LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — An estimated 600,000 people go missing in the United States every year, according to the National Crime Information Center. In Kentucky, National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) reports 304 current open missing person cases in Kentucky.
NamUs broke down some statistics in August. According to the system, people assigned male at birth are more likely to be reported missing, 62%, versus women, 38%. The largest groups were between 21 and 50 years old at the time of their disappearance. People older than 50 are next at 18%. The average age for a missing person is 18.3, according to NamUs.
NamUs provides a searchable database of information on missing people all through the United State. Along with the 304 cases found on the site, a map shows clusters of missing persons throughout the state. The largest clusters are in the Louisville, Lexington, Hazard, and London areas.
Cities, states with most missing persons cases
- Los Angeles (CA), 335
- Houston (TX), 312
- Dallas (TX), 299
- Phoenix (AZ), 227
- San Francisco (CA), 223
- McAllen (TX), 195
- Oklahoma City (OK), 188
- Miami (FL), 181
- Memphis (TN), 160
- Tulsa (OK), 158
- California, 3,048
- Texas, 2,183
- Florida, 1,634
- Alaska, 1,200
- Arizona, 1,044
- New York, 1,037
- Washington, 809
- Oklahoma, 760
- Tennessee, 631
- Michigan, 609
What to do if someone goes missing in Kentucky
- Contact the police. If the person in question can’t be found and the person gave no indication of being unreachable reach out to the area police or the Kentucky State Police.
- Contact the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, these government-operated organizations help share information related to missing persons.
- Start your search, police advise family and friends to hang flyers and posters and search areas where the person was most recently seen. Places to consider placing posters are building or areas that receive a lot of traffic such as gas stations, grocery stores, post offices, libraries, hospitals, shelters, parks, and other similar places. Depending on the case police will deploy more resources such as alerts and K-9 officers.
- Alert the Media. Email FOX 56 News and other area news organizations that can share details of the missing person. Contact FOX 56 at news@fox56news.com.