Crisis of a missing person and the familys search
by Kathryn Koger Jodan
A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE in Home Economics
Montana State University
© Copyright by Kathryn Koger Jodan (1968)
Abstract:
A member who has disappeared may precipitate an urgent crisis in a family , and with one million
persons reported missing each year among the total population of the United States and Canada, this
hurtful family problem becomes a serious social problem approaching the magnitude of a nationalcrisis.
An investigation was made to determine and evaluate the existing organized agencies whose purpose is
to lend assistance to families in the form of search and counseling. Based on a case study involving
personal experience,1 added insights were gained into a family’s experience of disorientation when a
member leaves suddenly.
A continuing and frustrating problem facing the family may be the question of the thoroughness of the
agency because of lack of understanding of their purpose, procedures they, use, and failure of the
agencies to disclose information on what has been done. Data was collected and tabulated on the aid
rendered by government, professional, and charitable agencies and an analysis was made of the extent
of each agency’s involvement and the kinds of, cases each accepts.
The emphasis in this study was on missing youth. It was found that a few agencies have realized the
opportunity that is offered for -counseling the family for the return and reconciliation, besides
conducting a search. They have helped both the runaway and other members recognize the causes of
alienation and the need to build new empathy and understanding so a member will never, again want to
"lose” his family.
It was concluded that families and agencies both should be encouraged to continue a search. Some may
not want to be "found" but many who have left home want to return, although they feel trapped in their
decision by pride or despair. Whether or not a family should continue a search is voiced in one
runaway youth’s poignant letter ". . . keep looking." The investigation suggests further need for more
direction- in the establishment of a national clearing house for information and in providing readily
available counseling services to prevent troubled persons from us-ing disappearance as a solution to
family problems. CRISIS OF A MISSING PERSON MD
THE FAMILY’S SEARCH '
Dy
■
■KATHRYN KOGER JORDAN
A t h e s i s s u b m itte d t o th e G rad u ate F a c u lty in p a r t i a l
f u l f i l l m e n t o f t h e re q u ire m e n ts f o r th e d e g r e e ■
o f'
MASTER OF SCIENCE
in
Home Econom ics
A pproved:
t e j o r ,He; 'a rtm e h t
C hairm an, 'Exam irJing Comm ittee
G ra d u a te Dean
MDNTMA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bozem an, M ontana
J u n e , 1968
iii
ACKTJOWLEDGMEMT
To D rt Anna P e a r l S h e r r ic k and M rs« D orothy Eck who gave me c o u rag e
t o r e t u r n t o t h e U n iv e r s it y and t o D r, B rooks who made i t p o s s i b l e , I
acknow ledge a lo n g - s ta n d in g d e b t.
To D rt M a r jo r ie R e i s e r , B eth B ig e j', H e s te r D u g g leb y , L a u ra T Iich o ls o n , and f r i e n d s i n th e S ch o o l o f Home E co n o m ics, f o r t h e i r k in d n e s s e s
a n d 'i n s p i r a t i o n , I g iv e my th a n k s .
To D rt C la r k S w a in , who h a s b een a c o n s ta n t c h a lle n g e i n h i s i d e a l s ,
a s s u r a n c e , and good humor th ro u g h my y e a r s o f b e in g a g r a d u a te s t u d e n t , I
e x p re s s my g r a t i t u d e .
.. To my h u s b a n d , P a u l , f o r h i s f a i t h f u l s u p p o r t and a f f e c t i o n a t e f o r ­
b e a ra n c e .and t o itiy f a m ily who h ad c o n fid e n c e in m e, I acknow ledge my
g r e a te s t debt
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I.
II.
Page
INTRODUCTION .......................................... ...
. •............................ I
Im p o rta n c e o f th e S t u d y ...............................................■..........................
P u rp o se o f th e S tu d y
I
2
REVim OF LITERATURE
U
............................
H i s t o r i c a l ............................
D e fin itio n s
. . . . . . .
........................ . . . . . . . . . .
R e la tio n t o P r e v io u s S tu d ie s .....................................
III.
PROCEDURES
.....................................................................
H
Sam ple ...................................................
M ethodology .........................................................................
IV .
V.
^
5
8
•
12
12
ANALYSIS OF DATA............................- . . . .....................................
IH
Case S tu d y •- K evin. R u s s e ll Wellcome" ...............................................
B ack g ro u n d and H i s t o r y ................................................................ .
The D is a p p e a ra n c e . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
......................
The S e a rc h . ............................ . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F am ily A d ju s tm e n t" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A n a ly s is o f C r i s i s - C om parison v i t h L i t e r a t u r e . . . . .
The Bcy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The F am ily . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A g en cies I n v e s t i g a t e d . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I^
IH
IT
20
24
26
26
27
29
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS'
49
'.................. .... .
Summary.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Conclusions , . . . . . . . » . . . . . . . . .........................* »
Reccmmendations- . . ................................ ....
50
51
APPENDIXES
Appendix
Appendix
Appendix
Appendix
A-.~ Q u estio n n a ire, I n s tr u c tio n s , Cover L e tte r .
B - Agencies Sent, Q uestionn aires . . . . . . . .
C ~
Sample Inquiry Forms . . . . . . . . . .
D —'
Sample Page P o lic e B u lle tin . . . . . . .
LITERATURE' CITED ........................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
55
60
. 63. 69
Tl
V ..
LIST.OF TABLES
TABLE
P age
1.
AGEMCY QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES . .............................................................
30
2.
TYPES OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND KINDS OF ASSISTANCE GIVEN ,
IN SEARCH FOR MISSING PERSONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
32
TYPES OF PRIVATE PROFESSIONAL AND COMMERCIAL AGENCIES AND
KINDS OF ASSISTANCE GIVEN IN SEARCH.FOR MISSING PERSONS . ,
3k
TYPES OF BENEVOLENT SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND KINDS OFASSISTANCE GIVEN IN SEARCH FOR MISSING PERSONS . . . . . . .
37
DEFINITION OF THOSE MISSING PERSONS CASES ACCEPTED FOR
SEARCHING AND THOSE NOT ACCEPTED, BY AGENCY. . . . . . . . .
38
3.
k.
5.
• b.-
. 7.
■8.
DEFINITION OF THOSE MISSING PERSONS CASES ACCEPTED FOR
SEARCHING AND THOSE NOT ACCEPTED, BY AGENCY . . . . . . .
.
DEFINITION OF THOSE MISSING PERSONS CASES ACCEPTED FOR '
SEARCHING AND THOSE NOT ACCEPTED, BY AGENCY. , ,.
•. „
HO
Ul .
REPORTS BY AGENCIES ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATING SOCIETIES •
. LAW-ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION, AND SEARCHES CONDUCTED
INTERNATIONALLY ........................................................ . . . . . . . . .
42
NUMBER OF AGENCIES REPORTING USE OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING
MEDIA TO EXPEDITE SEARCHING FOR MISSING PERSONS . . . . . .
43
HOW OFTEN PROGRESS OF THE SEARCH IS REPORTED TO FAMILIES OF
MISSING PERSONS . . . . . . . . . . .
............................ .... . . .
45
11.
REPORTS OF HOW LONG THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE A SEARCH
46
12.
REPORTS OF NUMBER OF MISSING PERSONS FOUND COMPARED TO .
SEARCHES UNDERTAKEN . . . . . . . . . . . ................................. ....
47
AGENCIES REPORTING OPINIONS ON QUESTIONS OF FORMING A
NATIONAL CLEARING HOUSE OF INFORMATION OR ADDITIONAL
LEGISLATION IN REGARD TO FACILITATING SEARCHES'. . . . . . .
48
' 9.
10 .
13.
. . ..
V l .
ABSTRACT
A member who h as d is a p p e a r e d may p r e c i p i t a t e an u r g e n t c r i s i s i n
a fa m ily $ and w ith one m i l l i o n p e rs o n s r e p o r t e d m is s in g eac h y e a r among
t h e t o t a l p o p u la tio n o f t h e U n ite d S t a t e s and C anada, t h i s h u r t f u l fa m ily
p ro b le m becom es a s e r i o u s s o c i a l p ro b le m a p p ro a c h in g th e m a g n itu d e o f a
n a t io n a l- c r i s i s .
An i n v e s t i g a t i o n was made t o d e te rm in e and e v a lu a te th e e x i s t i n g
o r g a n iz e d a g e n c ie s whose p u rp o s e i s to le n d a s s i s t a n c e t o f a m i li e s i n th e
form o f s e a r c h and c o u n s e lin g . B ased on a c a s e s tu d y in v o l v in g p e r s o n a l
e x p e rie n c e ,:- ad d ed i n s i g h t s w ere g a in e d i n t o a f a m ily ’ s e x p e r ie n c e o f d i s ­
o r i e n t a t i o n when a member le a v e s s u d d e n ly .
A c o n tin u in g and f r u s t r a t i n g p ro b le m f a c in g t h e fa m ily may b e t h e
q u e s tio n o f th e th o ro u g h n e s s o f t h e agency- b e c a u s e o f la c k o f u n d e rs ta n d ­
in g o f t h e i r p u r p o s e , p r o c e d u r e s they, u s e , an d f a i l u r e , o f t h e a g e n c ie s to
d i s c l o s e in f o r m a tio n on w h at h as b een done. D a ta was c o l l e c t e d and t a b u ­
l a t e d on t h e a i d r e n d e r e d by g o v e rn m e n t, p r o f e s s i o n a l , and c h a r i t a b l e
a g e n c ie s and an a n a l y s i s was made o f th e e x t e n t o f each a g e n c y ’s in v o lv e ­
m en t and th e k in d s o f, c a s e s e a c h a c c e p ts . .:
The em p h asis i n t h i s s tu d y was on m is s in g y o u th . I t was found
t h a t a few a g e n c ie s h av e r e a l i z e d th e o p p o r tu n ity t h a t i s o f f e r e d f o r c o u n s e lin g th e fa m ily f o r th e r e t u r n and r e c o n c i l i a t i o n , b e s i d e s con­
d u c tin g a s e a r c h . They h a v e h e lp e d b o th t h e runaw ay and o t h e r members ■
re c o g n iz e t h e cau ses, o f a l i e n a t i o n an d t h e n e e d , t o b u i l d new em pathy and
u n d e r s ta n d in g s o a. member w i l l n ev er, a g a in w an t t o " l o s e ” h i s f a m ily .
I t w a s ■c o n c l u d e d .t h a t f a m i li e s an d a g e n c ie s b o th s h o u ld be e n c o u r­
ag ed t o c o n tin u e a s e a r c h . Some may n o t w an t, t o b e "fo u n d " b u t many who
h a v e l e f t home w an t t o r e t u r n , ' a lth o u g h t h e y f e e l tr a p p e d i n t h e i r d e c is io n
by p r i d e o r d e s p a i r . W h eth er o r n o t a fa m ily s h o u ld c o n tin u e a s e a r c h i s .
v o ic e d i n one runaw ay y o u th ’ s p o ig n a n t l e t t e r " . .. . k eep l o o k i n g ."
The i n v e s t i g a t i o n s u g g e s ts f u r t h e r n e e d f o r more d i r e c t i o n in th e
e s ta b l is h m e n t o f a n a t i o n a l c l e a r i n g h o u se f o r in f o r m a tio n and i n p r o v id in g
r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e c o u n s e lin g s e r v i c e s to. p r e v e n t t r o u b l e d p e rs o n s from u s - '
in g d is a p p e a ra n c e as a s o l u t i o n t o fa m ily , p ro b le m s .
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
Im p o rta n c e o f th e S tu d y
C ris e s in f a m i l i e s may b e p r e c i p i t a t e d by many f a c t o r s — a c c id e n ts
c a u s in g i n j u r i e s , b i r t h o f a b a b y , a crim e co rm n itted , h o s p i t a l i z a t i o n o r
d e a th o f a member, o r a sudden u n e x p la in e d a b s e n c e .
When a fa m ily member i s
m i s s in g , s e r io u s and u r g e n t q u e s tio n s a r e r a i s e d i n . r e g a r d t o l o c a t i n g him .
What p ro c e d u re s s h o u ld b e i n i t i a t e d ?
What fo llo w -u p i s n e c e s s a r y ?
From
w hat agency s h o u ld th e fa m ily s e e k h e lp ?
■T h ere i s l i t t l e
so n ,
docum ented e v id e n c e o f how t o t r a c e a m iss in g p e r ­
L ack o f d a t a .u n d e r s c o r e s th e n e e d f o r o b ta in in g much more in f o r m a tio n
on an .im p o rta n t s o c i a l p ro b lem a s ..w e ll as a. d i s t r e s s i n g and h u r t f u l one. f o r
f a m i li e s d u rin g t h i s c r i s i s .
S tu d ie s h av e r e p o r t e d f a c t s on th e m is s in g - p e r s o n s p ro b lem s in c e the.
e a r l y ' 1 9 0 0 ’'s , w h ile l e g a l p r o v i s i o n s h a d b een s e t up t h r e e h u n d re d y e a r s be­
f o r e t h a t i n E n g lis h common law t o
s o lv e p e r p le x in g p ro b lem s l e f t in th e
wake o f a " l o s t p e r s o n ."
Among th e t o t a l p o p u la tio n o f th e U n ite d S ta t e s ' and C anada th e . p ro b ­
lem o f a m is s in g p e rs o n em erges a s a s e r i o u s p e r s o n a l , a s w e l l as s o c i a l ,
c o n c e rn .
These p e r s o n s may in c lu d e th e t r u a n t from s c h o o l, th e fa m ily de­
s e r t e r (w ife o r h u sb an d ) , o r t h e m i l i t a r y e v a d e r .
They a l l h a v e in common
th e . e le m e n t- o f " d is a p p e a r a n c e " from h a b jitu a l s u rro u n d in g s and a c t i v i t i e s , ,
The. r a t i o o f m is s in g p e rs o n s to th e U n ite d S t a t e s p o p u la tio n i s I
^00.
- 2 V is u a li z e d a n o t h e r w ay, a t y p i c a l s m a ll c i t y o f 2 0 ,0 0 0 p e rs o n s c o u ld have as
many a s f i f t y i n d i v i d u a l s whose w h e re a b o u ts a r e unknown.
P o lic e i n t e r e s t h a s e v o lv e d o u t o f p u b l i c co n cern f o r th e w e lf a r e
and s a f e t y o f m is s in g p e r s o n s , and law e n fo rc e m e n t a g e n c ie s 9 t h e r e f o r e ,
assum e c e r t a i n r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s f o r t r a c i n g m is s in g p e r s o n s .
V o lu n ta ry s o c ­
i a l w e lf a r e a g e n c ie s , law e n fo rc e m e n t b u re a u s o f m is s in g p e r s o n s , and p r i v a t e
p r o f e s s i o n a l a g e n c ie s a r e a l l s o u rc e s o f h e lp i n l o c a t i n g a m is s in g member.
In r e c e n t y e a r s i n v e s t i g a t o r s e s t i m a t e th e p ro b lem o f m is s in g p e r ­
so n s i s
in c r e a s in g so r a p i d l y t h a t i t i s a l r e a d y a p p ro a c h in g th e s t a t u s o f
■
a n a t i o n a l c r i s i s , e s p e c i a l l y th e r a t e s r e p o r t e d f o r runaw ay j u v e n i l e s .
T h ere i s c o n j e c tu r e as t o w h e th e r much o f t h i s t r e n d among t e e n a g e r s i s due
t o a n a t u r a l d e s i r e t o e s c a p e th e c o n f l i c t o f a d a p tin g t o th e e n v iro n m en t o r
a " b e n t" to w a rd a d v e n tu r e .
T h ere i s c o n ce n su s among w r i t e r s , h o w ev er, t h a t
i t i s a d a n g e r o u s ..s i t u a t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y f o r y o u th .
I t i s d o u b tf u l th a t,
t h e r e a r e any p a r e n t s o f m is s in g c h i ld r e n who w ould n o t a g re e w ith t h e s e
w rite rs .
■While many w ant t o be fo u n d , th o s e who have d is a p p e a r e d may f e e l
tr a p p e d in t h e i r d e c i s i o n , e i t h e r th ro u g h p r i d e o r d e s p a i r .
The fa m ily w an ts
t o b e a s s u r e d o f th e h e a l t h and s a f e t y o f th e a b s e n t member even i f i t may .
mean a c c e p tin g th e c o n d i tio n t h a t he may n o t w ant t o r e t u r n o r t h a t h i s w e l­
f a r e may b e s t h e s e r v e d by n o t r e v e a lin g h i s w h e re a b o u ts.
t
P u rp o se o f t h e S tu d y
U n less t h e r e i s re a s o n t o s u s p e c t f u g u e s m u r d e r , s u i c i d e , k id n a p p in g
o r an a c c i d e n t , co n ce rn f o r th e m iss in g p e rs o n r e s t s w ith r e l a t i v e s , a s s o c - •
i a t e s and f r i e n d s and w ith th e p o l i c e .
”* 3 ■='
P e r s o n a l e x p e r ie n c e h e lp e d e s t a b l i s h a n e e d f o r d a ta w hich w ould g iv e
s p e c i f i c g u i d e l i n e s t o a fa m ily who e x p e r ie n c e s ' th e sudden l o s s o f a member
as w e l l as g iv e a c c u r a te in f o r m a tio n and u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e a i d v a r io u s
a g e n c ie s r e n d e r .
