How do you find a missing person? Where do you start? How do you find out whether someone has left the country?
My brother went missing a couple of months ago. His last known location was Florida. His supposed destination was Europe, but we don’t know how far he got. We have simply had no contact with him for so long that we suspect he is missing. His mobile phone does not answer, we’re not even sure about his last address, and to make the problem worse he is not a US national.
So how do you start to search across two continents for a missing person? Does anyone have any tips on how I could go about finding him, and who to contact in the US to find out if he ever left the country?
I found the following service, but it looks a bit dubious:
That is if he wasnt really close to to family. -calling ever day and such- - no family fights? - if he was a loner, give him some time. I am sure he’s fine.
was he legally able to work in the states?
It’s a difficult question since as an adult, one is allowed to move and not tell your family.
Do you suspect something happened to him?
I’m sure there would be a way of checking if he left the country, since a passport would be required. Don’t know if you personally can do it. you may have to try and get police action, political action (through like your state representative) or a private investigator.
I’d first check to see if I personally COULD check to see if he had left the country. STate department? if it’s not accessible for private citizens, then I’d attempt a to file a “missing person” report with a police agency from his last known location.
Have you called the hospitals etc in his last known location?
I used http://www.knowx.com and found my father. I practically had no information about him. Just his name, state that he was born in, and approximate birthdate. They gave me a boatload of information about him, including his social security number. I had to pay them $60, but I do feel it was worth it.
As a side note, I never contacted him. I just wondered where he lived. Turns out he lives down the street from one of my good friends!
thanks for the replies everyone. Not being a US citizen, and living half a planet away from the US, I have no idea what agencies to contact or where to start. I will check the link provided by monster though, it’s a good start.
In addition, my brother was not permitted to stay in the US for much longer, and would have had to leave soon after his student visa expired. He did not have a fixed address that I know of, and his mobile phone does not pick up. He said he would head to Europe to visit our ailing grandmother, and that was the last we heard from him.
The reason I want to know the procedure to find missing people is that he wouldn’t just disappear like that, certainly not when he was due to visit a parent in poor health. I fear that something happened to him, and I need to find out what. He’s only been missing for a few months, but that is a long time when you have no money, no source of income, no residence, and were planning on going to see a relative in all haste.
I’m in the process of gathering as much information about him as I can. First I’ll call his mobile phone operator. Then I will attempt to find out if he left the USA, and where he left from. If anyone knows how I may best do this, please let me know! Thanks again for the replies.
You might also check with the Salvation Army. They have a missing persons division of sorts. If someone with your brother’s name checked in to a SA mission anywhere, or is listed in a phone book where an SA mission is, they’ll check it for you.
Ok, I’d start with the US embassy in the country you are in. Explain: My brother was on a visa to your country and hasn’t been heard from in a significant amount of time. Can you help me discover if he left the US at all?
I’ll bet they’d be able to at LEAST find that out for you.
Then, if he hasn’t left, call the police in his last known city. Report him missing. add in the info about the expired visa (this may get them off and running quicker).
Write a letter to “occupant” at his last known address. Explain your dilemma. Ask them to ask their neighbors.He surely had friends and maybe a old neighbor could help you find them.