WHEN SOMEONE YOU LOVE IS MISSING
A Florida Family Action Guide
*If someone is missing or in immediate danger, contact law enforcement or call 911.
START HERE
If someone you love has just gone missing, begin with these steps:
- Contact law enforcement immediately.
- Get the case number and the name of the investigating agency.
- Preserve the last known location and avoid cleaning or disturbing anything that could be important.
- Save digital information including texts, call logs, social media messages, emails, photos, and location information.
- Begin a timeline of the last confirmed sightings, conversations, and known movements.
- Identify nearby cameras that may have captured the missing person or a vehicle.
You do not have to figure everything out at once. Focus first on preserving information, documenting what you know, and working with law enforcement.
THE FIRST 24 HOURS
The first hours after someone goes missing can be overwhelming. Focus on gathering accurate information, preserving anything that may help investigators, and creating a clear record of what happened.
REPORT THE PERSON MISSING
Contact the law-enforcement agency responsible for the area where the person was last seen.
Be prepared to provide:
- Full legal name and any nicknames
- Age and date of birth
- Height and approximate weight
- Hair and eye color
- Recent photographs
- Clothing last worn
- Tattoos, scars, piercings, or other identifying features
- Phone number
- Vehicle information, if applicable
- Medical conditions or medications that may affect their safety
- Exact or approximate time and location they were last seen
- Circumstances surrounding the disappearance
Write down the case number, the investigating agency, and the name and contact information of the investigator if one has been assigned.
PRESERVE THE LAST KNOWN LOCATION
Avoid unnecessarily cleaning, moving, throwing away, or disturbing items in the area where the person was last known to be.
Do not delete messages, reset electronic devices, clean out a vehicle, or alter social-media accounts that may contain useful information.
Let law enforcement know about any phones, computers, tablets, vehicles, clothing, or other belongings that may be relevant.
START A TIMELINE
Write down everything you remember while it is still fresh.
Include:
- The last confirmed sighting
- Who saw the person last
- The exact or estimated time
- Where they were
- What they were wearing
- Who they recently spoke with
- Places they planned to go
- Transportation they may have used
- Friends, coworkers, acquaintances, or romantic partners they may have contacted
- Any unusual events, changes in routine, or recent concerns
Do not leave something out simply because you think it may be unimportant. Investigators can decide what information is relevant.
SAVE DIGITAL INFORMATION
Preserve texts, emails, call logs, social-media messages, usernames, photographs, videos, location information, and other digital activity that may help establish a timeline.
Take screenshots when appropriate, but do not delete, alter, or impersonate the missing person through their accounts.
Share relevant information with law enforcement.
IDENTIFY NEARBY CAMERAS
Video footage may be automatically deleted within a short period of time.
Make a list of possible cameras near the last known location and along likely routes, including:
- Homes
- Businesses
- Doorbell cameras
- Gas stations
- Parking lots
- Apartment complexes
- Intersections
- Schools
- Convenience stores
If appropriate, ask the property owner to preserve the footage for law enforcement and write down the date and time period that may be relevant.
CHOOSE ONE FAMILY CONTACT
When possible, designate one trusted family member to communicate with law enforcement and keep track of information.
Maintain one notebook or digital document containing:
- Case number
- Investigator contact information
- Important phone numbers
- Dates and times of conversations
- New developments
- Questions for investigators
- Tips that have been received
- Information already provided to law enforcement
Good organization can become extremely important as the number of calls, messages, and tips increases.
PRESERVE THE LAST KNOWN LOCATION
Avoid unnecessarily cleaning, moving, throwing away, or disturbing items in the area where the person was last known to be.
Do not delete messages, reset electronic devices, clean out a vehicle, or alter social-media accounts that may contain useful information.
Let law enforcement know about any phones, computers, tablets, vehicles, clothing, or other belongings that may be relevant.
CHOOSE ONE FAMILY CONTACT
When possible, designate one trusted family member to communicate with law enforcement and keep track of information.
Maintain one notebook or digital document containing:
Case number
Investigator contact information
Important phone numbers
Dates and times of conversations
New developments
Questions for investigators
Tips that have been received
Information already provided to law enforcement
Good organization can become extremely important as the number of calls, messages, and tips increases
CREATE A MISSING PERSON INFORMATION SHEET
As soon as possible, create one master information sheet containing the confirmed facts about the missing person. This will help keep information consistent when creating flyers, speaking with the media, posting on social media, and communicating with organizations assisting in the search.
Include:
Full Name
Nickname or Alias
Age
Date of Birth
Missing Since
Missing From
Height
Weight
Hair Color
Eye Color
Identifying Features such as tattoos, scars, birthmarks, or piercings
Clothing Last Worn
Vehicle Information, if applicable
Medical or Safety Concerns, if relevant
Law-Enforcement Agency
Case Number
Official Phone Number or Tip Line
CHOOSE RECENT PHOTOS
Select photographs that accurately show what the missing person looks like now.
Whenever possible, use:
A clear, recent photo of their face
A second photo showing their normal hairstyle or appearance
A full-body photo if one is available
Avoid heavily filtered photographs when better images are available. The goal is to help the public recognize the missing person.
KEEP THE INFORMATION CONSISTENT
Use the same confirmed information across flyers, social-media posts, media outreach, and other public materials.
If information changes, update your master information sheet first and then update public posts whenever possible.
Avoid adding rumors, unconfirmed sightings, theories, or speculation.
Accurate information is more valuable than more information.
MISSING CHILDREN & RUNAWAYS
When a child is missing, every situation should be taken seriously.
A child may have left home voluntarily, been persuaded to leave, been picked up by someone they know, or disappeared under circumstances that are not yet understood.
The word “runaway” does not mean the child is safe.
REPORT THE CHILD MISSING
Contact law enforcement as soon as you know or reasonably believe the child is missing.
Be prepared to provide:
The child's full name and age
A recent photograph
Physical description
Clothing last worn
Date, time, and location last seen
Phone number and device information
Social-media usernames
Names of friends, romantic partners, or other people they may have contacted
Possible destinations
Vehicle information, if applicable
Medical or mental-health concerns that may affect their safety
Any known threats, exploitation concerns, or unusual circumstances
Get the case number and keep it with your other case information.
DON'T ASSUME THEY ARE “JUST WITH FRIENDS”
Even when a child appears to have left voluntarily, circumstances can change quickly.
Missing juveniles may face risks including:
Exploitation
Trafficking
Sexual abuse
Violence
Unsafe adults
Drugs or alcohol
Homelessness
Lack of medication
Dangerous transportation
Online predators
Medical emergencies
Continue providing investigators with new information until the child is located.
LOOK CLOSELY AT ONLINE CONNECTIONS
Young people may communicate with people their parents or guardians do not know.
Make investigators aware of:
Social-media accounts
Secondary or hidden accounts
Gaming usernames
Messaging apps
Online friends
Recent romantic relationships
People the child met online
New phone numbers or contacts
Plans discussed through messages
Ride-share or transportation information
Preserve devices and digital information rather than deleting or altering accounts.
TALK TO FRIENDS WITHOUT BLAMING THEM
Friends and peers may know information the family does not.
Approach them calmly.
A teenager may be more willing to share information if they do not believe they will get themselves or the missing child in trouble.
Useful questions may include:
When did you last speak with them?
Did they mention going anywhere?
Were they talking to someone new?
Did they have access to another phone?
Did someone offer them a ride?
Were they worried or upset about anything?
Did they mention staying with someone?
Give potentially important information to law enforcement.
Do not pressure, threaten, or publicly accuse other children.