T h ere seem s t o . b e no i n v e s t i g a t i v e s t u d i e s r e l a t i n g t o t h e
e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f a g e n c ie s n o r d a t a c o m p iled t o d e te rm in e how t h e s e a g e n c ie s
f u n c ti o n in a id in g a fa m ily w ith t h i s c r i s i s p ro b lem .
A la c k , o f know ledge
o f th e th o ro u g h n e s s o f th e agency may be a c o n tin u in g s o u r c e o f f r u s t r a t i o n
t o t h e fa m ily th r o u g h la c k o f u n d e r s ta n d in g o f th e ag en c y ’ s p u r p o s e „ p ro c e d ­
u r e s in v o lv e d , o r la c k o f d i s c l o s u r e o f in f o r m a tio n "by th e agency on w hat
h a s b e e n done i n a s e a r c h .
I n t h i s s tu d y th e i n v e s t i g a t o r h a s re v ie w e d th e c a s e o f a m issin g
p e rso n .
T h is s e r v e s to show a f a m i l y 's e x p e r ie n c e s .
I n a d d i t i o n , a su rv e y
o f m ethods o f s e a r c h h a s "been made so t h a t any fa m ily can u n d e r s ta n d th e
t y p e " and e x t e n t o f s e r v i c e s i t can e x p e c t . from th e law e n f o r c e m e n t, p r i v a t e
p r o f e s s i o n a l , and' s o c i a l a g e n c ie s .
.
.
.
CHAPTER I I
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
H is to ric a l
H i s t o r i c a l l y $ m is s in g p e r s o n s h av e p r o v id e d e n d le s s le g e n d s .
S to rie s
o f famous d is a p p e a r a n c e s su ch as C la p p 's V a n ish in g P o i n t 1 , and C h u r c h i l l ’s
They H ev er Came Back^ a r e a c c o u n ts o f u n r e s o lv e d c a s e s and lo n g - s ta n d in g mys­
te rie s .
R ecords a s f a r h a c k .as th e e a r l y 1 9 0 0 's h av e b een k e p t on why p e o p le
d is a p p e a r and n e v e r r e t u r n . ^
I t i s e s ti m a t e d t h a t ■a t l e a s t 5 0 0 ,0 0 0 p e rs o n s a n n u a lly a r e r e p o r te d
m is s in g t o U n ite d S t a t e s law e n fo rc e m e n t o f f i c i a l s .
P o lic e - d e p a r tm e n ts a re
p r e s s e d by a g ro w in g demand- f o r a i d in t h e i r l o c a t i o n .
The e x t e n t t o w h ich
p e o p le a r e m is s in g i s shown in a 1965 s tu d y b y Rubin.**
A r e p o r t from th e
D i r e c t o r o f th e M o n tr e a l, C an ad a, C ity P o l i c e D ep artm en t s t a t e d t h a t in. 1964
an a v e ra g e o f Ul3 p e rs o n s w ere l i s t e d m is s in g e a c h m onth o f t h a t y e a r .
In
t h a t same y e a r , Los A ngeles r e p o r t e d 7 ,8 9 7 p e r s o n s o f a l l ag es w ere m is s in g .
M is s in g p e r s o n s r e p o r t e d t o th e A tla n ta P o lic e D ep artm en t f o r t h e 1959-1964
p e r i o d in c lu d e d 2 ,9 8 1 j u v e n i l e s and t h e c h i l l i n g f i g u r e o f 91 c h i ld r e n from
Ja n e C la p p , V a n is h in g P o in t (Hew Y o rk : S carec ro w P r e s s , I n c .., 1961)..
^ A lle n C h u r c h i l l , They H ev er Came Back (Hew Y ork; D o u b le d a y 4 i960).
. ^C o n cern in g London 1 9 0 7 -1 9 1 2 , "Why P e o p le D is a p p e a r ," L i t e r a r y
D ig e s t , LXVI4 -922-924,
"
^
•J
• E rn e s t R u b in , "On M issin g P e rs o n s a n d -M issin g T a b u l a t i o n s ," The
A m erican -S t a t i s t i c i a n , O c to b e r, 1965 , p p . 3 3 -3 6 ,
-
5 ages I t o 5 .9 y e a r s , p l u s 2 ,1 5 7 a d u l ts from 17 y e a r s u p .
The m edian ag e f o r
j u v e n i l e s v a s 1 3 .4 y e a r s and f o r a d u l ts 3 0 .3 y e a r s .
In 1967 » a t o t a l , o f 1 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 p e rs o n s w ere o f f i c i a l l y r e p o r t e d
m is s in g . ^
I t was F ra n z m e ie fs " b e lie f t h a t th e num ber o f A m ericans who d i s ­
a p p e a re d l a s t y e a r and th e p h y s i c a l a n d ' e m o tio n a l h a r d s h ip th e y cau sed th o s e
th e y l e f t "behind h a s e l e v a t e d th e mis s in g - p e r s o n s p ro b lem t o t h e s t a t u s o f
a n a tio n a l c r i s i s .
On th e o t h e r h a n d , F r a e n k e l m a in ta in e d t h a t i t i s n o t e a s y t o s t a y
" lo s t."
Our many f a c i l i t i e s f o r t r a c i n g m is s in g p e rs o n s ( t e l e v i s i o n , r a d i o ,
t e le p h o n e , t e l e g r a p h , t e l e t y p e , p h o to g r a p h s , n e w sp a p e rs) h av e a id e d p o l i c e
who u se a l l o f t h e s e m e d ia.
th e ir e ffo rts .
T h u s, th e y a r e a b l e t o e f f i c i e n t l y c o o r d in a te
He w r ite s o f th e p ro b lem ,' " i t may be e s ti m a t e d t h a t n o t more
th a n 2 0 0 ,who a r e n o t fo u n d by s e a r c h , d is a p p e a r y e a r l y in th e I k tite d S ta te s ,
in tim e s o f p e a c e . . . w ith o u t a t r a c e .
One h u n d re d tim e s a s many w ere
m is s in g in a c t io n fro m t h e arm ed f o r c e s d u rin g t h r e e y e a r s o f W orld War I I ,.
One h u n d re d tim es- as many Jews d is a p p e a r e d in th e t h r e e y e a r s from th e f a l l
o f 19Ul to th e f a l l o f 19UU.
The p r o p 'o r tio h a l f ig u r e s a r e I : 100 : 1 0 ,0 0 0 ." ^
D e fin itio n s
S tu d ie s r e q u i r e t h a t m iss in g p e r s o n s b e d i s t i n g u i s h e d from ru n aw ay s.
A s tu d y c o n d u c te d by th e N a ti o n a l I n s t i t u t e o f M en tal H e a lth fo c u s e d on. th e
------- ----------- -- -----------
^ S tep h en A. F ran zm 'e ier, "Why H u sb a n d s •- an d T e e n -a g e rs Run Away"From ..
Home," F am ily W eekly, J u ly 2 3 , 1 9 6 7 , p p . 6 -7 .
6 F ra n'z F r a e n k e l, M issin g P e r s o n s : The Law in U nited, S t a t e s and
’ E u ro p e , (.New Y ork: O ceana P u b l i c a t i o n s , 1 9 5 0 ), p . 57.
- 6 " i n t e n t o f t h e ru n a w a y ."
The d e f i n i t i o n e v o lv e d was " th e runaw ay i s th e
c h i l d who le a v e s home w ith th e know ledge t h a t he w i l l b e m i s s e d . He i s
fo u n d o r r e t u r n s home v o l u n t a r i l y t o th e e f f e c t i v e c o n t r o l and s u r v e i l l a n c e
o f th e p a r e n t s as w e ll as t o th e s e c u r i t y o f th e home.
What, i s a m is s in g p e r s o n ?
P in g o ld s t a t e s t h a t e v e ry c h i l d th in k s
a b o u t ru n n in g aw ay, many ev en t h r e a t e n i t , b u t t h e r e may n e v e r be a c o m p lete
g
r e c o r d o f t h e num ber who do b e c a u s e many c a s e s go u n r e p o r te d .
Of th o s e
c a s e s r e l a t i n g t o runaw ay y o u th , H ild e b ra n d shows an in c r e a s e o f -51 p e r c e n t
o v e r t h e t e n - y e a r p e r io d o f 1950 t o I9 6 0 in New York C i t y 'S l o n e . ^
A te n
p e r c e n t h ig h e r r a te , f o r 1967 r e p o r t e d 2 2 5 ,0 0 0 t e e n - a g e r s a s ru n aw ay s.
Of
t h e s e j u v e n i l e runaw ays 9 0 ,2 4 6 w ere a r r e s t e d by U n ite d S t a t e s law e n f o r c e ­
m ent o f f i c e r s , and a lm o s t h a l f o f them w ere g i r l s .
The F e d e r a l B u reau o f
I n v e s t i g a t i o n ’s U niform Crime R e p o rts show ed t h i s as an in c r e a s e o f a lm o s t
10 p e r c e n t from 1966.
The Lowrey s tu d y o f th o s e who w ere o f f i c i a l l y c l a s s e d as runaw ays
w ith th e New Y ork T r a v e le r s A id S o c ie ty showed t h a t t h e age ra n g e e x te n d e d
from 6 t o 102 y e a r s .
I t was i n c o n t r a s t t o o t h e r - a g e n c ie s t h a t p ro b a b ly
w ould n o t hav e c l a s s e d as runaw ays th o s e o v e r 2 1 , o r p e rh a p s even 18.
T h e ir
argum ent s t a t e d , " I f o l d e r i n d i v i d u a l s a r e a b s e n t from accu sto m ed s u r r o u n -
^ R o b ert S h a llo w , J u l i a n Schamp5 E l i o t t Liebow 9 and .E liz a b e th N o r g e r ,
S uburban Runaways... o f t h e I 9 6 0 8s , Monograph o f th e S o c ie ty f o r R e se a rc h i n
■.Child D evelop m en t, S e r i a l 1 1 1 , 10 6 7 , V o l. 3 2 , No. 3.
^E velyn S . R in g o ld , "VHiy. They Run Away FTom Home," New York Times
M ag azin e, May 1 0 , 19 6 4 , p p , 63=64. .
"
^Jam es A. H ild e b r a n d , nWhy Rmiaways Leave Home.," P o l i c e - S c ie n c e ,
L IV 5 (1 9 6 3 ),. 2 1 1 -2 1 6 .
7 —
d in g s w ith c o n s e n t o r k n o w led g e, p a r t i c u l a r l y i f i n c a p a c i t a t e d in any w ay,
th e y a r e so c l a s s i f i e d .
I t can b e n o te d , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t " th e u n iv e r s e o r p o p u la tio n o f
'm is s in g p e r s o n s ' r e p o r t e d t o p o l i c e o f f i c i a l s i s n o t a p r e c i s e l y d e f in e d
a g g r e g a t e . " Eubi n p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e r e a r e v a r i a t i o n s i n d e f i n i t i o n s from one l a r g e m e tr o p o li ta n a r e a p o l i c e d e p a rtm e n t t o a n o th e r and a lm o st a l l
p o l i c e d e p a rtm e n ts s e p a r a t e a d u lt's and j u v e n i l e s , h ig h l y c o n c e n tr a ti n g t h e i r
e f f o r t s on f i n d i n g a m is s in g c h i l d .
K ansas C i t y , K a n sa s, p o l i c e r e p o r te d
t h a t a p e rs o n i s c o n s id e r e d m is s in g i f he o r sh e " h a s been a b s e n t f o r 2h
h o u rs w ith o u t s u f f i c i e n t r e a s o n . "
B u f f a lo p o l i c e s t a t e d t h a t :
A m is s in g p e rs o n i s one m is s in g from h i s o r h e r
u s u a l p l a c e o f abode ( i n c l u d in g i n s t i t u t i o n s )
u n d e r c irc u m s ta n c e s n o t c o n s i s t e n t w ith h i s
o r d in a r y h a b i t s , o r who may b e i n h e e d o f p o l i c e ..
a s s i s t a n c e by r e a s o n o f a g e , i n f i r m i t y , p h y s i c a l
o r m e n ta l h a n d ic a p , o r th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f f o u l .
p la y o r a c c id e n t .
When a p e rs o n i s m is s in g f o r a s i g n i f i c a n t p e r i o d , can he be d e c la r e d
l e g a l l y dead? •The E n g lis h c o u r ts f o r m u la te d t h e common law on p re su m p tio n
o f d e a th i n l6 0 lt: " I f i t i s p ro v e d t h a t f o r a p e r i o d o f n o t l e s s th a n 7
y e a r s no news o f a p e rs o n h a s b een r e c e iv e d by th o s e who w o u ld n a t u r a l l y
h e a r o f him i f -he w ere a l i v e , and t h a t such, i n q u i r i e s and s e a r c h e s as. c i r ­
cu m stan ces n a t u r a l l y s u g g e s te d have been m ade, t h e r e a r i s e s a l e g a l p resum p­
t i o n t h a t he i s d e a d . P e r t a i n i n g
t o t h e p r e s e n t- day t h e same a u th o r
■^Lawson G. Low fev, "Runaways and N om ads," Am erican J o u r n a l o f
P s y c h i a t r y , I I , ( 1 9 W , 7 7 5 -7 8 3 .
"^"Rubin, "M issin g P e rs o n s an d T a b u l a ti o n s ."
-L ^ F raen k el, M is s in g P e r s o n s , p . 5 ('13 H a ls b u r y ' Laws o f E n g lan d 6 3 0 ).
- 8 r e f e r r i n g t o n e e d f o r s e a r c h on P re s u m p tio n o f D eath f o r l e g a l p r o c e e d in g s ,
w rite s :
The b e s t form o f i n s t r u c t i o n w ould be t o r e q u i r e
a f in d in g t h a t th e a b s e n t p e r s o n ’s abandonm ent o f
h i s hom e, d e s e r t i o n o f h i s f r i e n d s and c o n ce alm en t
o f h i s w h e r e a b o u ts . from th e m , in c o n n e c tio n w ith
h i s a g e , h e l a t h , d i s p o s i t i o n , m o ral c h a r a c t e r ,
s o c i a l r a n k , f i n a n c i a l c o n d i t i o n , o b je c ts and
aim s i n l i f e , t o g e t h e r w ith a l l o t h e r f a c t s and
c irc u m s ta n c e s i n e v id e n c e , w ere i n c o n s i s t e n t w ith
h i s v o lu n t a r y a b s e n c e (TO F.- 2 d 569 ) . I n q u ir y i s
t o b e made w ith th e p o l i c e d e p a rtm e n ts $ B ureaus,
o f M issin g P e rs o n s an d a p p r o p r ia te c a s e s w ith t h e
c o rre s p o n d in g a g e n c ie s o f t h e Array and ITavy0 Even
a s l e n d e r p u r s e w i l l b e no ex c u se f o r o m ittin g
su c h r e q u e s t s .
R e l a ti o n t o P r e v io u s S tu d ie s
The i n t e r e s t f o r t h i s s tu d y i s in m is s in g y o u th .
o f why a d o le s c e n ts ru n away s h o u ld b e c o n s id e r e d .
An i n t e r p r e t a t i o n
I t i s im p o r ta n t t o keep
i n m ind t h a t th e e s c a p e t h e a d o le s c e n t s e e k s from c o n f l i c t i s an e sc a p e t h a t
le a d s t o some s o r t o f s o l u t i o n , some s o r t o f a d a p t a t i o n , "a t e n t a t i v e a tte m p t
t o f i t i n t o an en v iro n m en t n o t o f th e a d o l e s c e n t ’ s c r e a t i o n .
T h is p o i n t . o f
view may b e f a u l t y and t h e ju d g m en ts may b e w rong b u t th e y a r e a l l t h a t h e
has.
T h is i s n o t a s k e tc h o f t h e w o rld as i t i s b u t o f t h e w o r ld t h a t th e
a d o le s c e n t s e e s . ’’ . • One o f t h e a d ju s tm e n ts w ith e sc a p e " c a n now be s c r u t i n ­
iz e d ."
'
I n a lm o s t a l l a d o le s c e n ts from tim e t o tim e •
t h e r e i s a d i s t i n c t te n d e n c y t o f l e e th e en­
v iro n m en t , t o ru n away from i t .
T h is ru n n in g
away i s n o t u s e d h e r e i n any m y th ic a l o r .
f i g u r a t i v e s e n s e but. i s an a c t u a l p h y s ic a l
•^ S id n e y I-. Schwab and B orden S . V e e d e r,' The A d o lescen t : H is C o n f lic ts ' and E scao es (New Y ork: D. A p p leto n and Company, I 929T , '
pp.. 2 5 7 -2 7 9 , p a s s im . .
""
-9
-
p ie c e o f c o n d u c t w h ich o f t e n i s a s u r p r i s i n g and
s t a r t l i n g e x p e r ie n c e f o r p a r e n t s and o th e r s con­
c e r n e d . I t i s d i f f i c u l t t o s e e why t h i s s o r t o f
s o l u t i o n i s n o t m ore commons b e c a u s e th e means
o f a c c o m p lish in g i t a r e so s im p le and th e Im­
p u ls e t o ru n away i s so l o g i c a l . B etw een ru n n in g
away an d slow an d p a i n f u l a d a p t a t i o n $ th e c h o ic e
w o u ld alw ays seem t o fa v o r t h e f i r s t .
