Missing persons cases are particularly painful. No matter the cause, the feelings of uncertainty and lack of closure of a missing child, teen, or adult brings unending sorrow to loved ones. According to Child Find of America, every day approximately 2300 children are missing in the United States. That means that about 800,000 kids are reported missing every year. A family abduction occurs when a family member takes or keeps a child in violation of the custodial parent’s/guardian’s legitimate rights. Statistically, most missing children are the victims of family/parental abductions.

Here are some important stats from NISMART (National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Thrownaway Children):

  • 78 percent of abductors are the non-custodial parent
  • 35 percent of children were between 6-11 years old
  • 24 percent of abductions lasted between 1 week and 1 month
  • 82 percent of abductors intended to affect the custody permanently
  • 21 percent are other relatives
  • 42 percent of children were living with a single parent
  • 15 percent were living with another relative/foster parent
  • 66 percent were taken by a male relative.

Parental kidnapping is sometimes viewed as a “civil” issue between the parents of the child, since the abduction is often a result of a custodial order being viewed as unfair by one of the parents. When that particular parent is allowed court-appointed time with the child, they leave the area and don’t return the child to the parent. Oftentimes, the abductor feels there is no other choice other than to take the child. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that they leave the state or country. It could be that the abductor and child are hiding nearby. Nonetheless, parental/family abductions are almost always painful overwhelming events that require qualified professional attention for closure.

Forletta Investigative/Security Consultant is a private investigative service in the Pittsburgh,PA and Cleveland,OH areas with over 100 years of combined experience. Forletta employs only the best investigators with superior knowledge in missing persons investigations. Simply put, Forletta knows how to locate a missing person. Forletta can assist you through the difficult and emotional process of finding and returning your loved one. Forletta works alongside numerous other law enforcement agencies and news media outlets who know how to find missing persons by utilizing every available resource.

If you need help with finding a missing person, employ a quality private investigator service who knows how to locate missing persons. Call Forletta Investigative/Security Consultant today for a free consultation regarding your missing person case.