Missing Persons Uncovered

In this episode we talk with Carolyn Fair and Kathy Marriott. The aim of the episode is to explore the complex issue of children who go missing, share insights from frontline social workers, highlight effective practices, and discuss how social services can better safeguard vulnerable young people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we talk with Robert Cocks from Locate International focusing on people who go missing from hospitals. From vulnerable mental health patients to those undergoing routine treatment, we discuss how individuals in supposed places of safety manage to disappear, and why these cases frequently fall through the cracks of the system. Robert Cocks unpacks the patterns, institutional oversigh...

In this episode we talk to Marinus Analytics with a focus on how data analytics can help discover patterns in human trafficking and missing people. Specifically, how their team is using artificial intelligence to find the missing—and hold traffickers accountable. Cara Jones and Colin Ward are partnering with child welfare agencies and law enforcement to help identify missing youth through Ai...

In this episode, Maryana and Damon shine a spotlight on the often-overlooked crisis of missing children in Uganda and Kenya. They delve into the complex realities behind the disappearances, exploring factors such as human trafficking, poverty, weak law enforcement response, and systemic corruption. With a blend of local insights, and advocacy perspectives, Maryana and Damon uncover the scale of th...

In this episode we talk to Altin Hazizaj discussing how the disappearance of individuals is not just a tragedy, but a human rights violation. We discuss how going missing can be right to life and personal freedom but at the same time a violation. International human rights law obligates states to prevent disappearances, investigate them promptly, punish those responsible, and provide remedies to v...

In this episode we talk to Bill Andrerson from Locate International, an NGO that raises awareness and investigates cold cases including situations where people go missing abroad. Each year, thousands of people go missing while traveling, living, or working abroad due to a range of circumstances. Disappearances may result from accidents, natural disasters, crime, or abduction, including cases linke...

In this podcast with Aurora Perez Flores and Busra Sarac, we talk about the serious issue of enforced disappearance—when people are secretly taken, often by authorities, and never seen again. They share their personal experiences working with families who are left with no answers, living in pain and uncertainty. Enforced disappearances are commonly seen in places with conflict or oppressive govern...

People with autism face unique challenges that can make them more vulnerable to wandering, exploitation, and miscommunication with law enforcement. We talk to Tanja Conway-Grim, Senior specialist ND coach and Alan Nanavaty, Executive Director at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children about the resources and mechanisms on how to keep people with autism safe. Hosted on Acast. See a...

In the first episode, we talk to Scott Fitzmaurice from Forensic Analytics and Dr. Mark Harrison and explore the importance of intelligence in a missing person investigation. Effective intelligence building can aid in identifying patterns, tracking movements, and uncovering potential risks, with collaboration extending beyond law enforcement to include various agencies. Hosted on Acast. See acast....

In our last episode for Season 3, Karen talks to Dr. Brian Frederick about the vulnerability of going missing within the LGBTQ+ community. He explains the importance of providing support and safe spaces for vulnerable young people. He is currently conducting a landscape analysis on what kind of resources countries have for LGBTQ+ community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...

Can we recognize a missing person when they stand in front of us? Dr. Stefana Juncu shares with us her research on how accurate visual identification of a missing person can be. She explains the most effective ways for a public appeal to be successul in engaging the public in the recovery of a missing person. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Willie Fouche explains how in his Forensic Pathology Service they help identify individuals who have no forensic or digital identity. Many of the unclaimed bodies he encounters are stateless and can only be identified through collaboration and using multiple investigative techniques. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In recent years, Europe has witnessed a surge in human mobility, which regrettably includes children. In 2022, the influx of migrant children into Europe rose by almost 50% compared to the previous year. Tragically, a significant portion of these children subsequently go missing. NGOs such as Child Focus and Missing Children Europe are dedicated to aiding in the search for these missing children....

In this episode Karen talks to Cheryl about long term missing cases and how challenging they are to investigate. The need to use new technology and investigative methods to help bring closure to families. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we talk to Simona Ciobotaru, Senior Lecturer in Cybercrime at the University of Portsmouth about the complex issue of media bias on missing person cases. Research has shown that media has been bias to highlighting white women who are missing then others. We discuss why and how we can help to change it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Karen talks to Pascale Waschnig about different forms of trauma encountered during a missing episode and from services that are in contact with relatives of missing people and how art can assist in expressing the trauma a person has experienced.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parental alienation is a label which is popularly used to describe a dynamic where a child rejects a parent. Karen Woodall is a psychotherapist who treats this problem from a relational perspective recognising that children who reject a parent are usually those who are hyper aligned to a caregiver who is causing them harm. Thinking about the issue from the experience of the child, offers a clearer...

In this episode, Karen talks to Ugochi Nkwunonwo about her recent research in baby factories in Nigeria. Young girls who are pregnant are stigmatised in Nigeria. To avoid shame they disappear and sometimes end up in baby factories where they give birth and lose their newborn. Not only is the young girl missing but the newborn is also missing as it has no identity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...

Karen and Caroline discuss how sexual exploitation can be a factor for a person to go missing. They talk about the pull and push factors and the need for collaboration between stakeholders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all use open source intelligence when online but do we understand how easy it is to find people? Kevin Metcalf explains to us the amount of information is available online and how he uses it to help law enforcement finding missing persons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kelly Hawkins Kincaid from Astrea Forensic shares with us how DNA markers are used to bring closure to long term missing person cases. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Geoff Newiss shares his findings from his research on "Missing on a Night Out". He reviewed missing persons cases going missing while on a night out and discussed that many encounter water which may result in fatalities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Senior Lecturer Frank Ledwidge shares his experience about people going missing during war. Karen and Frank discuss what is the definition of war and how many people around the world are affected. They explore the various ways people go missing during wars and some of the key challenges in finding or identifying them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How many people with dementia go missing? Karen talks to Professor Lili Liu about how people with dementia go missing and the risk they may face without even realizing it. Professor Lili Liu provides mechanisms on how a coomunity and family can prepare and help a person with demtia lead a relative regular life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Karen discusses with Galit Draizin-Itzhaki, psychotherapist, profiler for high-risk populations, the variety of mental health issues that often are related and lead to people going missing, whether it is children or adults. Karen and Galit address the difference between being bi-polar or schizophrenia and the importance of removing stigma from talking about it. We also discuss the...