The more
a c t i v e and p l e a s a n t e r p e rfo rm a n c e o f c u t t i n g
lo o s e (a n an sw er t o one o f t h e m ost p r i m i t i v e
o f a l l im p u lse s.$ t h a t o f f l i g h t in th e fa c e o f
e n v iro n m e n ta l d i f f i c u l t i e s ) w o u ld seem t h e m ost
n a t u r a l t h i n g in th e w o rld . Many o f th e e s c a p e s •
a r e f u t i l e , u n s u c c e s s f u l , an d some o f th e m ,
th o u g h "not m any, en d in d i s a s t e r . By g o in g b a c k
on a f a l s e t r a i l th e t r u e p a t h i s o fte n " fo u n d .
W a tte n b e rg fo u n d in h i s l a r g e s tu d y o f runaw ay boys t h a t th e main
m o tiv a tio n was s e a r c h f o r a d v e n tu re a n d , p e r h a p s , a s tr o n g d e s i r e f o r in ­
d ep en d e n ce.
He a l s o fo u n d t h a t w ith th e r e t u r n f a m i li e s r a l l i e d t h e i r
f o rc e s , and b e t t e r . - r e l a t i o n s h i p s w ith , so n s . r e s u l t e d .
- ■
A ltho u g h S h a llo w does n o t e x c lu d e th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f i n d i v i d u a l
d i s t u r b e d and d is o r g a n i z e d p a t h o l o g i c a l b e h a v io r as a f a c t o r i n ' ru n n in g
aw ay, a c o n c lu sio n , was t h a t th e s e runaw ays ’’hav e ta k e n th e i n i t i a t i v e ” ;
i t i s a p a r t o f t h e i r ’’i n e p t a tte m p t t o e s c a p e from th e now here o f. a d o le s ­
c e n c e .’’^
A lth o u g h p s y c h o lo g i c a l s t u d i e s o f runaw ays a r e f a i r l y numerous
and a r t i c l e s in p o p u la r m ag azin es on t h i s p ro b le m a r e i n c r e a s i n g , - t h e r e
seem s t o b e l i t t l e
docum ented e v id e n c e o f how t o tra c e - m is s in g p e r s o n s .
B ut w h e th e r t o o r n o t i s summed up by a r e a d e r o f one m a g a z ih e :
■ S i r s : Y our a r t i c l e [Runaway K idsJ ^ i s v e ry r e a l .
I was a"'runaw ay, t o o . ' I h av e one t h i n g -to ,s a y . . . .
- ^ S h a llo w , and o t h e r s . S u b u rb an Runaw ays, M onograuh.
■^“ Runaway K id s ," L i f e , November 3 , 1 9 6 7 , u p . 19-29«
10 =»
Keep lo o k in g f o r y o u r ' d a u g h te r o r s o n . They w an t
t o b e fo u n d .
Corky C r a n d a ll
C am bridge, Mass-.
CHAPTER I I I
PROCEDURES
U n less t h e r e i s re a s o n t o s u s p e c t f u g u e s , m u rd e r, s u i c i d e , k id ­
n a p p in g o r an a c c i d e n t , co n ce rn f o r th e m is s in g p e rs o n r e s t s w ith r e l a t i v e s
a s s o c i a t e s and f r i e n d s , and w ith th e p o l i c e .
P e r s o n a l e x p e r ie n c e h e lp e d e s t a b l i s h a n e e d f o r d a t a w h ich w ould
g iv e s p e c i f i c g u i d e l i n e s t o a fa m ily who e x p e r ie n c e s th e sudden lo s s o f a
member as w e l l as g iv e a c c u r a te in f o r m a tio n and u n d e r s ta n d in g o f t h e a id
v a r io u s a g e n c ie s r e n d e r .
T h ere seems t o b e no i n v e s t i g a t i v e s t u d i e s r e ­
l a t i n g t o th e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f a g e n c ie s n o r d a t a c o m p iled t o d e te rm in e how
th e a g e n c ie s f u n c tio n i n a i d in g a fa m ily w ith t h i s c r i s i s p ro b le m ,
A la c k
o f know ledge o f th e th o ro u g h n e s s o f th e agency may be a c o n tin u in g s o u rc e
o f f r u s t r a t i o n t o t h e fa m ily th r o u g h l a c k o f u n d e rs ta n d in g , o f th e a g e n c y 's
p u r p o s e , p ro c e d u re s in v o l v e d , o r l a c k o f d i s c l o s u r e o f in f o r m a tio n by th e
agency on w hat h a s b een done in a s e a r c h .
In t h i s s tu d y th e i n v e s t i g a t o r h as re v ie w e d th e c a s e o f a m iss in g
p e rso n .
T his s e r v e s t o show a f a m i ly 's e x p e r ie n c e s ,
In a d d itio n ., a s u rv e y
o f m ethods o f s e a r c h has, b e e n made so t h a t any fa m ily can. u n d e r s ta n d t h e
ty p e and e x t e n t o f s e r v i c e s i t
can e x p e c t from th e . law e n f o r c e m e n t, p r i v a t e
p r o f e s s i o n a l , and s o c i a l a g e n c ie s .
The o r i e n t a t i o n o f t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r h as b een in v o lv e m e n t in a . p e r ­
s o n a l s u rv e y b e g in n in g a t th e o n s e t o f th e e p is o d e p r e s e n te d in t h e c a se
s tu d y .
An a tte m p t h a s b een made t o u t i l i z e t h e s t r e n g t h s o f th e d a ta t h a t
- 12
h a d b e e n o b ta in e d in a p e r s o n a l s e a r c h , com bined w ith th e im m ed iate d a t a ob­
t a i n e d th r o u g h t h e s i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n .
The tw o m ain a r e a s o f in f o r m a tio n
g a th e r e d w e re : Cl) on th e c r i s i s s t a t e o f a fa m ily e x p e r ie n c in g a m iss in g
m em ber, th e t y p i c a l p h a s e s w h ich c h a r a c t e r i z e t h e p e r io d o f u p s e t b u t w hich
w ere s u p p le m e n ta ry t o i t ;
(2 ) on th e ty p e and e x t e n t o f a i d v a r io u s a g e n c ie s
a r e a b le t o r e n d e r t o a fa m ily i n t h i s . c r i s i s , th ro u g h a q u e s t i o n n a i r e w ith
a s e t o f q u e s tio n s a s k e d ( s e e A ppendix A) w hich s e r v e d as t h e s o u r c e o f com­
p a r a t i v e d a ta .
The o b ta in e d sam ple expanded from t h r e e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e ty p e s
s p e c i f i c a l l y t o in c lu d e as many a g e n c ie s as p o s s i b l e , c a t e g o r i z e d as law
e n fo rc e m e n t, p r i v a t e p r o f e s s i o n a l , a n ! .b e n e v o le n t s o c i a l s e r v i c e o r g a n iz a ­
tio n s .
In a few i n s t a n c e s some s u b j e c t a r e a s w ere c o v e re d by u n s tr u c t u r e d
in t e r v ie w .
T h is in te r v ie w ap p ro a c h was l i m i t e d , h o w ev er, t o th o s e who w ere
w i l l i n g t o g iv e u n u s u a l a n d , a t ti m e s , c o n f i d e n t i a l in f o r m a tio n .
Sample
S e v e r a l a g e n c ie s w ere p r e s e l e c t e d in t h a t •th e s e s p e c i f i c ones w ere
p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n t h e s e a r c h r e f e r r e d t o in t h e c a se s t u d y . . O th e rs w ere
s e l e c t e d from r e f e r e n c e s fo u n d in b ac k g ro u n d l i t e r a t u r e as i n d i v i d u a l s r e ­
p r e s e n t i n g a g e n c ie s w o rk in g w ith m is s in g p e r s o n s c a s e s .
S e v e r a l a g e n c ie s o r
s o u rc e s w ere b r o u g h t t o th e a t t e n t i o n o f th e r e s e a r c h e r by p e r s o n a l r e f e r ­
ence from c o l le a g u e s .
M ethodology
C asew ork w ith a fa m ily and t h e i r a g e n c y " c o n ta c ts s e r v e d as a b ack ­
g ro u n d t o f in d i n g new a g e n c ie s and as a b a s i s f o r e v a l u a ti n g d a t a r e c e iv e d
from a l l a g e n c ie s in v o lv e d w ith m is s in g p e r s o n s .
T ab les w ere d e v is e d t o
- 13 p r e s e n t d a t a o f v a r io u s k i n d s : ( l ) num ber and k in d s o f r e s p o n d e n ts ; (2 ) r e l a ­
t i o n o f p u rp o s e s and. k in d s o f a s s i s t a n c e .by e a c h ty p e o f a g e n c y ; (3 ) c a se s
a c c e p te d f o r s e a r c h i n g s r e l a t e d t o agency d e f i n i t i o n o f a m is s in g p e r s o n ;
( It) a g e n c ie s c o n d u c tin g s e a r c h e s i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y ; (5 ) m ed ia as r e p o r t e d u s e d
b y a l l a g e n c i e s ; (6 ) d a t a on how f r e q u e n t ly f a m i li e s a r e a d v is e d o f p r o g r e s s ;
(T) how lo n g t h e ag ency w i l l c o n tin u e t h e s e a r c h ; (8 ) num ber o f p e rs o n s fo u n d
com pared t o num ber o f s e a r c h e s u n d e r ta k e n ; (9 ) o p in io n s o f a g e n c ie s on fo rm in g
a N a ti o n a l C le a r in g House o f in f o r m a tio n o r a d d i t i o n a l , l e g i s l a t i o n in r e g a r d
to f a c i l i t a t i n g se a rc h e s.
CHAPTER IV '
'
ANALYSIS OF DATA
Case S tu d y - K evin R u s s e ll W ellcome
B ackground and H is to r y
F o r t D ev en ss M a s s a c h u s e tts s was t h e b i r t h p l a c e , o f K evin R u s s e ll
W ellcom e on November 1 5 s 1 9 ^ . ' The f a t h e r ,• a r a d a r o f f i c e r s and th e m o th e rs
a n u r s e , warm ly w elcom ed h i s a r r iv a l=
By t h e tim e K evin was f o u r y e a r s o ld he and his. s i s t e r L i s a s two and
a - h a l f , h ad l i v e d w ith t h e i r p a r e n t s in F l o r i d a , T e x a s, C o lo ra d o , and a y e a r
in th e B r i t i s h W e s tz I n d ie s .
A f te r an i n t e r v a l s p e n t in Bozem an, M ontana,
w h ile th e f a t h e r f i n i s h e d h i s c o l le g e w o rk , t h e fa m ily a g a in accom panied him
on a s e r i e s o f f o r e ig n a e r i a l p h o to g r a p h ic p r o j e c t s in w h ich he p a r t i c i p a t e d .
K evin and L is a a tte n d e d s c h o o ls in C a l i f o r n i a , C anada, and in P h ila d e lp h i a
'
■
.
b e f o r e g o in g o v e r s e a s t o I r a n in 1955* These moves w ere welcom ed' a d v e n tu re s ' •
f o r t h e w hole fa m ily b u t th e g o a l was alw ays t o r e t u r n home t o a w id e ,g re e n
v a l l e y i n th e m o u n tain s o f M ontana.
L iv in g f o r tw o -y e a rs i n th e s c e n e s o f
a n c ie n t and m odern P e r s i a g av e t h e fa m ily many.new p e r s p e c t i v e s and le a v in g
good f r ie n d s ,w a s d i f f i c u l t .
A r e q u e s t came a s k in g th e fa m ily to ad o p t an " I r a n i a n b r o t h e r ” f o r
K evin and Lisa=
B eing 13 y e a r s o ld and b etw een , .t h e i r a g e s , he ad ap ted , w e l l
i n t o t h e fa m ily w h ile l i v i n g in a P h i l a d e l p h i a su b u rb f o r t h e tw o y e a r s
fo llo w in g 1957..
The r e t u r n - "home" t o M ontana was made and a l l t h r e e e n te r e d
j u n i o r h ig h s c h o o l a f t e r h a v in g made good r e c o r d s i n th e suburban- s c h o o l in
- 15 P e n n s y lv a n ia .
As a c h i l d and in t o p u b e r ty K evin was a c h e e r f u l , c o n s i d e r a t e , s e n s ­
i t i v e , e n th u s ia s tic hoy.
He was i n t e n s e i n h i s i n t e r e s t in many t h i n g s and
e x c e l l e d in m anaging a p a p e r r o u te i n P h i l a d e l p h i a , p la y in g v i o l i n , and was
e l e c t e d p r e s i d e n t o f t h e s tu d e n t c o u n c il i n t h e 1 5 0 0 - s tu d e n t j u n i o r h ig h
s c h o o l.
As an o l d e r a d o l e s c e n t h e began t o b e w ith d raw n and h i s open a c c e p t­
an ce o f a d u l ts and p e e r s a l i k e d im in is h e d .
O c c a s io n a lly t h e r e was an emo­
t i o n a l u p h e a v a l in v o lv in g r e b e l l i o n .a t a u t h o r i t y in a fa m ily s i t u a t i o n .
For
e x am p le, a t t h e age o f 15 a f t e r p la y in g a v i o l i n s o l o a t a P a r e n t- T e a c h e rs ,
A s s o c ia tio n m e e tin g , he w a lk e d a d i s t a n c e o f s e v e r a l m ile s home in th e c o l d ,
n o t w a it in g f o r th e f a m ily .
T h is p a r t i c u l a r s i t u a t i o n o f r e t u r n i n g home from
fa m ily a f f a i r s was alw ays a p ro b lem from t h a t tim e on.
D u rin g th e f i r s t
•school y e a r b a c k in M ontana he d id v e ry w e ll w ith m u sic and m o d e ra te ly w e l l
w ith s c h o o l w ork.
H is h ig h s c h o o l e x p e r ie n c e t h e r e was d is a p p o i n tin g t o him
w ith so much em p h asis b e in g p u t on acad em ic ach iev em en t f o r e n t e r i n g c o lle g e
and t h e s o c i a l l y e x c l u s i v e c l iq u e s t h a t t h r i v e d .
He was n o t l e f t b u t b u t he
was v e ry s e n s i t i v e t o i n j u s t i c e s t o o th e r s and e m p a th iz e d d e e p ly w ith th o s e
who w ere n o t " i n . "
• ■-
The a d o p te d s o n , T a r a j , d u rin g t h i s ' tim e was c a u s in g some d i s s e n t i o n
and K evin was d e v e lo p in g a r e a l l o y a l t y t o him w hich e v e n t u a l l y grew i n t o an
u n re a s o n in g b l i n d t i e .
I t a l s o made him s u r e t h a t T a r a j ’s r e b e l l i o n and de­
f e n s iv e n e s s - was b e c a u s e t h e p a r e n t s d id n o t lo v e him enough.
T a ra j was an
e x c e l l e n t p s y c h o l o g i s t and knew how t o p la y one a g a i n s t th e o t h e r .
T h is he
d id a d r o i t l y c a u s in g th e f a t h e r -not t o c o o p e r a te w ith th e m o th e r in s i t u a ­
- 16t i o n s t o h i s a d v a n ta g e .
At t h e b e g in n in g o f t h e sunnier o f 1 9 6 1 , T a ra j l e f t home t o w o rk , w ith
K e v in ’s h e l p , and i t became i n c r e a s i n g l y ' d i f f i c u l t t o t a l k t o and re a s o n w ith
K ev in .
Soon a f t e r , he l e f t - w ith o u t t h e p a r e n t s ’ p e r m is s io n o r know ledge f o r
C a l i f o r n i a to v i s i t T a r a j .
I n a few d ay s K evin c a l l e d t o a sk h i s f a t h e r t o
come down t o t i y t o p e rs u a d e T a r a j t o r e t u r n w ith them f o r s c h o o l; b u t T a ra j
i
d id n o t , th e n o r l a t e r . K e v in ■r e t u r n e d home a lo n e w ith h i s f a t h e r .
K evin was v e ry i n t e r e s t e d in o b ta in in g a c a r , and t h i s was an u n re ­
s o lv e d c o n f l i c t u n t i l t h e fo llo w in g s p r i n g .
w ith h eav y jo b s su c h as h a y in g .
r e t u r n i n g t o s c h o o l.
That- summer-he h e lp e d h i s f a t h e r
He seem ed much c a lm e r-a n d f a i r l y happy upon .
He h a d s to p p e d p la y in g th e v i o l i n th e y e a r b e f o r e b e­
c a u s e he b e l i e v e d t h a t th e m o th e r was e x p l o i t i n g him in t h i s a c t i v i t y .
Then a b r u p tl y i n th e f a l l o f 1 9 6 2 , d u rin g th e f i r s t p a r t o f N ovem ber,
he l e f t w ith a y o u n g e r boy f o r C a l i f o r n i a t o "make h i s m ark" w ith h i s new
e le c tr ic g u ita r;
He was a llo w e d t o s t a y b e c a u s e t h i s was n e a r h is. e i g h te e n t h
b i r t h d a y and he w an ted t o h e " in d e p e n d e n t."
He h ad a d i f f i c u l t tim e f in d in g
jo b s and was t r e a t e d " s h a b b ily " and " s e l f i s h l y " by T a r a j .
T h is f i n a l l y en d ed
in t o t a l d is illu s io n m e n t.
The f o llo w in g " A p ril th e f a t h e r h a d a s c i e n t i f i c p a p e r t o g iv e a t
-Y o se m ite , so he- and t h e m o th e r d ro v e t o C a l i f o r n i a .
u n i t e d w ith K evin who came home w ith th em .
_ •
They w ere jo y o u s ly r e ­
He .im m ed iately w e n t t o a sk f o r
h i s o l d jo b a t a. g r o c e r y s t o r e and seem ed happy t o be b a c k .
