators as soon as you get it; from remembering something, learning something new about your child’s case, or simply connecting the dots regarding information you did not have before. Being available, and being close to home – or able to get there quickly if your child returns, or if you are needed by law enforcement – is vitally important. The following checklist will help you understand what is happening, and suggest ways to follow up if you believe the proper procedures are not being followed.
WHAT MORE CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
Ask your investigator what you can do to help them during the initial investigation. Ways you may be able to help include:
- Asking neighbors to share recent home security camera footage that may have captured images of your child.
- Sending video clips showing your child’s unique mannerisms.
- Posting your child’s missing flier on neighborhood or other group social media sites.
- Posting printed missing child fliers in places your child was last seen.
- Monitoring and sharing current banking and credit card records.
- Talking with the PIO about ways to increase media interest in your child’s case.
- Meeting with a victim advocate. (Learn more about their work in chapter 7.)
Checklist: The first 48 hours
If your law enforcement agency is not prepared with full search capability, either internally or through a CART, Child Abduction Rapid Deployment (CARD), and/or Team Adam, they should quickly contact the National Association For Search And Rescue (NASAR) at info@nasar.org or 877-893-0702.
Searches can include a variety of locations and approaches. Your case investigator can explain various searches that may involve:
- Area(s) where your child was last seen.
- Your home and its surroundings.
- Your child’s school locker.
- Neighborhood canvass (doorto-door “knock and talks”).
- Land or “grids” (often used for large fields).
- Trash pickup or landfills.
- Sea/water or air.
- Roadblock canvasses.
- Business canvasses.
- License plate tracking.
- GPS and cellular signal tracking.
- Geomapping and database searches to confirm locations of registered sex offenders in the area.
- Tracking or trailing dogs, such as bloodhounds, may be brought into the scene to help with the search. They can be valuable in tracking and following your child’s scent in the air and on the ground, even if your child was carried in someone’s arms or in a vehicle.
Ask law enforcement to keep you updated on what areas have been searched, who was present, and what was found.
- Second searches of the same area are often performed because they can yield information and leads that were previously missed.
- Make sure you feel confident the search effort is adequate and progressing as expected. If not, ask how improvements can be made.
Agree on a daily time or regular cycle for your investigator to update you about search and investigative efforts. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or air differences of opinion. Ahmad Rivazfar recalls detectives making him feel like “just another piece of evidence” during their investigation into the heinous crimes committed against his daughters. If you are not satisfied, speak up.
CHILD ABDUCTION RAPID RESPONSE TEAMS
Depending upon the circumstances, law enforcement may request help from one of the following rapid response teams that are trained and equipped to find missing children. These teams include:
- Local, regional, or state Child Abduction Response Teams, or CARTs. These are multijurisdictional teams composed of experienced law enforcement professionals who can deploy quickly. They have established roles, high-tech mobile command centers, and a network of specialized search resources – from K9 handlers to aerial search experts. Learn more at amberadvocate.org/CARTresources.
- Nationally, the FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment (CARD) teams are strategically located throughout the U.S. and deploy at the request of an FBI field office. CARD teams provide on-the-ground investigative, technical, analytical, and resource assistance ideal for complex cases.
- NCMEC’s Team Adam consists of retired law enforcement professionals with years of experience at the federal, state, and local levels. NCMEC also provides technical assistance to agencies investigating long-term missing cases. Ask your officer for help accessing Team Adam support.
“You are going to survive this, even if you don’t want to. Nobody really thinks they will be in it for the long haul.” – Colleen Nick
After the initial steps are taken in the first 48 hours, investigators will shift gears into a longer search strategy. This does not mean the search for your child is less urgent, but rather that additional investigative processes and specialized resources will be incorporated to support and sustain the effort.
When the search for a missing child becomes long term, not all parents are emotionally or financially able to stay actively engaged in the process. They may need to ask others to take
the lead. This is completely understandable. Whatever you decide is best, here are some things that you, your family, friends, and volunteers can do.
Checklist: The long-term search
Work with law enforcement to determine what role you and others can play in the long-term effort. Make sure goals, approaches, and resources are clearly defined and understood.
- Establish a schedule to review the case and share updates.
- Immediately provide law enforcement with new information that may impact the direction of the case.
