Every year, many individuals are reported missing in South Carolina. Thankfully, most are located quickly or return home soon after. However, as of October 2024, around 300 cases remain open in the state, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs).
The statistics reveal certain patterns: more men go missing than women, and black individuals are notably overrepresented. Although black residents constitute about 24 percent of South Carolina’s population, they make up 45 percent of missing persons cases. Children under 12, teenagers, and elderly individuals are particularly vulnerable. Factors like mental health issues and lifestyle choices can also increase the risks and complications in search efforts.
This week, I had the chance to discuss these issues with Jenn Wood, the research director at FITSNews, and Troy Styles from Blunt Force Media. Both have significant experience working on missing persons cases. Blunt Force Media partners with law enforcement and families, helping to manage communication and support efforts in search operations, allowing officers to focus on the investigation.
They help organize public messages, set up tip lines, and coordinate volunteer search initiatives, among other vital services.
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According to Wood, one major challenge for the media is to present a comprehensive view of the missing person to encourage public involvement in the search. Often, information is limited to basic data and outdated images on missing person posters.
“I want to know about these people,” Wood emphasizes. “Bringing a human touch to these stories is crucial.”
Families need to understand how to act when a loved one goes missing. Even though law enforcement typically gets involved only after 24 hours, especially for adults, Styles suggests families should start their search efforts right away.
Every moment is vital in those first hours…
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“This is a critical time in a missing persons case,” Styles notes. “If the person has traveled to a different part of the country, those early hours are when you have the clearest clues.”
He advises families to designate a spokesperson, someone who is calm and can effectively communicate with the media, to streamline messaging. Setting up a family command center can also help organize information, coordinate resources, and direct volunteer activities.
While it’s hard to think about a loved one going missing, Styles suggests several proactive measures parents can take to stay prepared. Keeping recent photos and videos is one essential step.
Another helpful tip is to create a scent jar: By putting an item with the person’s scent (like a worn piece of clothing) in a sealed jar, search dogs can have a clear, uncontaminated scent to track.
Even though no one wants to imagine such a scenario, having a plan in place can be incredibly helpful in the search for a missing loved one.