N ot lo n g a f t e r ',
t h e f a t h e r h a d an o p p o r tu n ity t o go o v e r s e a s te m p o ra rily ,-' an d -K evin and a
f r i e n d b e g g e d t o do t h e farm in g on " s h a r e s ," so t h i s .d e c is io n , was made.
The fa m ily - and f r i e n d s s e n s e d he c o u ld n o t f a c e com m unicating any
- 17 p e r s o n a l p ro b lem s w h ich th e y a l l knew he h a d , b u t ev ery o n e t r i e d t o h e lp ,
He d id n o t w ish anyone t o q u e ry him b u t he o c c a s io n a lly - d iv u lg e d h i s f e e l i n g s
a b o u t h i s p e r s o n a l in v o lv e m e n ts w ith o t h e r s —-w hich w ere o f te n c r i t i c a l and
fa u lt-fin d in g .
D uring t h i s tim e p a in s i n h i s sto m ach made K evin t h i n k he h a d
u l c e r s and he made a s e c r e t i v e v i s i t t o th e fa m ily d o c t o r .
I t was alm o st a
y e a r l a t e r t h a t th e fa m ily l e a r n e d t h i s d o c t o r h ad d e t e c te d ab n o rm al behav­
i o r and t h i n IdLng p a t t e r n s and u r g e d him t o se e a p s y c h i a t r i s t .
K evin a g re e d
t o do t h i s $ a s k in g t h e d o c to r n o t t o l e t h i s p a r e n t s know o f i t .
T h ere was
n o fo llo w -u p a n d , in r e a l i t y , he d id n o t go t o t h e p s y c h i a t r i s t . ■
The f a t h e r r e t u r n e d t o th e U n ite d S t a t e s i n th e m id d le o f t h a t summer
and v i s i t e d home i n M o n tan a, th e n p ro c e e d e d t o A riz o n a t o f i n i s h h i s jo b .
By
S ep tem b er th e w ork and a l l . e ls e seem ed w e l l a t t h e r a n c h , s o th e m o th er j o i n ­
ed t h e f a t h e r i n th e s o u th f o r a b r i e f h o li d a y .
T h ere was know ledge o f
K e v in ’s d e s i r e to e x p lo r e and p r o s p e c t i n t h e S o u th w e st b u t an open i n v i t a ­
t i o n was n o t e x te n d e d t o h a v e him come t o v i s i t in A riz o n a s in c e i t a p p e a re d
K evin w ould e n t e r and f i n i s h h i s l a s t y e a r o f h ig h s c h o o l.
The D is a p p e a ra n c e
The p a r e n t s h a d t a l k e d w ith K evin by phone— and a l s o t o L is a who w as,
v e ry c o n c e rn e d a b o u t h i s le a v in g on a lo n g - p la n n e d cam ping t r i p t o e x p lo r e .
He p ro m ise d them t h a t he w o u ld n o t go u n t i l a f t e r ,th e y had. r e t u r n e d .
In
s p i t e o f t h i s he l e f t , t e l l i n g L is a t h a t h e p la n n e d t o go t o S o u th A m erica
f o r s i x m o n th s.
The c r i s i s
"
a r o s e f o r t h e fa m ily suddenly- on a November ■d a y , 1963
(a b o u t f i v e and 'a h a l f y e a r s a f t e r r e t u r n i n g ' t o th e U n ite d S t a t e s from t h e
M iddle E a s t ) — r e c e i p t o f an a i r m a i l l e t t e r from K evin a d d r e s s e d ' t o Bozeman,
- 18 The l e t t e r r e v e a le d :
D ear Mom and D ad5
I g u e s s t h i s i s th e en d o f t h e l i n e f o r me,
I 'm s o r r y .
The c a r w i l l be by a b r i d g e i n th e O t t e r
. C r e s t Loop o f f c o a s t a l highw ay 101 in O regon.
I t ' s 11m, n o r th o f M e w o rt and 2m, S, o f Depoe
B ay. T h at makes .'a lo n g t r i p b u t i t h a s t o be
t h i s away. I ' l l p u t th e key i n th e l e f t f r o n t
hub cap r a t h e r th a n s e n d i t .
T h a t t i r e pump
i s in ' th e l e f t d o o r h o ld in g up th e window.
The t i r e w i l l p r o b a b ly be f l a t by the. tim e y o u
g e t t h e r e so y o u w i l l h e e d i t ,
I w ould l i k e
t o j u s t fa d e from t h i s e a r t h and t h e m em ories
o f a l l who .know me w ith o u t any f u s s . I r u in e d
my I i f e 5 d o n 't - l e t me r u i n y o u rs a l s o .
L o v e,
K evin
The m o th e r h a d r e t u r n e d from A riz o n a and h e r f i r s t th o u g h ts w ere
d i s b e l i e f , th e n p a n i c —- th in k in g h e was s a y in g t h a t he was g o in g t o do away
w ith h im s e lf .
H er n e x t th o u g h ts w ere t h a t i f h e was t h a t u p s e t $ th e n m e rc i-. .
f u l l y . h e m ig h t h av e become am nesic and th e y m ig h t even f i n d him. in a m e n ta l
h o s p ita l.
".
She d ro v e i n t o Bozeman t o a young p a s t o r and h i s f a m ily and from
t h e r e im m e d ia te ly c a l l e d th e s h e r i f f ' s o f f i c e a t N ew p o rt, O reg o n , f o r in ­
f o r m a tio n .
They h a d fo u n d t h e c a r and w ere a b o u t t o c o n ta c t t h e f a m ily .
They h a d n o t s e e n K ev in .
The f a t h e r was c o n ta c te d and t h e d e c i s i o n was made
t o . m e e t in P o r t l a n d th e n e x t d ay .,
They d ro v e t o Newport w h ere th e y fou n d
k in d n e s s , c o o p e r a tio n , and c o n c e rn f a r b ey o n d th e c a l l o f d u ty i n th e c o u n ty
and s t a t e law o f f i c e r s .
H e re i s w h at th e y p i e c e d 't o g e t h e r o f K e v in 's a c t i v ­
i t i e s b e f o r e com m unicating w ith them .
On th e e l e v e n th o f O c to b e r h e q u i t ■h i s jo b in Bozeman,.
The t h i r t e e n t h
of. O c to b e r (S u n d ay ) he l e f t Bozem an,. a f t e r t r y i n g t o p e rs u a d e ' a f r i e n d t o go
w ith h im , w ith t h e i n t e n t i o n o f e x p lo r in g o l d m ines and p r o s p e c ti n g in th e
— 19 A rizona-N ew M exico-T exas a r e a .
The f o u r t e e n t h o f O c to b e r he s to p p e d t o buy-
s u r p lu s camp g e a r n e a r S a l t Lake C i t y , U tah .
A r t i c l e s i n - t h e c a r , mud, a
s k e tc h fo u n d , and th o r n s i n th e t i r e c o n firm e x e c u tio n o f t h i s p l a n .
Some­
t h i n g d i s i l l u s i o n e d K evin ( r e a s o n n o t e s t a b l i s h e d ) and he th e n b eg an a lo n g
t r e k o f 6000 m i le s .
T h is t r i p in c lu d e d a s t o p a t P u n ta G o rd a, F l o r i d a -
e s t a b l i s h e d d e f i n i t e l y by a s e r v i c e s t a t i o n o p e r a t o r b e f o r e t h e jo u rn e y t o
O regon b eg an .
K evin and t h e c a r a p p e a re d on th e West C o ast on th e s e v e n th ,
o f November in N ew p o rt, O regon.
On th e n i n t h o f November h e g a s s e d up and
a s k e d some q u e s ti o n s o f a b u sy s t a t i o n o p e r a t o r .
He lo o k e d a s i f he h a d b een
on th e b e a c h d ig g in g — b a r e f o o t e d and w e t, th o u g h th e day was c o l d .
e a r l y m o rn in g .
T his was
The w e a th e r in t h i s a r e a d u r in g t h i s tim e o f t h e y e a r and
d u rin g t h i s p a r t i c u l a r w eek w ould b e e x tre m e ly d e p r e s s in g t o one u se d t o a
d r i e r c lim a te — w ild h ig h w in d s and c o ld r a i n in t o r r e n t s c h u rn e d t h e p o u n d in g
s u r f t o a d e a fe n in g , r o a r . .
‘•
The c a r was o b s e rv e d by a home ow ner who l i v e s a t a v a n ta g e p o i n t
above th e s c e n ic t u r n o u t on O t t e r C re s t Loop d e s c r ib e d in K e v in ’s l e t t e r .
K evin p a rk e d and m e d ita te d s e v e r a l h o u r s ; a t t e n t i o n was drawn t o him b e c a u se
to w a rd noon he ra n up and o b s e rv e d th e r o a d m ile a g e m a rk e r, r a n down th e r o a d
a s h o r t w ay, and th e n r e t u r n e d t o h i s V olksw agen,
he p u t th e key i n th e h u b c a p , e t c . )
( i t may b e a t t h i s p o i n t
He was l a s t o b s e rv e d by th e same, home-,
ow ner dogbr o t t i n g to w a rd Depoe Bay some two m ile s away.
To t h i s m an’s-
k n o w le d g e , K evin n e v e r r e t u r n e d t o h i s v e h ic le ., - -The l e t t e r h a d '-to be m a ile d
b etw een 1 2 :3 0 an d 1 :0 0 P.M. t o b e a r t h e p o s tm a rk i t h a d .
t h e hom eow ner’s o b s e r v a t i o n s .
T h is checks w ith
The p o s t m i s t r e s s i d e n t i f i e d th e . l e t t e r , s i n c e
•
..
i t was stam p ed on t h e w rong s id e o f th e e n v e lo p e w ith tw o a i r m a i l sta m p s.
- 20 AU cam ping g e a r and p e r s o n a l b e l o n g in g s , in c lu d in g i d e n t i f i c a t i o n
WERE IEET IN THE CAR INTACT.
T h ere was an u n e x p la in e d Cl can o f w et' san d on
t h e p a s s e n g e r s i d e and h i s l a r g e p i s t o l was m is s in g .
The S e a rc h
A u t h o r i t i e s .- - E v e r y b u s in e s s e s ta b l is h m e n t i n Depoe Bay w hich was open
on S a tu rd a y t h e n i n t h o f November was q u iz z e d by e i t h e r th e O f f i c e r o f th e
O regon S t a t e P o l i c e o r K e v in ’ s f a t h e r .
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s w ere m ade.
A p i c t u r e o f him w as show n; no o th e r
The t r a i l en d ed a t t h i s p o i n t .
The p o l i c e w ere
p e s s i m i s t i c s i n c e an u n i d e n t i f i e d y o u th w ould h av e .a h a r d tim e t r a v e l i n g w ith ­
o u t b e in g p ic k e d up f o r c h e c k in g d r a f t s t a t u s .
An " a l l p o i n t s b u l l e t i n " was
p u t o u t in O reg o n , W a sh in g to n , an d n o r th e r n C a l i f o r n i a — a l s o in A riz o n a .
Few c o u ld v i s u a l i z e s u c h a d r a s t i c s t e p a s s u i c i d e b u t th e y s e a r c h e d
th e w ild g o rg e c u t t i n g i n t o O t t e r C re s t L oop, and once d u rin g t h a t tim e th e
m o th e r h a d a f l e e t i n g , b u t ■s t r o n g , f e e l i n g t h a t Kevin was w atch in g - them .
When sh e r e p o r t e d t h i s , one o f t h e o f f i c e r s s a i d h e ’ d h a d t h i s f e e l i n g , to o .
Some s u g g e s te d he may h av e " s h ip p e d o u t and s h ip s a t N ew port w ere
ch ec k ed on th e e l e v e n th and t w e l f t h o f N ovem ber.
T h i s ' i n v e s t i g a t i o n s h o u ld
have b e e n c a r r i e d f u r t h e r b u t was n o t c o n s id e r e d a good p o s s i b i l i t y a t th e . '
tim e .
The p a r e n t s made a t r i p t o ' S a l t Lake t o v i s i t t h e M issin g P e rso n s
B u re a u .
They w ere a d v is e d t h a t t h i s ' was " a p a t t e r n " and t h a t h e w ould r e t u r n
i n a y e a r o r tw o .
They made many v i s i t s to . t h e ■p o l i c e .
F in g e r p r i n t's w ere
a tte m p te d from K e v in ’ s g u i t a r , and th e p o l i c e p ro m ise d t o i n s e r t a M issin g
P e rs o n n o t i c e i n th e P o l i c e B u l l e t i n o f th e M ontana B u reau o f C rim in a l I d e n ­
tific a tio n
and I n v e s t i g a t i o n a t D eer Lodge,. 'The FBI. s u g g e s te d t h a t t h e boy
h a d p ro b a b ly j o i n e d t h e m i l i t a r y i n some s e r v i c e u n d e r an assum ed name.
- 21 E a r l i e r vhen th e fa m ily i n t h e . c a s e s tu d y c o n ta c te d t h e FBI l o c a l
a g e n t , th e y fo u n d t h a t in f o r m a tio n on t h e c a se h a d .a lr e a d y b een r e c e iv e d b u t
i t d id n o t come w ith in t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a t t h a t tim e
b e c a u s e K evin was n o t o n ly o v e r 18 b u t a l s o h e had s e n t a l e t t e r o f " i n t e n t "
t o th e f a m ily .
L a t e r th e U. S . D i s t r i c t A tto r n e y , a c t in g on K e v in 's la c k
o f ,.resp o n se t o S e l e c t i v e S e r v ic e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e , a u t h o r i z e d th e FBI t o a c t i ­
v a te a se a rc h .
A d e t a i l e d amount o f in f o r m a tio n was th e n o b ta in e d from th e
fa m ily (summer 1965 ) i n p e r s o n a l in t e r v ie w b u t t h e r e h as b e e n l i t t l e
c o n ta c t
s in c e and no in f o r m a tio n g iv e n t o th e fa m ily a s t o w h at h as b e e n done.
fa m ily h a s h a d t o i n i t i a t e th o s e c o n t a c t s .
The
F i n g e r p r i n t s , alw ay s a c o n c e rn ,
w ere o b ta in e d d u rin g t h i s tim e fro m a lo c k e d e l e c t r i c g u i t a r b e lo n g in g t o
K ev in , w ith th e c o o p e r a tio n o f th e co u n ty s h e r i f f ’ s o f f i c e .
A p i c t u r e was
o b ta in e d by th e s h e r i f f a l s o t o i n s e r t a m is s in g p e r s o n s n o t i c e i n th e
M ontana B u reau o f C rim in a l I d e n t i f i c a t i o n , b u t th e fa m ily was n e v e r in fo rm e d
i f t h i s was d o n e.
The FBI s u g g e s t g o in g t o th e S o c ia l- S e c u r it y A d m in is tr a tio n and t h i s ,
t h e fa m ily d id .
A f te r c o n s id e r i n g th e "n eed " th e y in fo rm e d t h e fa m ily t h a t
a p e r s o n a l l e t t e r w r i t t e n and a d d r e s s e d t o K e v in 's name w o u ld b e fo rw a rd e d
t o t h e W ash in g to n , D.C. o f f i c e t o b e s e n t on t o th e l a s t r e p o r t i n g eurol c y e r
u n d e r K e v in 's s o c i a l s e c u r i t y a c c o u n t.
T h is a tte m p t a t l o c a t i n g 'h i m was
u n s u c c e s s f u l' as in f o r m a tio n r e c e iv e d from t h e A d m in is tr a tio n o f f i c e in H e le n a
in fo rm e d th e fa m ily t h a t h i s l a s t em p lo y er r e p o r t i n g was t h e g r o c e r y he was- .
w o rk in g f o r "when h e l e f t home.
A s o c i a l w e lf a r e w o rk er ( a f r i e n d ) a tte m p te d
th ro u g h a r e c i p r o c a l ag ree m en t w ith t h e S o c ia l S e c u r it y A d m in is tr a tio n t o
d e te rm in e K e v in 's w h e re a b o u ts an d h ad ,the same, f in d in g s r e p o r t e d . , The
- 22 r e s e a r c h e r i s in fo rm e d t h a t t h i s ag reem en t w ith s o c i a l w e lf a r e a g e n c ie s n o
lo n g e r e x i s t s .
Upon l e a r n i n g o f t h e i r M issin g P e rs o n s and I n q u ir y B u re a u i n 1967 ,
th e f a m ily i n t h i s c a s e c o n ta c te d th e W estern T e r r i t o r i a l H e a d q u a r te r s o f th e
S a lv a tio n Arnry an d r e q u e s te d h e l p .
S u b s e q u e n tly , an in q u i r y form (s e e
A ppendix C) was s u b m itte d and r e p o r t s o f p r o g r e s s have b e e n s e n t t o th e
fa m ily f r e q u e n t l y .
A m is s in g p e rs o n s r e p o r t w ith K e v in ’s p i c t u r e was a d v e r­
t i s e d in t h e War Cry and a copy was a l s o s e n t to th e f a m ily .
The F a m ily . — The f a t h e r l e f t N ew port in K e v in ’s c a r and e x p lo re d
a r e a s in A riz o n a and New M exico f o r s e v e r a l days w ith o n ly a s k e tc h y map
K evin h ad draw n.
The m o th e r d ro v e b a c k t o P o r t l a n d in d e s p a i r .
L i s a s ta y e d w ith f r i e n d s u n t i l t h e f a t h e r r e tu r n e d an d t h e m o th er
was r e l i e v e d f o r s e v e r a l days t o be a lo n e .