- If developments call for an increase in the scope or complexity of the investigation, and you get the sense that your law enforcement team is becoming overwhelmed or under-resourced, don’t be afraid to ask if the FBI or state police can help. Also ask if NCMEC’s Team Adam investigators can assist. Contact them at 800-THE-LOST (800-843-5678).
By doing so, you may recognize something meaningful that was overlooked or remember something significant that law enforcement was unaware of. In agreeing on a review process, however, understand there may be information that law enforcement cannot release to you because it may jeopardize or hinder the investigation. Some states do not allow the release of police reports until a case is closed. Ask your investigator what information can be legally shared with you, and when, so tensions don’t build up around unmet or misunderstood expectations.
Read more about this aspect of the search in the “Offering Rewards” section in chapter 4.
Crime Stoppers answers telephone calls 24/7, is skilled in how to intake tip information, provides caller anonymity, and works effectively with law enforcement. If Crime Stoppers is used in your child’s case, you can share their toll-free telephone number, 800-222-TIPS/8477, for calls about a reward. (Note: NCMEC will not provide reward information on its toll-free hotline, 800-THE-LOST/800-843-5678.) For more information visit crimestoppersusa.org/contact-us/.
Ask your law enforcement agency and prosecutor’s office about other local, state, regional, or national programs that can be used to securely and reliably intake tips and offer rewards.
If your child remains missing for a year or more, use NCMEC’s array of long-term missing case support services, which includes age progression depictions of your child based on photos and other physical
information. These age-progressed images can be used in conjunction with original pictures in the case, and can be shared on updated posters, billboards, and other items to sustain public awareness and support of the ongoing investigation. Your state missing child/persons clearinghouse and/or NCMEC can assist with poster creation and updates. Remember to consult with your case investigator before sharing any new information with the public to ensure it does not compromise the investigation. Chapter 3 contains checklist items for working with the media. Use a notebook or written/audio journal to document your feelings.
Occasionally a thought or passage will trigger a memory or give you new insight. It doesn’t have to be written perfectly, and it may prove useful in the future.
USING TIP LINES FOR LEADS
Law enforcement prefers to handle incoming tips about your missing child’s case via an internal tip line, where calls are accepted 24/7.
They will use a specially designed leads management system to track incoming information to investigate.
NCMEC provides a 24/7 hotline for receiving tips but does not provide reward information about your case.
Crime Stoppers also offers a 24/7 tip line (and does use rewards) but its services are not available everywhere.
Never share your personal phone number or email address on your child’s poster or web/social media sites.
Ask about the best number(s), emails, URLs, or QR codes to use on your child’s missing poster before it is created. This will ensure that tips are received, processed, and investigated in a timely and organized
manner.
Collaborating with law enforcement
When your child is missing, you and law enforcement become partners pursuing a common goal – finding your child. As partners, you both work to establish a relationship based on mutual respect, trust, and honesty. You do not have to agree on every detail, but engaging in honest communication can alleviate or resolve many issues.
Checklist: Ensuring good communication
Though troubling, the fact is many children are harmed by members of their own families. Depending on the circumstances of the case, you and your family may be considered suspects until you are cleared
through the investigative process. Cooperate with interviews, and volunteer early to take a polygraph test (if used in the investigation) to help law enforcement eliminate you and your family. At that point,
they can focus on identifying other suspects and apprehending the perpetrator(s) in your child’s case. Insist that all family members are interviewed in a timely manner to prevent prolonged, unnecessary
scrutiny by law enforcement and the media.
Fully disclose all recent activities of, and conversations with, your child. What may seem insignificant to you may be helpful to an investigator. It’s important to understand that law enforcement’s role is not to judge difficult dynamics with your child or family, but to consider them carefully in the context of the investigation and search for your child. If at any time you do not feel supported in this regard, seek assistance from your family advocate or NCMEC’s family support services.
As challenging as it may be, try not to respond in a hostile manner to questions that seem personal or intrusive, even offensive. Investigators must ask difficult and sensitive questions to do their jobs effectively. If you believe that a cultural or language difference may be affecting your ability to work together or communicate effectively, ask the law enforcement agency for assistance. An interpreter, liaison, advocate, and/or mediator can help facilitate better understanding.
Besides family members, ask friends, your child’s boyfriend or girlfriend, neighbors, teachers, and coaches to cooperate in the investigative process.
