How Many Missing Persons Are Never Found?

Do you ever wonder how many missing persons are never found? Statistics show that approximately 600,000 persons go missing in the United States every year, but only 89 to 92 percent of these victims are ever found. The US Forest Service and the National Park Service are responsible for recovering unidentified bodies each year. 

Statistics on missing persons around the world

The statistics on missing persons around the world are very difficult to read and interpret.  ICRC reports that the most common reasons for disappearances are conflict, violence, migration, and climate shocks. Statistics on missing children around the world indicate that one child goes missing every eight minutes, and in some regions, child trafficking is rampant.

The reasons for going missing can be varied and may include mental illness, miscommunication, a misadventure, domestic violence, or being the victim of a crime. However, some populations are at risk of disappearing for longer periods than others. The UK, for instance, reported 481 cases of missing Britons in 2008, up from 401 in 2007 and 336 in 2006. Among those who go missing, thirty percent were reported to be on cruise ships.

In some countries, the disappeared person is the sole breadwinner and only person capable of running the family’s business. Moreover, some national laws prevent beneficiaries from drawing a pension if they do not have a death certificate. In many cases, the disappearance victim has been arbitrarily arrested and detained, sometimes without a warrant. The statistics on missing persons around the world show that the number of unidentified people is much higher than the number of dead.

The number of children abducted by a stranger increased by 6% last year, to 303. However, most child abductions are not conducted by strangers, but rather by non-custodial parents. According to National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, one in every four children abducted by strangers is abducted by a non-family member. Moreover, twenty percent of the abducted child is never found alive.

Number of unidentified bodies recovered every year

The U.S. Department of Justice funds the National Missing and Unidentified Persons database. About 600,000 people go missing each year, and about 4,400 bodies are recovered every year. The US Forest Service and National Park Service both conduct search and recovery efforts for bodies. However, not all recovered remains are identified. Some individuals are recovered after more than 10 years, and others are never found.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System tracks the cases of these people and recovers about 4,400 unidentified bodies every year.

Most cases are solved quickly, but many remain unsolved. One case from Minot is the case of Anita Knutson, an 83-year-old woman who was stabbed to death in 2007. Her killer has not been found. Chase Hurdle’s case is another that has been dragging on for several years.

There are various ways to find out if a person has been murdered, abducted, or is still missing. In a recent survey, the U.S. police rescued 2,504 victims of human trafficking in the past four years. Most of them were women and children. This statistic is very alarming. 

Number of unidentified bodies recovered in the United States

Every year, more than 600,000 people go missing in the United States. And each year, roughly four hundred unidentified bodies are recovered. But what’s the real reason behind the number of unidentified bodies being found?

According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, there are about 4,400 unidentified bodies discovered each year in the United States. Of those, one-fifth remain unidentified for at least a year. One-fifth of unidentified bodies are buried or cremated. However, not all of the unidentified bodies are the remains of missing people.

The National Crime Information Center’s database includes information on stolen guns and wanted criminals. 

Authorities often refuse to exhume unidentified bodies unless they are absolutely necessary, and they don’t have the resources to do so. Because of this, the information contained in a case file doesn’t automatically pass to incoming coroners.

Number of unidentified bodies recovered in the UK

As of March 31, 2020, the UK is home to nearly 1,500 cases of unidentified bodies found in the UK. The bodies are often complete or in pieces, depending on the circumstances. The NCA aims to reconcile 50% of these cases each year. The bodies are usually buried or stored in morgues. The number of cases of unidentified bodies is a significant concern for the families. The police have launched public appeals to find the people responsible for these deaths.

A recent investigation has revealed a case where a skeleton had been found in a river near Clifton, Somerset. Police believe that the man may have fallen from a suspended bridge. His possessions indicate he was homeless. Another case involved a man whose skeletal remains were found near the A1 in Denbighshire, North Wales. A computer-generated age-progressed image of the body showed it would have looked like in his fifties or sixties.

There have been several unidentified bodies found in the UK over the past 50 years. In Essex, for example, 11 unidentified bodies were discovered over 50 years. The UK Missing Persons Unit maintains a database listing these unidentified bodies and accepts help identifying them. The database is open to the public. The National Crime Agency revealed in June 2021 that there were 19 unidentified bodies found in the UK that were not known to anyone.

The UK Missing Persons Unit receives unidentified remains from crime scenes across the country. The unit uses the national database to cross-reference these remains. Occasionally, the unidentified remains are not matched to a person, meaning they will remain nameless on the Missing Persons Unit’s database for decades. It is not uncommon for the unidentified remains to go unclaimed for decades.