how many missing people do you know of in real life?

[notnowmarmaduke]

Just wondered - we are always saying how common it is, but how many of us know many missing people? Of course you might be closely associated with a missing person and not know it, as people don't necessarily talk about it, or might just not know themselves.

I have only known two people reported as missing, long term. one friends father, who was the classic went out for a pint of milk and was never seen again. ( 30+ years now). One runaway teen never found (15+ years)

Apart from that I have known a few runaway teens who were found, and two people reported as missing who I know went into witness protection

Also, have you ever been reported missing?

2
Both probably threw themselves in the sea

1 child who vanished

None. I do know one person who is estranged from his family

I knew one who went missing ( friends son) ….he was found drowned in a river 3 weeks later….don’t know anyone currently missing

Where I work we get missing person alerts every day…..about 3 or 4

wow, poor child, what happened? was it likely to be an estranged parent?

I know of two. One who has been missing over a decade with no trace and is a proper cold case and the other who has been missing a week. Both men in their twenties at the time of going missing.

I don't know any, nor do I know anyone who knows any.

None

Very well known. Probably murdered but officially missing. Very sad especially for the parents.

My brother went missing for some time, between about 9-12 months I think. He had a long period of his life living on the streets and temporary accommodation but kept in touch with parent until the period where he didn’t. No messages, no calls, no activity on social media for best part of a year. Which was very out of character.

We listed him as missing and I also contacted hospitals and prison service. He eventually popped back up again, I still don’t know exactly what happened.

He is now settled in a flat although still vulnerable I guess. It was a hard time whilst he was gone, especially for my elderly dad.

One, missing around 30 years now. Not a sight nor sound of him. His poor mother went to her grave never knowing what happened.

"One" that should say.

I was reported missing as a teenager and thankfully was only gone one night although as a parent now I can see how terrified my parents must of been. I ran away after a particularly stern teacher accused me of something not only had I not done I was petrified I’d get severe punishment for ( fairly strict and semi abusive parents). The staff member told me I’d likely get expelled ( model pupil) and my parents would be furious - I panicked and ran. I walked for miles and spent the night cuddled up in the woods absolutely petrified.

police spotted me the next morning trying to walk further away and returned me home. Parents were < understandably > furious.

it’s made me very aware of ensuring my children know that they can ALWAYS call me no matter what. It’s better to call and us work out a solution than be alone

None. I used to work with vulnerable people so some reported missing but all quite quickly found.

None and neither do I know of anyone who does ( that I know of of course)

Only tenuously, relative of the friend of a friend. Most likely suicide sadly

A few from my professional life that I am certain have been trafficked and murdered.

I know one who went missing intentionally when he was at university. His family didn't hear from him for years. He was spotted busking on the street by an old school friend who knew his family so she reported back to them that he was alive and well. I think he had some limited contact with them after that but is still pretty much estranged from them. I've never known why.

None - although my great, great grandmother may have gone missing.

DH's uncle disappeared around 20 years ago.
They live on a huge farm in the US, so big that you could walk half a day and still be on their land.
He had been diagnosed with dementia and had a gun, missing with him, but despite huge search, no trace ever found. Very difficult for family.

1
Missing for more than 25 years, very high profile case, been multiple court cases, still quite regularly in the news up here

I also once worked with homeless people who were sometimes missing. Had a 17 year old who'd been hanging out on the street a few weeks come in quite drunk once saying she missed her mum and would I call her and tell her she was alive. (She'd stolen money and run off a few months ago). Persuaded her to let me dial the number, speak to her mum with her in the room and then pass the phone over to her. Long tearful conversation followed, in which it was clear her poor mum was over the moon, forgave everything and eventually persuaded her to come home. Managed to get her a train ticket paid for by social services and packed her off and never saw her again. I do wonder about her sometimes and hope it all worked out for her. Was one of those things that made my job really feel worthwhile.

One of my Uncles worked on Merchant ships and disappeared in South Africa in the 1950's.
My gran (his mum) tried to trace him for many years, even the Sally Army tried, but no trace was found. She died in the 1980's never knowing what happened to him.

Very sad and now only 1 uncle left from the 13 siblings.

My friend’s brother is missing presumed dead.

1

Through work, lady who was desperate to get her daughter back living with her (she lived with her gran). Was doing everything that was asked of her then suddenly one day didn’t turn up to a meeting and no one heard from her since. Sadly I’ve left that role and I can’t remember her surname to search if she ever come back. I think about her and her daughter regularly