Many f r ie n d s v i s i t e d and w ere
h e l p f u l in g e t t i n g h e r t o ta lk - o f th e overw helm ing s i t u a t i o n .
O th e r s .— The p a t h e t i c l e t t e r and s t o r y was ta k e n t o p s y c h i a t r i s t s
and o p p o sin g view s fo u n d .
One e m p h a tic a lly s t a t e d t h a t t h i s l e t t e r d id n o t
mean s u i c i d e and o th e r s w ere p e s s i m i s t i c .
The p a r e n t s w ro te many l e t t e r s t o f r i e n d s whom th e y h a d known in t h e i r
t r a v e l s , w here K evin m ig h t be " f o u n d ."
- ■H elp came fro m a n o th e r q u a r t e r , t o o .
R ev eren d J a y h a d done some w ork
w ith th e S u ic id e P r e v e n tio n C e n te r in Los A n g eles and u rg e d th e f a m ily to
w r i t e a c a s e s tu d y t h a t he w o u ld fo rw a rd t o them .
T h is i s D r. Shheidman ’s
re p ly :
T h is i s i n ' an sw er t o y o u r p o ig n a n t l e t t e r o f
A p r il. 2.7., .
■ We h a v e , o f c o u r s e , no way of- knowing . . .
- 23 even from t h e e x t e n s i v e in f o r m a tio n w hich you
s e n t us . . . e x a c t l y w h at th e f a t e o f young
K evin W ellcome i s .
As we r e a d th e m a t e r i a l a
num ber o f l o g i c a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s ( some- more
h o p e f u l t h a n 'o t h e r s ) o c c u r . One i s . t h e young
Mr. W ellcom e i s a v ic tim o f am n e sia a n d . w i l l ,
som etim e i n th e f u t u r e , be r e s t o r e d " t o h i s
.. r i g h t m ind" an d w i l l r e t u r n t o h i s f a m ily .
A n o th e r p o s s i b i l i t y i s , a lth o u g h a d i s t r e s s ­
in g o n e , t h a t he i s a v ic tim o f f o u l p l a y ;
th e t h i r d p o s s i b i l i t y i s t h a t h e com m itted
s u i c i d e . T h is p o s s i b i l i t y i s g iv e n some
c re d e n c e by h i s n o te o f November 9 . The
f o u r t h p o s s i b i l i t y i s t h a t he h a s i n e f f e c t
co m m itted p s y c h o lo g i c a l s u i c i d e . . . t h a t
i s , t h a t h e h as chosen, t o d is a p p e a r from h is
fa m ily a n d , as i t w e r e , s t a r t l i f e o v e r. We
w o u ld b e l e s s th a n c a n d id i f we w ere o p en ly
o p t i m i s t i c in t h i s c a s e ; on t h e o th e r hand
we h av e s e e n some m ira c u lo u s t u r n s o f e v e n t s , .
We c e r t a i n l y j o i n w ith y o u and w ith th e fam­
i l y i n t h e i r e a r n e s t w ish e s and p r a y e r s t h a t
t h e i r young son who h ad so much t o l i v e f o r
w i l l h e fo u n d a l i v e and w e l l . P le a s e convey
t h e s e th o u g h ts t o Mr. and M rs. W ellcome f o r
us
I f t h e r e i s a n y th in g more t h a t we can d o , do
n o t h e s it a te to w rite to u s.
Yours v e ry s i n c e r e l y ,
Edwin S . Shneidm an , P h .D .
C o - P r o je c t D ir e c t o r
The p a r e n t s a l s o tu r n e d t o a C hicago= > trained g r a p h o lo g i s t and
member o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l G raphoanaiLysis S o c ie ty , l i v i n g in H e le n a ,
who com pared sp ecim en s o f K e v in ’ s e a r l i e r h a n d w ritin g w ith h i s l a s t
le tte r .T h e
re p o rt i s as fo llo w s :
The- l e t t e r in J a n u a ry i n d i c a t e d t h a t he was
b e g in n in g t o sk im th e s u r f a c e o f t h i n g s , n o t
d a r in g to do any r e a l a b s t r a c t t h i n k in g .
■P o s s i b l e d e p r e s s i o n , h u t' h e r e was a hoy who
was s u p e r s e n s i t i v e t o c r i t i c i s m s and s l i g h t s
■ ^"D o cto r o f L e t t e r s Newsweek, December 1 1 ,.1 9 6 7 , p p , 9 0 -9 2 .
-
21*
-
t h a t many tim e s he im a g in e d . He f e l t tre m e n ­
dous h u r t s t h a t l e d t o a show o f y an ity -. He
m ust h av e s a i d t o h i m s e l f , " I d o n ’t t h i n k t h a t
anyone c a r e s v e r y much f o r me s o I w i l l h a v e '
t o b u i l d u p a w o rld f o r m y s e l f .” K evin was
b a s i c a l l y an im p u ls iv e p e rs o n w ith h e a r t
in v o lv e m e n t i n a l l h i s d e c is io n -m a k in g . Thus
he c o u ld n e v e r be c o m p le te ly o b j e c t i v e ab o u t
a n y th in g . H is th o u g h t o f s u i c i d e w o u ld n o t
h a v e b een p r e m e d ita te d . . . . I b e l ie v e t h i s
boy was b e s i d e h im s e lf and w an ted t o make a .
d r a s t i c change b u t I do n o t t h i n k t h a t t h e r e
was s u i c i d e in h i s m ind. I t h i n k he w anted,
t o g e t f a r , f a r away and t o l i v e a sim p le
l i f e an d t o t r y to f i n d h im s e lf . He may o r
may n o t w is h t o come b a c k .
I do n o t t h i n k t h a t t h i s boy f e l t h e h a d b een
r e s p e c t e d o r t h a t he h ad m easu red up t o o th e r
p e rs o n s ,im p o rta n t i n th e l i f e o f h i s p a r e n t s .
T h is i s a p r e t t y h a r d t h i n g t o l i v e w ith and
h i s n o te and h i s w r i t i n g b o th i n d i c a t e t h a t
he i s s i n c e r e in t h i s b e l i e f . He d e s p e r a t e - ■
I y n e e d e d a s s u r a n c e t h a t he was lo v e d and
re s p e c te d ,
I am s u r e . . . th e p o l i c e w i l l b a c k me up
in t h i n k in g t h a t t h i s to y d id n o t commit
s u i c i d e b u t j u s t p la n n e d t o d is a p p e a r . L et
u s h o p e in h i s m a tu rin g y e a r s t h a t he w i l l
r e a l i z e t h a t a l l p a r e n t s make m is ta k e s b u t
th e y do t h e b e s t th e y can a t th e moment
. . . even, th o u g h in th e minds o f t h e i r
c h i ld r e n . . . f e e l th e y w ere h an d ed a "raw
d e a l . " May th e f u t u r e c o n firm w hat .I h av e
ju s t w ritte n .
L o u ise M. AbelG ra p h o a n a ly st
■ ■
A ssu re d t h a t i n h a n d w r itin g sp ecim en s t h e r e was n o t a s u ic i d e
syndrom e-,■b u t t r a i t s
t a i n th e id e a .
a r e lo o k e d f o r t h a t w ould p e rh a p s, cau se one t o e n t e r ­
H ow ever, n o t any one s e t o f t r a i t s w ould i n d i c a t e a s u i c i d e
ty p e p e r s o n .
"
•
F am ily A djustm en t
At f i r s t t h e r e w ere,m any t e a r s .
w helm ing and u n e x p e c te d .
G r i e f f e e l i n g s w ere o f t e n o v er­
The m o th e r c o u ld n o t s l e e p , b u t p r a y e r h e lp e d .
- 25 The v i s i t t o N ew port h a d a n ig h tm a r is h q u a l i t y and sh e a v o id e d K e v in ’s room
and s e e in g h i s b e lo n g in g s .
The d e c is io n was made t o hav e t h e f a t h e r s e l l
K e v in 's c a r b e f o r e he r e t u r n e d t o Bozeman from A riz o n a ,
B ut c o n t r a s t e d . t o
th e f i n a l i t y o f d e a th , t h e r e i s hope a n d , a l s o , th e o p p o r tu n ity f o r a c t i v i t y .
P s y c h o lo g ic a lly and e m o tio n a lly th e y a l l w ith d re w , e s p e c i a l l y L is a ,
L i t t l e s o c i a l l i f e was i n i t i a t e d , and many p e o p le who t h e y knew th e y d id n o t
t a l k t o a b o u t t h i s n o r d id th e y com m unicate t h i s c r i s i s w h ich th e y .h a d f a c e d
in w r i t i n g t o many o t h e r s .
The m o th e r f e l t a g r e a t d e a l o f h o s t i l i t y t o ­
w ard th e i n s t i t u t i o n o f th e c h u rc h b eca u se , l i t t l e
q u a rte r.
c o m fo rt came f r o m - th is -
The h u sb a n d and m ost o f th e fa m ily w ould n o t , d isc u ss., th e s i t u a t i o n
w ith h e r , b u t i t was alw ays t h e r e .
S p i r i t u a l l y , t h e r e i s alw ays co m fo rt f o r th o s e who s e e k an d th e fam­
i l y f e e l s t h a t s p i r i t u a l p e r c e p t i o n s and u n d e r s ta n d in g s h a v e in c r e a s e d .
The
m o th e r say s two o t h e r s t r i k i n g , t h i n g s h av e h ap p en ed — f e e l i n g a g r a d u a l lo s s
o f c o n c e rn o v e r w h at p e o p le t h i n k o r h av e th o u g h t ab o u t t h e i r c r i s i s and
o th e r, m a tte r s and f e e l i n g a lo s s o f th e f e a r o f d e a t h , w h ich i s a g r e a t f r e e ­
dom.
,Many o f t h e f a m i l y 's f r i e n d s h i p s h av e been d eep en ed an d th e y .have
fo u n d p e r s o n a l l y t h a t many m ore p e o p le h av e e x p e r ie n c e d t h i s b a f f l i n g p ro b ­
lem th a n th e y c o u ld e v e r im a g in e . - To p a r a p h r a s e C u b er, "The fam ily, whose,
(s o n ) h a s gone away o f te n co m m itted no -o v e rt o f f e n s e - y e t t h e i r w o rld o f
hone c o l la p s e d upon them . T h is i s a h u r t f u l t h i n g ; t h a t one t h i n k s he knows
.
' „ 17
th e re a s o n s i s s m a ll, c o m fo r t; th e f a c t w o n 't go away.
I ? John F. C uber and Peggy B, H a r r o f f , The S i g n i f i c a n t A m ericans
(New Y ork: A ppIet o n -C e n tu r y , A f f i l i a t e o f 'M e rid ith P r e s s ,
- 26 A n a ly s is of C r i s i s - C om parison w ith L i t e r a t u r e
The Boy,
R eferring-.."back t o D r. S hneidm an’s p o s s i b i l i t i e s s e t f o r t h , S u lliv a n
w r i t e s , " I f th e m a in te n a n c e .o f c e r t a i n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c p a t t e r n s o f i n t e r - ,
p e r s o n a l b e h a v io r depend f o r t h e i r s u p p o r t on s i g n i f i c a n t o t h e r s , th e n to
a l t e r t h e c o m p o sitio n o f any p e r s o n 's community o f s i g n i f i c a n t o th e r s i s th e
m o st d i r e c t and f r a s t i c way o f a l t e r i n g h i s
’p e r s o n a l i t y ’ ."^®
T h is r e f e r e n c e
t o " p s y c h o lo g ic a l s u i c i d e " i s an o p in io n s h a r e d by some d o c to rs and n u r s e s
f a m i l i a r w ith th e c a s e .
Schwab and V eed er w r i t e , " I t i s one o f th e s u r p r i s i n g th i n g s in as tu d y o f th e a d o l e s c e n t p e r i o d t o f i n d o u t t h a t t h e r e i s n o th in g in th e
t y p e , k i n d , o r v ig o r o f th e c o n f l i c t ( t o a d a p t) t h a t w a r r a n ts p ro p h e c y in
r e g a r d t o th e ty p e o f e s c a p e e v e n t u a ll y h i t upon.
They go on t o p o s tu ­
la te :
. . . s u i c i d e s do o c c u r in th e a d o le s c e n t p e r i o d
. . . as a d i r e c t answ er t o a s e r i e s o f c irc u m ­
s ta n c e s an d s i t u a t i o n s i n l i f e w hich he d a re s
n o t f a c e . When th e e f f e c t o f th e m .on h i m s e l f .
and o th e r s becom es u n t h i n k a b l e , t h e r e i s n o o t h e r
way o u t f o r him th a n d is a p p e a r a n c e from l i f e . ■ The a n t i c i p a t e d f a i l u r e r a t h e r th a n a c t u a l f a i l ­
u re c r e a t e s th e s u i c i d a l m ind - ,th e f e a r o f th e
i m p o s s i b i l i t y o f a d ju s tm e n t r a t h e r th a n th e
a tte m p t and u n s u c c e s s f u l i s s u e .
T h ere w ere s o many q u e s ti o n s — f o r a lo s s i s enough o f an im p a c t—
b u t w ith o u t c l e a r r e a s o n f o r t h i s l o s s , i t seems e s p e c i a l l y c r u e l .
Why,
in a s e n s e , had" h e r e j e c t e d h i s fa m ily o r a t l e a s t made .th e d e c is io n to
18
'
A lf r e d R. L in d e sm ith and Anselm L. S t r a u s s , S o c i a l P sy ch o lo g y
(hew Y o rk :' H o l t , R in e h a r t and W inston,- 19?6) , p . 573.
^ S ch w ab ," The A d o le s c e n t, pp, 2 8 2 -2 8 3 .
- 27 le a v e ?
What d id K evin mean when he s a i d he h a d r u in e d h i s l i f e ?
Was i t o n ly
b e c a u se h e h a d d ro p p ed o u t o f s c h o o l o r w as i t so m eth in g d e e p e r t h a t th e fam­
i l y knew n o th in g a b o u t?
R a n d a ll F o s t e r s a y s t h e c h i l d w ith l i m i t e d a b i l i t i e s
t o cope w ith "d a n g e ro u s im p u ls e s " can ru n t o e s c a p e te m p ta tio n and s e a r c h f o r
sa fe r g ra tific a tio n .
O rrwas t h i s a fu g u e as s t u d i e d by S te n g e l— an a l t e r e d
c o n s c io u s n e s s ( o r n arro w ed ) w ith th e im p u lse t o w ander?
D id h e hav e a te n d ­
ency t o a d e p r e s s iv e r e a c t i o n o f th e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l ty p e t h a t S te n g e l ob­
s e r v e d in a l l t h e c a s e s h e s t u d i e d on p a t h o l o g i c a l w an d erin g ? ■ Or was h i s a
s e lf - p u n is h m e n t m o tiv e u n d e rg o in g h a r d s h ip s .- t h a t w ould seem t o g iv e th e ru n ­
away p o s i t i v e p l e a s u r e - i n t h i s a c t i v i t y as Lcwrey c o n j e c tu r e d in h i s s tu d y
o f runaw ays and nomads?
C ould h i s main m o tiv a tio n hav e b een a s e a r c h f o r
a d v e n tu re and an e f f o r t t o e x e r c i s e in d e p e n d e n c e , as fo u n d by W a tte n b e rg in
h i s m e a n in g fu l s tu d y i n D e tr o it ?
The p a ra d o x seems t o b e t h a t K e v in ’s
le a v in g M ontana was p la n n e d and to o k a g r a d u a l c o u rs e o f g a th e r in g in fo rm a- .
t i o n and g e a r .
H is d is a p p e a r a n c e from Depoe Bay seems t o b e an " i n s t a n t ­
aneous e s c a p e " th ro u g h w i s h - f a n t a s y , p e rh a p s f o r a -c h a n g e o f s c e n e and
freed o m from h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p s and r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s .
Or w h at he m ig h t hav e
f e l t was r e j e c t i o n by th e p a r e n t s o f h i s a m b itio n s o r f a n c i e d i n j u r i e s .
The' F a m ily
I t i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c f o r a ' fa m ily t o seek, e x p la n a tio n 's , i n t e r p r e t a ­
t i o n s and t o " r e th i n k " i n c i d e n t s , e s p e c i a l l y in tim e s o f p e r s o n a l c r i s i s
when t h e i n d i v i d u a l i s q u e s tio n in g h im s e lf ab o u t w here he i s g o in g and m ust
c o n s e q u e n tly c o n s id e r w here he h a s b e e n ,
20
V iv ia n Cadden w r i t e s .
The h a r d
.^R eu b en H i l l , " G e n e ric F e a tu re s o f FanuMies U nder S t r e s s , " C r i s i s
I n t e r v e n t i o n : S e l e c t e d R e a d in g s , e d . by Howard -I. Farad". (Hew Y ork: Fam ily
S e r v ic e A s s o c ia tio n o f A m eric a, 1965 ) , p . ^6.
- 28 -
work o f g r i e f X in dism em berm ent; t h a t m ust, be done i f one i s t o surm ount i t ,
th e "jo b o f rem em bering and h o ld in g up t h e im age o f th e one who i s g o n e , i s
o f re v ie w in g a l i f e and -Our r e l a t i o n s h i p t o i t ,
A c r i s i s o r h a z a rd o u s e v e n t can h a v e s e v e r a l m eanings f o r a fa m ily .