Do not question them yourself. For younger children, a law enforcement officer trained in child forensic interviewing should conduct those sessions. Many law enforcement agencies will have officers specially trained to interview children; child advocacy centers (CACs) may also have professionals able to help in this process. Allow law enforcement to coordinate with CAC personnel if necessary.
Child advocates are specially trained staff and volunteers who support children involved in the criminal justice process. In addition to private CACs, some state and municipal agencies have child advocates available, usually within the district attorney’s office, the courts, or law enforcement agencies. Ask law enforcement for information about your local child advocate resources. You also can visit the National Children’s Advocacy Center website to find a chapter in your state. If your child’s sibling is very young, you may be asked to sit in on the interview. Do not be alarmed, however, if law enforcement needs to have a trained child forensic interviewer speak with your child(ren) alone.
For the protection of you and your family, an officer may be stationed there around the clock. Your investigator or family advocate should help you understand why this is necessary. If your law enforcement agency does not have the resources to provide this type of security, ask for whatever security they can provide.
Understand officers will be assigned to your home to perform a variety of critically important functions, such as answering calls, intaking leads, performing interviews, securing and processing evidence, and providing security. A family advocate and other resources from NCMEC can help you through this difficult aspect of the investigation.
Missing children cases are handled by various units within law enforcement agencies, including Special Victims, Homicide, Major Crimes, Human Trafficking, and/or Missing Persons. The unit to which your child’s case is assigned does not determine what may have occurred or how the case will be handled. For example, if your child’s case is assigned to the Homicide unit, this does not mean your child is deceased.
Realize there will be days when your investigator has nothing new to report. Within your family or support circle, it’s important to agree that only one person should contact law enforcement about your child’s case. If your investigator is bombarded with calls, emails, and messages from multiple people, valuable time needed to work on the case will be lost.
Likewise, you and your family must honor law enforcement’s request not to disclose certain information to the media.
These can involve ransom demands as well as offers from psychics and private investigators. Report any suspicious or harassing behavior to your case investigator. Do not respond or provide any information until law enforcement can verify the identity of the sender and the validity of the message.
The more you understand the investigative process, the better you can ask questions about it. It’s important to realize that many law enforcement officers do not have firsthand experience in working on a missing child case. If you feel that your child’s disappearance has been classified inappropriately, ask for an explanation. If you are not satisfied with the response, request to speak with the officer’s supervisor.
Chapter 7 of this Guide contains a list of organizations with which you can connect. Also, never hesitate to ask your law enforcement agency and NCMEC for additional support.
USING A PRIVATE DETECTIVE
- Hire a private investigator only if you believe they can do something better or different than what your law enforcement team is providing.
- Make sure the private detective has law enforcement experience. This is essential for them to collaborate effectively with your investigator and to protect the integrity of the case.
- Ask for and check references.
- Ensure you’re paying a reasonable rate. Get itemized receipts.
- Immediately report to law enforcement anyone who says they can return your child to you for a specified sum of money.
- Ensure significant case leads from the private investigator are immediately shared with the lead investigator in your case.
Enlisting and managing volunteers
There is great power in large, well-coordinated search efforts. Yet when hundreds of people want to help your family during a moment of crisis, law enforcement must ensure those volunteers are properly organized and prepared. Those enlisted in a search – either as part of a pre-vetted organization or as ad hoc volunteers – should have their contact information recorded, be fully briefed on assignments and reporting, and be monitored throughout the process to protect the investigation. Missteps such as overlooked or destroyed evidence can delay your child’s recovery.
Checklist: Volunteer management support
GO-TO GROUPS FOR VOLUNTEERS & DONATIONS
- Red Cross chapters
- Rotary clubs and other civic organizations
- Churches, synagogues, mosques, and other places of worship
- Parent-teacher associations
- Scout troops
- Internet advertising agencies
- Retiree organizations
- Labor unions
- Military installations
- Printers
- Paper suppliers
- Pizza franchises
- Fast food chains
- Liquor store chains
- Airline companies
- Taxicab and bus companies
- Trucking companies
- Public and private transportation agencies
- Hospitals
While you may be tempted to take this on yourself, it’s often too much to handle, both logistically and emotionally, given all that you are enduring. It is important for you to stay closely connected with the investigation. Your coordinator won’t perform volunteer activities directly, but should delegate and manage activity for specific needs – from finding someone to print posters and T-shirts to having local restaurants donate and deliver food and water to your family or search team personnel. You can ask your officer for thoughts on where to start in finding help with volunteer coordination. Organizations with volunteer contingents, such as those shown in the sidebar on this page, may be helpful resources. Make sure your law enforcement team has contact information for your volunteer coordinator if you select one, and for all volunteers approved to help your family.
