1.) Contact local law enforcement: Write down the name of the officer who takes the report as well as the badge number, telephone number and the case number. Make sure your missing loved one is entered into NCIC (National Crime Information Center).
2.) If the child is age 17, or under, call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-845-5678. If the missing person is between the ages of 18-20, have the officer make the call to NCMEC as services are extended under Suzanne's Law and the Protect Act to these ages as long as Law Enforcement makes the initial call.
3.) If your missing loved one is 18 or older, call the Nations Center for Missing Adults at 1-800-690-3463.
4.)If the child is a runaway, call your local runaway hotline as well as the National Runaway Switchboard at 1-800-621-4000.
5.) Call Project Jason at 1-402-932-0095.
6.) Start a journal: Log all incoming & outgoing telephone calls, and actions taken. Get call waiting and an answering machine.
7.) Make a flyer of your missing loved one and get friends, relatives, co-workers, fellow church members to launch a poster placement campaign. Project Jason can create a poster online and post it to be viewed and distributed by hundreds of people in a short amount of time.
8.) Check for clues on the missing person's computer, the family computer, in their bedroom, with their friends, co-workers, and bank, credit card, and phone statements.
9.) After Law enforcement has searched the missing person's bedroom for any clues, take an article of worn, but unwashed clothing, or bed sheets or a pillowcase and enclose it in a paper bag. Take the missing person's toothbrush and hairbrush and seal it in a plastic bag.
10.) Contact local media: The sooner television and radio begin notifying the community that a person is missing, the better the chances of recovery.
11.) Get copies of dental and medical x-rays and records.
There are additional steps to take along the way, and an assigned Project Jason representative will guide you in this process.
Most importantly, do take care of yourself. You need the strength to search for your missing loved one. Make sure you are eating properly and taking some time out for yourself, including exercise.
Remember, you are not alone in this. Project Jason will be there for you!
Note: After you have completed steps 1-4 as applicable, please write us at a special email address, which is guidance@projectjason.org.
Kelly Jolkowski
President and Founder
Project Jason