I t can be a t h r e a t w hich i s m et b y a n x i e t y , a lo s s o r d e p r iv a tio n met w ith
d e p r e s s io n , o r a c h a lle n g e m et w ith a m o b i liz a tio n o f e n e rg y an d p u rp o s iv e
p ro b le m -s o lv in g a c t i v i t i e s .
K e v in 's fa m ily p r o b a b ly e x p e r ie n c e d a l l t h r e e ,
f o r t h e r e was b o th a n x i e ty and d e p r e s s io n a t f i r s t , b u t l a t e r th e s e a r c h
p r o v id e d a t a s k - o r i e n t a t i o n and a c h a lle n g e .
I f r e a c t i o n t o g r i e f i s d e la y e d
o r d e n ie d , th e n a l a t e r r e a c t i o n may o c c u r w h ich can be d e s t r u c t i v e .
The k in d o f h e lp t h e p e rs o n n e e d s , D r. C aplan b e l i e v e s , i s e n com -- ■
agem ent from th o s e who a r e c l o s e s t t o him t o acknow ledge th e f a c t t h a t he i s
i n t r o u b l e and i t i s n a t u r a l t o be u p s e t by i t .
He g o es on t o p o i n t o u t t h a t
i t i s n o t o n ly o r d in a r y p e o p le who a r e a f r a i d t o " u p s e t" a p e rs o n in t r o u b l e
b u t a l s o d o c to rs and h o s p i t a l s an d o t h e r p resu m ab ly h e l p f u l a g e n c ie s o f te n
f a l l i n t o t h e same e a s y way.
. C aplan sa y s , t o o , t h a t t h e - outcom e o f a c r i s i s
i s n o t p r e d e te r m in e d . ■ "W hether a p e rs o n w i l l em erge s t r o n g e r o r w eak er i s
n o t n e c e s s a r i l y d e te rm in e d b y h i s
'c h a r a c t e r ' o r h i s 'i n n e r s t r e n g t h ' b u t by
th e k in d of. h e lp he g e ts d u rin g th e t r o u b l e .
■ - ' S u b se q u e n t a d a p tio n " fo r t h e fa m ily h a s p ro c e e d e d f r o m "!'th e e x p e rie n c e ,
o f p e r s o n a l sh o ck t o d i s o r g a n i z a t i o n , th r o u g h r e c o v e r y , and r e a d j u s t m e n t ,"
t h e c r i s i s p a t t e r n f o r m u la te d by Beuban H i l l ,
■
^ V i v i a n C adden, • " C r is e s in th e F a m ily ," A ppendix B in G e ra ld C aplan 's
P r i n c i n l e s o f P r e v e n tiv e P s y c h ia t r y (New Y o rk : B a s ic B o o k s, I n c . , 19610.
^ G e r a l d C a p la a , P r i n c i p l e s o f P r e v e n tiv e P s y c h ia tr y (New York:
B a s ic B o o k s, I n c . , 1 9 6 4 ).
-
29 -
A g en cie s I n v e s t i g a t e d
T h is p a r t o f th e s tu d y i s "a s u rv e y o f th e k in d s o f a g e n c ie s i n ­
v o lv e d in th e d i r e c t s e a r c h f o r m is s in g p e r s o n s .
A g en cies w h ich may a c t as
c o o r d in a tin g o r c o u n s e lin g a g e n c ie s upon " f in d in g " th e l o s t o r th e runaw ay
a r e s u r v e y e d .^
A m a ile d q u e s t i o n n a i r e s e r v e d as th e m a jo r s o u r c e o f i n f o r ­
m a tio n f o r c o m p a ra tiv e p u rp o s e s b u t , as i n d i c a t e d l a t e r in th e t e x t , some
agency p e r s o n n e l w ere in te r v ie w e d by lo n g d i s t a n c e te le p h o n e u s in g s e l e c t e d
q u e s ti o n s from t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e .
Out o f tw e n t y - s i x q u e s t i o n n a i r e s s e n t t o t h r e e d i f f e r e n t c a t e g o r ie s
o f a g e n c ie s , sev en re s p o n d e d c o m p le te ly .
The m a jo r ity re s p o n d e d by l e t t e r ,
o f te n e n c lo s in g c o n s id e r a b le p r i n t e d m a t e r i a l o r a b r o c h u r e .
O f e i g h t q u e s­
t i o n n a i r e s s e n t t o p r o f e s s i o n a l a g e n c ie s , o n e - h a l f w ere r e t u r n e d f o r la c k o f
a fo rw a rd in g a d d re s s o r b e c a u s e t h e owners, w ere r e c e n t l y d e c e a s e d .
P e rso n n e l
from a d e t e c t i v e agency an d a m is s in g seam en ’ s b u re a u w ere in te r v ie w e d by
te le p h o n e .
A f te r m a ilin g a q u e s t i o n n a i r e and a fo llo w -u p l e t t e r , an a tte m p t
was made t o c o n ta c t th e F am ily L o c a tio n S e r v ic e m e n tio n ed in - l i t e r a t u r e and .
recommended by T r a v e le r s A id ,- b u t no te le p h o n e l i s t i n g was fo u n d ,
- One p r i ­
v a te p r o f e s s i o n a l an d f o u r s o c i a l s e r v i c e a g e n c ie s d id n o t re s p o n d .
A to ta l
o f s e v e n te e n a g e n c ie s w ere s u rv e y e d from th e . d a t a r e c e iv e d ( T a b le l ) , .
A g en cies can be c a t e g o r iz e d i n t o law e n fo rc e m e n t, p r i v a t e p r o f e s s i o n ­
a l a n d -c o m m e rc ia l, and b e n e v o le n t s o c i a l s e r v i c e a g e n c ie s .
The ty p e o f - u n i t
( i . e . M issin g P e rs o n s S e c tio n o f th e C h ic a g o .P o lic e ) i s in . a l l c a se s an
^ A l i s t o f r e s p o n d e n ts and o t h e r a g e n c ie s m e n tio n e d in th e case
s tu d y w ith in f o r m a tio n ■f o r l o c a t i n g each a p p e a rs in th e a p p e n d ic e s . ' A lso
in c lu d e d in t h e a p p e n d ic e s a r e th e f o llo w in g m a t e r i a l s m e n tio n e d l a t e r i n .
th e t e x t : q u e s t i o n n a i r e , fo llo w -u p l e t t e r , r e p r e s e n t a t i v e in q u i r y fo rm s ,
and sam ple p ag e p o l i c e b u l l e t i n .
- 30 i n t e g r a l , b u t s e p a r a t e , f u n c tio n o f eac h agency w hich i s co n c e rn e d w ith
m is s in g p e r s o n s .
The one e x c e p tio n i s T r a c e r s Company o f A m erica w hich i s
d e v o te d e x c l u s i v e l y t o t r a c i n g m is s in g p e r s o n s .
U n ite d S eam en 's S e r v ic e i s
a s o c i a l s e r v i c e o r g a n i z a t i o n and does n o t m a in ta in a m is s in g p e rs o n s s e r ­
v ic e .
They recommended c o n t a c ti n g th e S eam en 's C hurch I n s t i t u t e .
TABLE I
AGENCY QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES
*1 "
C ateg o ry
of
Agency
Q u e s tio n ­ Q u e s tio n ­ L e t t e r U nable
n a ire s
n a ire s
or
to
Sent
Answered B ro ch u re L o ca te
Law E n fo rcem en t
T
It
3
P riv a te
P ro fe s s io n a l
8
I
I
B e n e v o le n t S o c ia l
S e r v ic e
11
3
3
T o ta ls
26
8
T
Out o f
B u s i­
n ess
2
2
2
2
Phone
No
I n t e r ­ R eply
v iew
I
I
I
b
2
5
M ost law e n fo rc e m e n t a g e n c ie s w ere found t o b e v e ry c o o p e r a tiv e ,
a lth o u g h t h r e e r e p l i e d w ith l e t t e r s i n s t e a d o f re s p o n d in g t o th e q u e s tio n ­
n a ire .
One r e s p o n d e n t b e l i e v e d in f o r m a tio n was w an ted p e r t a i n i n g t o t r a c i n g
e r r a n t h u sb an d s ( th e y do n o t engage in t h i s p r a c t i c e ) , and t h a t many q u e s­
t i o n s c o u ld n o t b e an sw ered b e c a u se " o p in io n s and d i r e c t an sw ers w ould n o t
b e in k e e p in g w ith th e p u rp o s e o f t h a t o r g a n i z a t i o n . "
2b
The r e a d e r w i l l n o te t h a t l a r g e c i t i e s may h av e s e p a r a t e m issin g
PU
L t . Thomas D a ly , M issin g P e rs o n s S e c t i o n , C hicago D ep artm en t o f
P o lic e
- 31 p e r s o n s s e c t i o n s o r b u re a u s r e l a t i n g t o th e l a r g e num bers o f p e rs o n s r e p o r t ­
e d m is s in g ( s e e p a g e s f o u r an d s i x f o r a d is c u s s io n o f t h e s e s t a t i s t i c s ) , in
m e tr o p o li ta n a r e a s »
O th e r e n fo rc e m e n t u n i t s o f c o u n t i e s s to w n s , and s t a t e s
a s s i s t e a c h o t h e r and e x e r t e v e ry e f f o r t t o c o o p e r a te and c o o r d in a te a c t i v i ­
tie s .
O u ts id e o f law e n fo rc e m e n t d u ti e s an d t r a f f i c c o n t r o l , s t a t e p o l i c e
an d highw ay p a t r o l s a r e s ta n d - b y u n i t s in h e l p in g w ith any k in d o f s e a r c h .
■ The M ontana C r im in a l B u reau o f I n v e s t i g a t i o n an d I d e n t i f i c a t i o n
c a r e f u l l y p o i n t e d o u t t h e i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f d is s e m in a tin g in f o r m a tio n , b u t
i t was n o t e x p la in e d how t h i s was o b t a i n e d . ; . U n less p u b l i c i t y i s g iv e n i n
n ew sp ap ers an d th r o u g h t e l e v i s i o n b r o a d c a s t s , th e in f o r m a tio n ab o u t a m is s ­
in g p e r s o n i n th e p o l i c e b u l l e t i n ( s e e th e sam ple p ag e i n A p pendix D) from
t h i s b u r e a u does n o t c i r c u l a t e anyw here e x c e p t i n law e n fo rc e m e n t o f f i c e s .
The re s p o n s e o f t h e F e d e r a l B u reau o f I n v e s t i g a t i o n was a b r i e f
l e t t e r and i t was i n d i c a t e d t h a t th e y a s s i s t u n d e r s p e c i a l c ir c u m s ta n c e s .
The S o c ia l S e c u r i t y A d m in is tr a tio n was n o t a ' p a r t o f t h i s su rv e y
b u t i t i s in c lu d e d ( s e e T a b le 2) as an agency in v o lv e d in th e .c a s e w o r k
e x p e r ie n c e .
T r a c e r s Company o f A m eric a, t h e l a r g e s t i n v e s t i g a t i n g agency in th e
c o u n t r y , was fo u n d ed in 192b and i s th e o n ly a g e n c y i n v e s t i g a t e d w hich s p e c ­
i a l i z e s in h u n tin g t h e m is s in g w ith s e r v i c e s i n a l l p a r t s o f t h e w o rld .
E. H. G o ld fa d d e r , t h e g e n e r a l m a n ag er, h a s b e e n q u o te d i n p o p u la r p e r i o d ! — •
c a l s by a t l e a s t tw o w r i t e r s , F r a n z m e ie r ^ and- A b ra m s o n ^ , o n .p ro b le m s o f.
m is s in g p e r s o n s , p a r t i c u l a r l y h u sb an d s who h a v e d is a p p e a r e d .
T ra c e rs --
2 5 p ra n z m e ie r , "H usbands - T e e n -a g e rs Leave",,
^ ^ M a r t in A bram son, "Why Men Up and L e a v e ," T h is Week M ag azin e,
J u l y , 1 9 6 7 , p p . 42-1*6.
"
TABLE 2
TYPES OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND KINDS OF ASSISTANCE GIVEN IN SEARCH FOR MISSING PERSONS
Agency
County
S h e riff
U n it
P u rp o se
S e r v ic e R endered
Answer
L o c a l D ep artm en t
Law E n fo rcem en t
A ccept n e e d i f in j u r i s d i c t i o n Q u e s tio n ­
n a ire
M e tr o p o lita n A reas
B u reau o f M issin g
P e rs o n s
L o ca te and i d e n t i f y
unknown p e rs o n s
S p e c ify and l i m i t k in d s o f
c a s e s a c c e p te d
Q u e s tio n n a i re
A ll f i e l d work byy o u th o f f i c e r s
A ttem p t t o l o c a t e any
r e g a r d e d as b o n a f id e
m iss in g p e rs o n s
L e tte r
Law e n fo rc e m e n t
S p e c ify and l i m i t k in d s o f
c a s e s a c c e p te d
Q u e s tio n nai re
S ta te P o lic e
E n fo rcem en t o f a l l
s t a t e law s
E x e rt e v e ry e f f o r t t o
l o c a t e m is s in g p e rs o n s
Q u e stio n ­
n a ire
Highway P a t r o l
T r a f f i c law e n f o r c e ­
ment
A s s is t o th e r a g e n c ie s in
s e a r c h f o r m is s in g p e rs o n s
T elephone
In te rv ie w *
Mont. B u reau o f
Grim. I n v e s t ,
and I d e n t.
S ta te
C o ll e c t and d is s e m in ­
a te in f o r m a tio n on
c r i m i n a l s ; m iss in g
p e rs o n s
P u b lis h p o l i c e b u l l e t i n s
w ith in f o r m a tio n ; f u r n is h
blo o d h o u n d s on r e q u e s t
L e tte r
FBI
L o ca l I n v e s t i g a t o r
A s s is t under s p e c ia l
c irc u m s ta n c e s
F i l e o f m iss in g p e rs o n s in
I d e n t. D iv ., W ash in g to n , D .C.
L e tte r
S o c ia l S e c u r it y
Admin i s t r a t i o n
L o c a l O f f ic e
I n d i v i d u a l c a se
d e te r m in a tio n
L e t t e r a c c e p te d t o be f o r ­
w arded t o m is s in g p e rs o n
Casework
E x p e rie n c e
C ity P o lic e
New York C ity
C hicago
Youth D i v i s i o n ,
M issin g P e rs o n s
S e c tio n
S a l t Lake Ci ty D e te c tiv e B u reau
S ta te
Oregon
Montan a
^ R e p o rte d by p e r m is s io n o f O f f i c e r G a r r ic k , Bozeman, M ontana
**
33
■'='
a d v e r t i s e i n su ch p e r i o d i c a l s as t h e A m erican B a r Ass o c i a t i o n J o u r n a l f o r
l o c a t i n g " h e i r s , l e g a t e e s , w i t n e s s e s , s t o c k h o l d e r s , p r o p e r ty o w n ers, d e b to rs
and o t h e r s . "
To i n i t i a t e a r e q u e s t f o r s e r v i c e s th e fa m ily m ust w r i t e t o
t h e agency and an in q u i r y form ( s e e A ppendix C) w i l l be r e t u r n e d , o r th e y
m u st s u b m it to a p e r s o n a l i n t e r v i e w .
C o n ti n e n ta l D e te c tiv e S e r v i c e 's o w n er, F ran k B arth o lo m ew , s t a t e d in
th e te le p h o n e i n t e r v i e w t h a t h i s agency h a s ta k e n a l l k in d s o f c a s e s o f
d e t e c t i v e w ork b u t s p e c i a l i z e s i n m is s in g p e r s o n s and p a r t i c u l a r l y runaw ay
h u sb an d s and w iv e s .
As an agency th e y have, b een a b le t o h e lp many f a m ilie s -
w ork o u t d o m e stic p ro b le m s .
Many o f th e s e p r i v a t e d e t e c t i v e a g e n c ie s a r e
o p e r a te d by fo rm e r p o l i c e o f f i c e r s .
The C r e d it B u reau o f G a l l a t i n County a l s o h a s a fo rm e r c h i e f o f
p o l i c e , and th e r e s e a r c h e r fo u n d in an in t e r v ie w w ith him t h a t t h i s agency
i s a b le t o t r a c e p e o p le who h av e s k ip p e d o u t owing a c c o u n ts t o l o c a l c r e d i t ­
o rs a lm o s t anyw here in t h e w o rld .
T h is i s done th ro u g h c o o p e r a tin g w ith
n a t i o n a l a g e n c ie s and t h e i r i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n n e c tio n s .
J u s t by c o n t a c ti n g -
th e fo rm e r em p lo y er ( c r e d i t o r h a s t o w r i t e f o r incom e t a x in f o r m a tio n ) o r
a b a n k (h e may b e h o ld in g a tim e c o n t r a c t and i s r e q u ir e d t o a d v is e them o f
h i s i n t e n t i o n s ) t h e agency i s o f te n a b le t o " s k i p - t r a c e " t h e d e b to r .
C r e d it
B u reau s a r e r e a d i l y u s e d by law e n fo rc e m e n t, and f e e - c h a r g in g p r o f e s s i o n a l
a g e n c ie s as s o u r c e s o f in f o r m a tio n on th o s e who h av e d is a p p e a r e d .
(S ee -
T ab le 3)
M is s in g p e r s o n s a r e s o u g h t and
r e p o r t s s u b m itte d t o th o s e m aking
p e r s o n a l a p p l i c a t i o n ( s e e A ppendix C f o r in q u i r y form )' o r in re s p o n s e t o ■
r e q u e s ts from th e S a l v a t i o n A rm y's T e r r i t o r i a l M issin g P e rs o n s and I n q u ir y
- 3h B u reau .