When your child goes missing, it is hard to think of what you need right then, much less what you will need in the future. Keep notes on who offers to volunteer, and what they can do to assist, for later reference. Once you decide what you need, refer to your notes and contact your volunteers to help.
You will be amazed by the support you receive. People really do want to help.
HELPFUL VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
Volunteers can do many things for you. Let them. These activities are particularly well suited for volunteers:
- Visiting area businesses to request donations of supplies your family may need.
- Contacting nonprofit organizations for assistance with designing and distributing fliers (consistent with approved flier content, design, and layout) and T-shirts.
- Distributing posters and handing out fliers.
- Keeping a list of donated items and writing thank-you notes.
- Preparing meals.
- Helping with household chores such as cleaning, doing laundry, watering flowers, mowing the lawn, maintaining the yard, or shoveling snow.
Volunteers meet to be briefed and assist in the search for Dylan Redwine. - Running errands (e.g., buying groceries or pharmacy items).
- Taking care of pets.
- Forming and updating prayer groups.
The following activities should be coordinated with your law enforcement team to protect the investigation:
- Assisting with the intake of tips and leads.
- Overseeing and monitoring social media.
- Coordinating with traditional media on stories to promote awareness. (Someone with a background in journalism or public relations is a good fit for this position.)
Checklist: Search support
They should oversee all search efforts, striving to use only experienced, organized groups of SAR volunteers to assign across a 3- to 5-mile radius based on where your child was last seen. With enough volunteers, they can cover broader search areas as identified through the investigation.
Here are some SAR advantages:
- Pre-vetting (background checks and confirmed personal information).
- Deployment in large numbers.
- Rapid mobilization.
- Skill and experience in identifying, securing, and preserving evidence.
- Proven procedures for search team chain of command, communication, and reporting.
- Providing transportation and parking for search teams. (Members will often be asked to arrive at a parking lot at an assigned time before being transported by a bus or van to the volunteer staging area.)
- Managing sign-in and sign-out of searchers, and ensuring all required contact and ID information is documented in accordance with policies of the search organization and the investigating law enforcement agency.
- Donating, delivering, and distributing clothing, supplies, equipment, and refreshments for searchers.
- Donating or delivering portable restrooms, fans or heaters, and furnishings to the staging area.
- Creating durable posters of the missing child and distributing fliers in designated geographic areas.
Contact NCMEC at 800-THE-LOST (800-843-5678) for more information and to help distribute your child’s poster, coordinate volunteer activities, locate the nearest certified canine search resources, or connect you with other parents for support through Team HOPE.
All volunteers should undergo background checks by your law enforcement agency to ensure any individual with a criminal history is not permitted to aid in the search. Even if you know the person, commit
to following this procedure. The safety of your child, and every person working on the case, is worth it.
If you have questions or concerns about how searches are conducted, talk with your law enforcement contact.
Watch for worrisome helpers
While you don’t want to be paranoid, unfortunately some individuals can, and do, prey upon and exploit people at their most vulnerable times. If you feel uncomfortable with anyone who wants to help for any reason, tell your volunteer coordinator or investigator. Be wary of the following types of individuals:
Over-Involved: Someone involved in your child’s disappearance may unexpectedly insert themselves into your orbit – perhaps to volunteer for a search, help post fliers, or plan vigils – and may do so to try to stay one step ahead of investigators. Some law enforcement agencies set up cameras at volunteer sign-in sites because criminals, pedophiles, or thieves — even those responsible for your child’s abduction — have been known to show up unannounced and ask to join a search.
Opportunist: Someone may want to use your loss to draw attention to themselves. They will want to speak on your behalf, but they may also have a personal or political motive – perhaps to gain notoriety or discredit law enforcement leadership based on personal or political grievances.
Psychic: However well-meaning psychics may be – or adamant that they have actionable information regarding your child’s disappearance – do not let them have access to your home or your child’s belongings.