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?

None currently, but someone I knew from school with went missing a few years ago. He was missing for a week or so, then police sadly found his body.

He was a truly lovely guy and we were good friends but both moved away and lost touch a few years before he died. We were huge fans of manga, anime, and Japanese culture in general, and he introduced me to some really cool stuff that I still enjoy today. I'm finally visiting Japan this year - I'll think of you when I get there, M

I have two friends whose fathers went missing.

One in very high-profile circumstances, but he remains untraced decades later.

The other just took himself quietly off. Sadly his remains were found much later (suicide).

I've never known anybody missing who didn't end up dead by suicide, unfortunately. However I do know somebody who has no past so might be 'missing' from a former life. I'd never pry though.

I went missing by choice. (Not for long - a few weeks). I got married quite early, he was abusive emotionally, expected a lot from me, narcissistic personality and was a prolific drug taker. He also had depression. There were enough reasons for me to decide to leave. However, I come from a culture where divorce is frowned upon, so I sorted myself out a flat and lived alone for a while. I had to do this because I just didn't feel safe at my parents. I didn't want to listen to my parents constantly lecture me if I took refuge at theirs. New job, new city. It really made me as a person. I'm proud of myself that I got out of the bad situation safely. I knew my ex was searching for me and I was terrified. I knew my parents would report me missing (they did) so I also contacted police and told them I didn't want any contact.

It took me a few months to find the strength to face them and tell them what had been happening. They were very supportive to my ex and it made me resent them. My mum has always been massively concerned about what other people think and dad always goes along with her. I refused to tell them where I lived and I was made to attend marriage counselling with my ex which damaged me even further. Thankfully the therapist always let me leave first so he couldn't follow me. (I had a car and he didn't).

After a few months, my exes facade dropped (he asked my parents to pay him and he would divorce me and a few other bits) and my parents realised what I had been going through. I had told them a few details but couldn't face them for long enough before the shame kicked in. I thought they wouldn't step up but they did. My dad (a quiet unassuming type) demanded my ex divorce me and return my belongings. Ex was stunned (he realised they werent on his side anymore) and apologised and gave my stuff back and signed the papers and I was free.

Not had any contact from him since apart from a few hate messages from his family and friends.

I've since remarried someone I met at work and had children.

My parents relationship and mine was fractured and is slowly healing. My parents have also changed their mindset and put my mental health before what the community think.

But I'm glad they finally stood up for me and I got my divorce. The police were really understanding too and I am glad there was more understanding about my culture.

2 also. A friend went missing at Uni, but eventually resurfaced about 2 years later and got themselves together.
my sibling went missing and years later we discovered they had died by suicide.

A girl I went to school with went missing after GCSEs had finished. A few months it was reported that she was safe and well in Birmingham with her boyfriend. They had run away together because her strict Muslim family wouldn’t have approved of the relationship.

No missing people, but I often wonder about people I can't find on social media or on the internet..old school friend or colleagues.

Nearly everyone is traceable, but I know of two people that I just can't find any trace of, no matter how hard I try.

I sort of admire their secrecy, to be honest!

I'm so sorry you went through what you have in your life, I hope you have managed to find some happiness now.

One of my brothers friends fathers disappeared and was suspected swept out to see. Wife and kids devestated.

He was found less than a year later having set up a new life several hundred miles away.

One of my mothers cousins did a bunk towards the end of the war. He was a wrong un and had been dealing on the black market. He was seen jumping into the Thames but he was a champion swimmer and it was assumed it was a set up and he escaped abroad on a boat.

One. A acquaintance who had been doing through a really hard time - a close friend of hers had committed suicide. It wasn’t widely publicised but she was missing around a week before they found her - she had committed suicide.

I didn’t know her well but she was always nice and I was very sorry to hear what had happened

My brother was 'missing' for about 10 years. He was an alcoholic and was homeless most of that time. Eventually (completely illegally) an acquaintance of my mums traced his then employers through his NI number and contact was made.

That was about 30 years ago. Quite often he will not get in touch for years at a time and we don't have an address for him so I suppose he might be considered missing during those times but IMO he's just keeping a distance from our family.

My ex husband went missing. Went to the shop late at night, didn't come home. Police started to search after 24 hours. He had mental health problems and I was convinced he'd committed suicide somewhere.
He was found a week later. In a hotel. With a woman I didn't know. DS was 1 at the time.

I don't know anyone personally. But there have been a few bodies washed up on local beaches. Never been identified sadly.

Uncle who went missing at sea, 60 years ago. My poor grandparents died never knowing what happened to him. He almost certainly drowned but they always liked to think he was living some castaway life on an island. He'd be in his 90s now. We will never know.

My husbands best friend just didn't show up for work on day and completely vanished. Very out of character. His sister was in bits, it was all over the local news. Two weeks later police confirmed he had been located (card last used at an airport!) and was ok but as he was an adult they couldn't/wouldn't say anything more than that.
He did eventually return a couple of months later, turned out he had been in America the whole time. Very lucky it ended well.

I've known plenty of teens to be reported missing but always turn up after a day or two. Never known anyone not show up

Two, one for over 35 years drowned in an accident but his body never recovered and the other one maybe 6 years, nobody saw anything but he had mild dementia and was going for a walk. He’s presumed dead because he couldn’t have left the island he lived on without being seen on CCTV but he’s never been found despite extensive searches. Heartbreaking for everyone involved.

My mum was supposed to be madeleine mccanns teacher. She'd met the family and everything ready to go into her class after the summer when she went missing.

Sounds like my friend. He took a ferry to Isle of Wight. Was seen on CCTV there and then nothing since. He was struggling with his mental health and I believe he took his life.

We hoped for a long time that he would come home but he never did.

One. A cousin. Moved and changed jobs and the family, including his brother, have no idea where he is now.

Friend of the family who had already done a disappearing act before we met them. They'd started again with a new name etc, regained qualifications. Then after several years they disappeared again, presumably to do the same elsewhere.
Another friend of the family who, as far as we know, does not officially exist - no contact with social security, NHS services, rough slept for years. They may well be someone's missing person.
A friend's father went missing, presumed to have died in a plane crash. Neither his body or his plane were ever found.

My friend went missing in his yearly 20s. Coming up to 10 years now. He was asked to be dropped off by a taxi driver in a park that was near a bridge. Here are my main theories

1. He jumped off the bridge. There is CCTV so likely the police would have known and updated. No evidence of poor mental health.
2. The park was a popular grinder meet up, he met a man and met with foul play (he was on grinder)
3. He intentionally went missing for visa issues (he left everything behind.)

None except myself when I was a teenager but was always found quickly

None. I know very few people and we check in with each other.

I wonder this, I can find almost anyone with a full name... Even if they're not on Facebook, they might be on LinkedIn or have posted public reviews with their full names, or I found one old school friend on the SRA list of solicitors. There's one child from my primary school with a common first name and an unusual second name, the family moved away quite suddenly in primary school (which was before the days of social media). When social media became a thing when we were in secondary school, I searched for her sporadically but never found her. I still look occasionally, although by now she may be married and have a new surname.