T h is d e p a rtm e n t s e r v e s as a c l e a r i n g h o u se f o r a l l i n q u i r i e s o r i g ­
i n a t i n g o u ts id e th e t e r r i t o r y from th e e n t i r e " S a lv a t io n Army w o r ld ."
TABLE 3
TYPES OF PRIVATE PROFESSIONAL AND COMMERCIAL AGENCIES AND KINDS OF
ASSISTANCE GIVEN IN SEARCH FOR MISSING PERSONS
Agency
T r a c e r s Company
o f A m erica
C o n tin e n ta l
D e te c tiv e S e r v ic e
U n it
P r i v a t e l y owned
P r i v a t e l y owned
C r e d i t B u reau o f
G a l l a t i n County
M erchant owned
P u rp o se
To t r a c e m is s in g p e r ­
so n s o f a l l k in d s in
a l l p a r t s o f w o rld
I n v e s t i g a t e s any s i t ­
u a tio n s
To t r a c e p e o p le who
le a v e and owe l o c a l
c r e d i t g r a n to r s
S e r v ic e
R endered
On r e q u e s t and pay­
ment o f f e e
S p e c i a liz e i n s e a r c h ­
in g f o r m is s in g p e r -
S k i p - t r a c i n g ; coop­
e r a t e w ith n a t i o n a l
a g e n c ie s
Answer
Q u e s tio n n a ir e
T elep h o n e I n te r v ie w *
L e t t e r and i n t e r ­
view
^T elep h o n e in t e r v ie w w ith F ran k B arth o lo m ew , D ir e c t o r .
T h e ir p u rp o s e i s n o t o n ly to s e a r c h f o r th e m is s in g b u t a l s o th e y
r e n d e r e x t e n s i v e s e r v i c e s in r e u n i t i n g f a m i l i e s and f r ie n d s by a f f e c t i n g
r e c o n c i l i a t i o n s , c o u n s e lin g f o r t h e good o f a l l , and h e lp in g t o s e t t l e a l l
k in d s o f fa m ily p ro b le m s .
th e p u rp o se o f th e i n q u i r y .
I t does d is c u s s w ith t h e i n d i v i d u a l , when lo c a t e d
I t h e lp s th e fa m ily u n d e r s ta n d why th e in d iv ­
i d u a l may h av e l e f t and in some c a s e s why h e may n o t w ant t o r e t u r n .
It
a l s o h e l p s b o th th e fa m ily and t h e i n d i v i d u a l t o p r e p a r e f o r t h e r e t u r n .
The A m erican N a ti o n a l Red C ross s t a t e s t h a t m a jo r d i s l o c a t i o n s o f
p e o p le c a u s e d by w ar and s i m i l a r u o h ea v a ls h av e p ro d u c e d a c o n tin u in g n e e d
f o r l o c a t i n g r e l a t i v e s o r c lo s e f r i e n d s .
Through a F o re ig n L o c a tio n I n q u ir y
-
35 -
S e r v i c e , S e r v ic e t o M i l i t a r y F a m ilie s i s a p a r t o f th e - p ro g ram th ro u g h w hich
th e agency c a r r i e s o u t i t s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o se rv ic e m e n and v e te r a n s and
t h e i r d e p e n d e n ts an d t o d e p e n d e n ts o f d e c e a s e d se rv ic e m e n and v e te r a n s i n
c o m m u n ities.
The te r m ’’v e te r a n " in c lu d e s a l l p e r s o n n e l who hav e s e r v e d a t
any tim e in any o f t h e com ponents o f th e arm ed f o r c e s o f t h e U n ite d S t a t e s .
T h is s e r v i c e i s i n i t i a t e d and c a r r i e d on th ro u g h Red C ross c h a p te r s w hich
h a n d le i n q u i r i e s f o r p e r s o n s i n th e c h a p t e r community s e e k in g t o l o c a t e
r e l a t i v e s o r c l o s e f r i e n d s i n f o r e ig n c o u n t r i e s and e n d e a v o r t o l o c a t e p e r ­
s o n s b e in g so u g h t b y o t h e r Red C ross s o c i e t i e s th r o u g h o u t t h e w o rld .
In
t h e r e c e n t Y e llo w s to n e e a r th q u a k e d i s a s t e r , th e Red C ross was th e em ergency
o f f i c i a l r e p o r t i n g agency w h ich p a s s e d a lo n g in f o r m a tio n and m essag es on th e
d i s l o c a t e d and c o o p e r a te d w ith t h e s h e r i f f ' s o f f i c e and a l l o th e r s in v o lv e d
in e x te n d in g a s s i s t a n c e .
27
T r a v e le r s A id A s s o c ia tio n o f A m erica h as e i g h t y - s i x s o c i e t i e s i n
many c i t i e s i n th e U n ite d S t a t e 's , C anada, and th e Commonwealth o f P u e r to
R ic o .
I t o f f e r s a p ro g ra m o f a s s o r t i v e casew o rk and c o u n s e lin g t o c l i e n t s
i n c r i s i s s i t u a t i o n s a n d , on o c c a s io n , i t does t r y t o l o c a t e a m is s in g p e r ­
son.
B u t th e e x p e r ie n c e o f eac h s o c i e t y may b e d i f f e r e n t and t h e r e i s no
s e t p a t t e r n in t h e o v e r a l l o r g a n i z a t i o n f o r t h i s k in d o f s e a r c h .
S eam en 's Church I n s t i t u t e m a in ta in s a T r a c e r ’s S e r v ic e b u t i t i s
p r i m a r i l y a s o c i a l s e r v i c e i n s t i t u t i o n — home and h o t e l — f o r seamen.." A fa m ily
o f a m is s in g m e rc h a n t seaman makes, an in q u i r y an d r e c o r d s o f t h e I n s t i t u t e
a r e ch ec k ed as w e l l as in f o r m a tio n so u g h t from t h e U n ite d S t a t e s C oast
^ M r s . Rqy B e r g , D i r e c t o r o f th e l o c a l Red C ross C h a p te r a t - th e
tim e o f t h e Hebgen Lake E a rth q u a k e D i s a s t e r , A ugust 1959.
- 36 G uard.
S e m i-a n n u a lly in J a n u a rjii and J u l y , M issin g P e rs o n s b u l l e t i n s a r e s e n t
t o v a r io u s s e a m e n 's a g e n c ie s ( i . e , u n io n s , s h ip p in g c o m p a n ie s, C o n s u la te s ,
and S eam en's Homes) i n a l l p a r t s o f t h e w o r ld ( s e e A ppendix C).
The C olum bia B r o a d c a s tin g S ystem r e p o r t e d t h a t on th e A rt L i n k l e t t e r
d ay tim e .House" P a r ty p ro g ram th e y do n o t s e a r c h f o r m is s in g p e r s o n s — o n ly
m is s in g h e i r s .
They b r o a d c a s t a S to rjr on th e a i r and w hen, and i f , an h e i r
i s fo u n d th e y p u t him in to u c h w ith t h e a t t o r n e y hand].in g t h e e s t a t e . . T h at
ends t h e i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y .
H u c k le b e r r y 's f o r Runaways does n o t. lo o k f o r m is s in g p e r s o n s , b u t
th e y a r e a u n iq u e o r g a n iz a ti o n i n t h a t th e y w ork w ith a v e ry s p e c i a l i z e d
age group (13=17) o f runaw ay a d o l e s c e n ts .
They a tte m p t t o h e lp t h e te e n ­
a g e r f a c e h i s p ro b le m s r e a l i s t i c a l l y , e s p e c i a l l y t h a t o f r e l a t i n g t o a d u l t s .
They t r y to e f f e c t r e c o n c i l i a t i o n w ith th e p a r e n t s ( c o n t a c t m ust b e made
o n ly by th e t e e n - a g e r by h i s own d e c is io n ) an d fo llo w -u p a g e n c ie s a r e
recom m ended t o f a m i li e s i n th e home s i t u a t i o n a f t e r c o u n s e lin g w ith them
in San F r a n c is c o . (S ee T a b le 4)
An agency u s u a l l y d e f in e s w hat th e y .mean by a m is s in g p e r s o n by i n ­
d i c a t i n g th e k in d s o f c a s e s th e y w i l l a c c e p t.
a c c e p t a l l k in d s o f . c a s e s .
S m a lle r p o l i c e u n i t s seem t o
L a rg e m e tr o p o lita n M issin g P e rs o n s B ureaus
d e s ig n a t e o n ly j u v e n i l e c a s e s ( u n d e r 1 8 ) a r e a c c e p te d ; o r c a s e s in v o lv in g
s u s p i c io u s in v o l u n ta r y d is a p p e a r a n c e s w h ich 'm ay i n d i c a t e f o u l p l a y ; o r u n - ■
e x p la in e d a b se n c e s w h ich m ig h t b e due t o d ro w n in g , s u i c i d e , s e n i l i t y o r
m e n ta l c o n d itio n s -.
C ases n o t' a c c e p te d a r e th o s e who h av e announced t h e i r
i n t e n t i o n o f le a v in g due t o fa m ily d i f f i c u l t i e s , t h e i r a b s e n c e i s c o n s i s t e n t
:
w ith th e p a t t e r n o f l i f e , o r l e g a l o r c r im in a l c a s e s . , (S e e T a b le 5)
-
-
TABLE k
TYPES OF BENEVOLENT SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND KINDS OF ASSISTANCE GIVEN IN SEARCH FOR MISSING
PERSONS
Agency
U n it
P u rp o se
S e r v ic e R endered
Answer
S a lv a tio n Army
M is s in g P e rs o n s B u reau
T e r r i t o r i a l H eadquar­
te rs
To s e a r c h f o r m iss in g
p e rs o n s
To r e u n i t e , r e c o n c i l e , coun­ Q u e s tio n ­
s e l , and s e t t l e fa m ily
n a ire
p ro b lem s
A m erican Na­
t i o n a l Red
C ross
F o re ig n I n q u ir y Loca­
t i o n S e r v ic e
S e r v ic e s f o r m i l i t a r y
v e te r a n s an d depend­
e n t s — em ergency
L o c a te m is s in g p e rs o n s
th ro u g h a l l c h a p te rs
w o rld w id e
L e tte r
T r a v e le r s Aid
In d iv id u a l S o c ie tie s
86 i n U n ite d S t a t e s ,
C anada and P u e r to
Ri co
Each s o c i e t y d e te rm in e s
own a c t io n s r e g a r d in g
m is s in g p e rs o n s
L e tte r
Seam en's
Church
In s titu te
T r a c e r 's S e r v ic e
To t r a c e m is s in g
seam en o f th e
m e rc h a n t s e r v i c e
W orldw ide co v e ra g e by
s e m i-a n n u a l b u l l e t i n s
T elep h o n e
I n te r v ie w *
Q u e s tio n ­
n a ire
A rt
L in k le tte r
T.V . House P a r ty
To s e a r c h f o r
m is s in g h e i r s
B ro a d c a s t s t o r y
L e tte r
H u c k le b e rry ’ s
f o r Runaways
S o c ia l S e r v ic e
S p e c ia liz e d r e s i ­
d ence and r e f e r r a l
s e rv ic e
Many a g e n c ie s form ed coop­
e r a t i v e p r o j e c t t o c o n s id e r
r e a l i s t i c ap p ro ach t o run­
aways
L e tte r &
P rin te d
M a te r ia l
Q u e s tio n ­
n a ire
t e l e p h o n e in t e r v ie w w ith p e r s o n n e l
TABLE 5
DEFINITION OF THOSE MISSING PERSONS CASES ACCEPTED FOR SEARCHING AND THOSE NOT ACCEPTED, BY AGENCY
Agency
County
S h e riff
C itv
New York C ity
S a l t Lake C ity
. C hicag o
D e f i n i t i o n o f M issin g P e rso n
C ases A ccep ted
.All a r e c o n s id e r e d em ergency
cases
No c a s e s tu r n e d down i n j u r ­
is d ic tio n
One who i s r e p o r t e d m is s in g
from New Y ork C ity r e s i d ­
e n c e and i s :
U nder 1 8 , o r 18 and o v e r and
( l ) m e n ta lly o r p h y s i c a l l y
a f f e c t e d — h o s p i t a l may b e
r e q u i r e d ; (2 ) p o s s i b l e v i c ­
tim o f d ro w n in g ; (3 ) has
i n d i c a t e d i n t e n t i o n o f com­
m i t t i n g s u i c i d e ; o r ( 1O ab­
s e n t w ith o u t a p p a re n t
re a s o n u n d e r c irc u m s ta n c e s
i n d i c a t i n g in v o l u n ta r y d i s a n u e a ra n c e
P e rso n s f o r whom w ar­
r a n t s have been i s s ­
u e d ; w an ted f o r com­
m i t t i n g c rim e ; 18 o r
o v e r who v o l u n t a r i l y
le a v e s home f o r dom­
e s t i c , f in a n c ia l o r
s i m i l a r re a s o n s
No d e f i n i t i o n g iv e n
Only w here j u v e n i l e s a r e
in v o lv e d , o r s u s p ic io u s
c irc u m s ta n c e s — th e p o s s i ­
b i l i t y o f fo u l p la y ,
am n esia o r m e n ta l c o n d i­
ti o n s
C ases o f m is s in g h u s­
b a n d s , w iv e s , a lim o n y ,
c h ild su p p o rt or h e irs
B o n a fid e m is s in g p e rs o n s
A ll j u v e n i l e s and a d u lts
whose a b se n c e i s u n e x p la in ­
e d and i s a d e p a r tu r e from
th e norm , s e n i l e p e r s o n s ,
m e n ta lly i l l , and th o s e who
may b e i n n e e d o f h e lp
E rra n t husbands,
a d u l ts whose a b sen ce
was announced due t o
fa m ily d i f f i c u l t i e s o r
d is a p p e a ra n c e c o n s is ­
t e n t w ith p a t t e r n o f
l i f e o f th e m iss in g
C ases N ot A ccep ted
— 39 *»
O r g a n iz a tio n s f o r h i r e make' no d i s t i n c t i o n s and w i l l t i y t o t r a c e any
who a r e m is s in g .
C om m ercially owned c r e d i t b u re a u s s e e k t o t r a c e o n ly cre d ~ .
i t o r s who h av e " s k ip p e d ."
(S ee T ab le 6)
The S a lv a tio n . Army B u reau w i l l n o t become in v o lv e d i n d o in g d e te c ­
t i v e w o rk , s e a r c h f o r in d i v i d u a l s w a n te d by th e p o l i c e , o r s e a r c h f o r
i n d i v i d u a l s w a n te d f o r v i n d i c t i v e r e a s o n s , d iv o r c e , and s i m i l a r r e a s o n s .
The A m erican N a tio n a l Red C ross i s c o n c e rn e d w ith p e o p le l o s t .or
" d i s l o c a t e d " , as th e y d e f in e m is s in g p e r s o n s , i n w ars and s i m i l a r u p h e a v a ls
due t o c h a n g in g w o rld c o n d i t i o n s .
They h a v e r e c i p r o c a l'a g r e e m e n t s w ith
o t h e r s o c i e t i e s th r o u g h o u t t h e w o rld t o l o c a t e p e rs o n s s o u g h t.
T r a v e le r s A id and U n ite d S eam en's S e r v ic e o n ly i n c i d e n t a l l y h e lp
l o c a t e th e m is s in g .
Seam en’s Church I n s t i t u t e an d A rt L i n k l e t t e r t i y t o
l o c a t e o n ly m e rc h a n t seamen and m is s in g h e i r s .
When a t e e n - a g e r se e k s h e l p ,
a t H u c k le b e rry ’ s , p a r e n t a l c o n s e n t o f th e runaw ay i s n e e d e d i n . o r d e r t o
h o u se him .
(S ee T a b le 7)
„
T h ree a g e n c ie s h av e •a f f i l i a t i o n s o r c o o r d in a tin g a g e n c ie s w ith w hich
th e y can w ork i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y - ^ T h e S a lv a tio n Arng-, A m erican N a ti o n a l Red
C ro s s , and t h e c r e d i t b u re a u .
Seam en’ s C hurch I n s t i t u t e c o n d u c ts s e a rc h e s
i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y b u t th ro u g h u n r e l a t e d a g e n c ie s , b o th o f f i c i a l and co m m ercial.
T r a c e r s Company a d v e r t i s e t h a t th e y s e a r c h i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y . b u t do n o t c c o r - ..
d in a t e t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s w ith any o th e r, a g en c y .
v i t i e s i n t h i s ' co,u n t r y , t o o .
T h is i s t r u e o f t h e i r a c t i ­
Law en fo rc e m e n t, a g e n c ie s , s u c h .,a s th e New Y ork .
B u re a u ,, w ill" g iv e a s s i s t a n c e i f r e q u e s te d from p o l i c e d e p a rtm e n ts o f f o r e ig n
c o u n trie s .
(S e e T a b le 8)
I n i t i a l l y , a g e n c ie s m ust o b ta in a p h y s i c a l d e s c r i p t i o n ( s e e in q u i r y
TABLE 6
DEFINITION OF THOSE MISSING PERSONS CASES ACCEPTED FOR SEARCHING AND THOSE NOT ACCEPTED, BY AGENCY
Agency
S ta te
Oregon
D e f i n i t i o n o f M issin g P e rso n
C ases A ccen ted
Anyone who i s r e p o r t e d m iss in g
Cases N ot A ccep ted
W illin g t o a c c e p t r e s p o n s i b i l ­ Cases in v o l v in g a l i ­
i t y an d e x e r t e v e ry e f f o r t t o mony o r m is s in g h e i r s
l o c a t e a l l k in d s o f m iss in g
p e rs o n s e x c e p t :
M ontana H igh­ Any r e p o r t e d from an agency
s e e k in g h e lp
way P a t r o l
A ll k in d s
M ont. B u r. o f Those n o t m is s in g p e r s o n s a r e
Crim . I n v e s t , d e s ig n a te d f u g i t i v e s
and I d e n t.
A ll k in d s
U n ite d S t a t e s
FBI
S o c ia l S e c .
Admin.
P riv a te P ro f.
T ra c e r s Co.
o f A m erica
•
Ju d g ed i n d i v i d u a l l y
Anyone m is s in g
H usbands , w ives , adoI e s c e n t s ,
c h i l d r e n , a lim o n y , c h i l d s im­
p o r t , h e i r s , a lu m n i, s to c k ­
h o ld e r s
No d e s ig n a tio n made
C o n tin e n ta l
D e te c tiv e
S e rv ic e
Anyone m is s in g
M a jo r ity m a rria g e p ro b lem s
No d e s ig n a tio n made
C re d it
B ureau
Those who have moved
Ifho a r e c r e d i t o r s
Those who l e f t w ith no
d e b ts
TABLE 7
DEFINITION OF THOSE MISSING PERSONS CASES ACCEPTED FOR SEARCHING AND THOSE NOT ACCEPTED, BY AGENCY
Agency
C h a r i ta b le
S a lv a tio n
Army
D e f i n i t i o n o f M issin g P e rs o n
C ases A ccep ted
C ases N ot A ccep ted
The m is s in g
Works e s p e c i a l l y w ith f a m i li e s
D e te c tiv e , w an ted by
p o l i c e o r f o r d iv o rc e
o r v i n d i c t i v e re a s o n s
A m erican
Na t i on a l
Red C ross
M ajor d i s l o c a t i o n s o f p e o n le
c a u s e d by w ar o r s i m i l a r
uphe a v a ls
R e l a ti v e s and f r ie n d s o f m i l i t ­
a ry and v e t e r a n s ' f a m i li e s w ith
whom c o n ta c t has b een l o s t due
t o c h an g in g w o rld c o n d i t i o n s .
A lso c o o o e r a te s w ith s o c i e t i e s
th ro u g h o u t th e w o rld when p e r ­
so n s s o u g h t a r e th o u g h t to be
in th e U n ite d S t a t e s
W ill o n ly a s s i s t in
l o c a t i n g c i v i l i a n s in
em ergency s i t u a t i o n s
by f a c i l i t a t i n g commun­
ic a tio n s
T r a v e le r s
A id
The m is s in g
Try on o c c a s io n t o l o c a t e
m is s in g p e rs o n s b u t th e e x p e r­
ie n c e o f ea c h S o c ie ty may b e
q u ite d if f e r e n t
No s e t p a t t e r n
Seamen *s
Church
In s titu te
L o s t seamen
Only m erch an t seamen
A rt L in k l e t t e r T.V .
U n lo c a te d e s t a t e h e i r
Only m is s in g h e i r s
H u c k le b e r r y 's Runaway a d o le s c e n ts betw een
f o r Runaways th e ag es o f 13 and 17
Do n o t lo o k f o r m is s in g p e r s o n s ;
m is s in g m ust come o f own a c c o rd
U n ite d Searmen ' s S e r v ic e
S o c ia l s e r v i c e a g e n c y ; do n o t
m a in ta in m is s in g p e rs o n s s e r v i c e
- 1*2 -
TABLE 8
REPORTS BY AGENCIES ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATING
SOCIETIES, LAW-ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION, AND
SEARCHES CONDUCTED INTERNATIONALLY*
Agency
I n t e r n a t i o n a l O f f ic e s
o r C o o p e ra tin g S o c i e t i e s
County
S h e riff
C o o p e ra te w ith
I n t e m a t i on a l
Law E n fo rcem en t
C onduct S e a rc h e s
In te rn a tio n a lly
In any way th e y
can be o f h e lp
New Y ork C ity
B u reau o f
to s s i n g
P e rs o n s
T hrough r e q u e s t
o f p o l i c e d e p a r t­
m ent in v o lv e d
S a l t Lake
P o lic e
D epartm ent
No
Oregon S t a t e
P o lic e
On o c c a s io n we
e n l i s t a id o f
f o r e ig n a g e n c ie s
T r a c e r s Co.
o f A m erica
Yes
C r e d it B ureau C anadian and o v e rs e a s
o f G a l l a t i n a g e n c ie s
County
Sa lv a tio n
Arciy
N etw ork o f o f f i c e r s a b le
to s e a r c h e n t i r e w o rld
Yes
Am erican
N a tio n a l
Red C ross
Yes
Y e s , th ro u g h
w o rld w id e Red
C ross S o c i e t i e s
S eam en 's
Church
In s titu te
Y e s , th ro u g h un­
r e l a t e d a g e n c ie s
b o th o f f i c i a l
and com m ercial
*A11 a g e n c ie s n o t l i s t e d b e c a u s e an sw ers w ere n o t g iv e n
— I*3 —
form s i n A ppendix C) o f th e p e rs o n m is s in g and th e n i n i t i a t e r e g u l a r in v e s ­
t i g a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s f o r u n d e r ta k in g th e s e a r c h .
m ed ia u s e d by th e a g e n c ie s s t u d i e d .
T h ere i s a w id e v a r i e t y o f
The o n ly s o c i a l s e r v i c e agency l i s t i n g
s o u r c e s o f in f o r m a tio n was t h e S a lv a tio n Army and th e two p r o f e s s i o n a l
a g e n c ie s w ere T r a c e r s Company and C o n tin e n ta l D e te c tiv e S e r v ic e .
(S ee
T a b le 9)
TABLE 9
NUMBER OF AGENCIES REPORTING USE OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING MEDIA
TO EXPEDITE SEARCHING FOR MISSING PERSONS
Item s D e s ig n a te d
C h o ices on Q u e s tio n n a ir e
E m ployers
P o s ta l A u th o ritie s
O r g a n iz a tio n a l A f f i l i a t i o n s
D ire c to rie s
R e g is trie s
B u reau o f V i t a l S t a t i s t i c s
E m ig ra tio n R eco rd s
M erch an t M arine
S ch o o l E n ro llm e n ts
P enal I n s titu tio n s
M i l i t a r y L o c a to rs
S o c i a l S e c u r i t y A d m in ist ra tio n
Tax R ecords
N ew spapers
R adio
T e l e v is io n
O th e rs *
A tto rn e y s
C o ast G uard
C r e d it A gen cies
Employment A g en cies
M otor V e h ic le B u reau
B loodhounds
S h e r i f f 's P o sse
Government
Agency
P ro fe s s io n a l
Agency
3
2
3
3
3
3
2
2
3
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
U
k
3
2
2
2
2
2
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
-
I
I
I
S o c ia l S e r v ic e
Agency
3
2
2
I
TABLE 9— CONTINUED
Item s D e s ig n a te d
O th e r*
P o lic e C ir c u la r s and
B u lle tin s
W e lfa re A gen cies
T r a v e le r s Aid
O th e r Law E n fo rcem en t
A gencies
FBI
H o t e l s , M o te ls , H o s p i ta l s
D epots and C ar R e n ta l
A gencies
P r i v a t e R eco rd S o u rc e s
N e ig h b o rs and R e l a ti v e s
A d v e r tis in g i n th e War Cxv
P e r s o n a l H is to r y and
I n q u ir y Form
S eam en 's C hurch I n s t i t u t e
M issin g P e rs o n s B u l l e t i n
Governm ent
Agency
P ro fe s s io n a l
Agency
3
I
I
6
I
I
I
S o c ia l S e r v ic e
Agency
I
I
I
I
I
3
2
I
I
I
2
I
I
* S u g ^ e ste d in d a t a r e t u r n e d from a g e n c ie s .
R e p o rts o f th e p r o g r e s s o f th e s e a r c h t o f a m ilie s show t h a t th e
d e c is io n s t o r e p o r t a r e made by th e agency i n most c a s e s , d e p en d in g on
f a c t s d e v e lo p e d , r e s u l t s a c q u i r e d , o r n e c e s s i t y .
Only o n e , th e d e t e c ti v e
a g e n c y , r e p o r t s as o f te n as t h e fa m ily -would l i k e t o be in fo rm e d .
(S ee
T a b le 10)
S e a rc h e s a r e c o n tin u e d u n t i l t h e w h e re a b o u ts o f th e p e r s o n i s
d e te rm in e d , a l l p r a c t i c a l p r o c e d u r e s a r e e x h a u s te d , o r a d e c is io n i s made
by th e agency o r th e fa m ily to te r m in a te ( c l o s e ) th e c a s e .
(S e e T ab le 11)
Tlie a v e ra g e ex p en se t o a fa m ily who u s e s th e agency s e r v i c e i s a
f a c t o r o f p rim e co n c e rn t o th o s e in v o lv e d i n c r i s e s .
O b v io u s ly , fe e s w i l l
ra n g e t h e e n t i r e s p e c tr u m , d e fe n d in g upon w h e th e r th e ag ency m ust show a
TABLE 10
HOW OFTEH PROGRESS OF THE SEARCH IS REPORTED TO FAMILIES OF MISSIHG PERSONS*
Agency
F req u en cy o f R e p o rtin g P r o g r e s s o f S earch
County S h e r i f f
As o f te n as a d v is a b le
Hew Y ork C ity B u reau o f
M issin g P e rs o n s
W eekly, d ep en d in g upon n a t u r e o f c a se
S a l t Lake D e te c tiv e B u reau
As o f te n as i n v e s t i g a t i n g o f f i c e r f e e l s i s
n ec e ssa ry
O regon S t a t e P o lic e
When f a c t s a r e d e v e lo p e d w h ich a r e o f
in te r e s t
T r a c e r s Company o f A m erica
M o n th ly , o r when r e s u l t s a r e a c q u ir e d
C o n tin e n ta l D e te c tiv e
S e r v ic e
As o f t e n as t h e fa m ily w o u ld l i k e t o be
in fo rm e d
S a lv a tio n Army M is s in g
P e rs o n s B u reau
When new s e a r c h p r o c e d u r e s i n i t i a t e d
H u c k le b e r r y 's f o r Runaways
Runaway u rg e d t o c o n t a c t p a r e n t s
*A11 a g e n c ie s n o t l i s t e d b e c a u se no an sw ers w ere g iv e n .
• p r o f i t and a c c o u n t f o r a l l m anhours in v o lv e d i n a s e a r c h . ■ U n f o r tu n a te ly ,
m ost o r g a n iz a ti o n s i n t e r r o g a t e d w ere r e l u c t a n t t o g iv e a d e f i n i t e answ er
an d d e c l in e d t o r e p l y .
The S a lv a tio n Army a sk s $ 1 .0 0 f o r e n t e r i n g an
a d v e r tis e m e n t i n t h e War Cry and c h a rg e f o r u n u s u a l e x p e n s e s .
T ra c e rs
e s ti m a t e d c o s t s to ru n from $ 2 5 0.00 t o $ 1 5 0 0 .0 0 f o r a s e a r c h .
C o n tin e n ta l
D e te c tiv e S e r v i c e , h o w e v e r, quoted" $65.00. t o $ 7 5 .0 0 ’ a. day w ith t h e h o u r ly
s e r v i c e s o f th e i n v e s t i g a t o r an d a c a r .
( i.e ,
C harges by th e c a s e a r e much l e s s
f i n d i n g a p e r s o n a f t e r f i v e m o n th s' w ork - $ 500.00
S t a t i s t i c s show ing f in d s t o s e a r c h r a t i o s v a ry c o n s id e r a b ly from
25 p e r c e n t t o 99 p e r c e n t o f t h e c a se s s o lv e d — and th e s e are.'.m o stly
-
- h6 TABLE 11
REPORTS OF HO>7 LOKO THE AGENCY H I L CONTINUE A SEARCH*
Agency
L ength o f Time S e a rc h Remains A c tiv e
.
C ounty S h e r i f f
Some d e c is io n i s th e c a se h as b e e n made
New Y ork C ity B u re a u o f
M issin g P e rs o n s
U n t i l c lo s e d
S a l t Lake D e te c tiv e
B u reau
P e rs o n l o c a t e d o r u n q u a l i f i e d as m is s in g p e rs o n s
c a se
O regon S t a t e P o l i c e
VThereabouts o f p e r s o n d e te rm in e d
T r a c e r s Company' o f
A m erica
A ll p r a c t i c a l p r o c e d u r e s a r e ' e x h a u s te d
C o n ti n e n ta l D e te c tiv e
S e r v ic e
P e rs o n fo u n d o r d e c is io n o f fa m ily t o te r m in a te
se a rc h
C r e d it B u reau o f G a l l a t i n
County
C r e d i t o r fo u n d
.S eam en's Church I n s t i t u t e
A p p ro x im a te ly t h r e e y e a rs .
*A11 a g e n c ie s n o t l i s t e d b e c a u se no an sw ers w ere g iv e n .
a p p ro x im a te f i g u r e s . ■As i s
shown ( s e e T a b le 12) t h e r e i s a p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t
r e c o r d s a r e n o t k e p t i n s e v e r a l k in d s o f a g e n c ie s .
I n o r d e r t o f a c i l i t a t e s e a r c h e s , o p in io n s w ere a s k e d o f a g e n c ie s on
fo rm in g a n a t i o n a l c l e a r i n g h o u se o f i n f o r m a t i o n , com pulsory f i n g e r p r i n t i n g
and m aking s o c i a l s e c u r i t y in f o r m a tio n a v a i l a b l e .
add o t h e r id e a s on l e g i s l a t i o n .
O p p o rtu n ity was g iv e n t o
The s h e r i f f b e l i e v e d Biost p e o p le a r e n o t
f i n g e r p r i n t e d , b u t t h i s i s n o t c o n firm e d .
The S a lv a tio n A rm y-.suggested
t h a t maybe p e o p le s h o u ld b e r e q u i r e d to n o t i f y a u t h o r i t i e s o r p o l i c e "of
changes i n a d d r e s s " s i n c e , i f t h i s w ere d o n e , i t w ould c e r t a i n l y b e much
s in r p le r t o l o c a t e f o l k s . "
(S ee T a b le 13)
C
-
47-
TABLE 12
REPORTS OF HUMBER OF MISSING PERSONS FOUND COMPARED TO SEARCHES UNDERTAKENa
Agency
R a tio o f F in d s t o Number o f S e a rc h e s S t a r t e d
County S h e r i f f •
V ery good in a l l y e a r s
Nev Y ork C ity B u reau o f
M is s in g P e rs o n s
F o r. a l l y e a r s o v e r 99 p e r c e n t c lo s e d
S a l t Lake D e te c tiv e B u reau
No s t a t i s t i c s
O regon S t a t e P o lic e
No s t a t i s t i c s -=■ s e r v i c e t o p u b l i c
T r a c e r s Company o f A m erica
A p p ro x im ately 80 p e r c e n t 19 63 th r o u g h 1967
C o n tin e n ta l D e te c tiv e
. S e r v ic e
O v e r a ll 25 p e r c e n t
S a lv a tio n A rw M issin g
P e rs o n s B u re a u
1963 - 20.47 i n q u i r i e s ; 1075 fo u n d
1964 - •2 4 4 7 i n q u i r i e s ; 738 found
1965 - 2084 i n q u i r i e s ; 893 fo u n d 6
S eam en 's Church
. In s titu te
1963 - 4 2 ; 1964 - 39; 19&5 - 33;
1966 - 4 5 ; 1967 - 54 c
a A ll a g e n c ie s n o t l i s t e d b e c a u se no d a t a g iv e n ,
b
'
R e p o rt o n ly f o r th e W este rn T e r r i t o r i a l H e a d q u a r te r s ,
c 108 seam en ( g r e a t m a jo r it y i n t h e 6 0 ’ s ) a r e r e p o r t e d m is s in g in th e
J a n u a ry I , 1968 b u l l e t i n .
A lso s t a t e d : . 1 2 ,9 7 6 seam en l o c a t e d s in c e
J a n u a ry . 1920.
TABLE 13
AGENCIES REPORTING OPINIONS ON QUESTIONS OF FORMING A NATIONAL CLEARING HOUSE OF INFORMATION
OR ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION IN REGARD TO FACILITATING SEARCHES*
Agency
G a l l a t i n County
S h e riff
New York C ity
B u reau o f M iss­
in g P e rs o n s
S a l t Lake C ity
D e te c tiv e B u reau
Oregon S t a t e P o lic e
T ra c e rs Company o f
A m erica
C le a r in g House
In f o r m a tio n t o
Be S e t Up
Work w ith FBI and
C r im in ia l I d e n t i f i ­
c a tio n
Com oulsory
F in g e rp rin tin g
Yes
Yes
No
No
No o b je c tio n
No
Yes
Yes
In fo rm a tio n
from p o s t a l
a u th o ritie s
and a l l gov­
ernm ent
a g e n c ie s
Would A s s is t
No
Sal v a t io n Army
M issin g P e rs o n s
B ureau
S eam en's Church
In s titu te
O th e r
Most p e o p le a r e
Yes
No o b je c tio n
S o c ia l S e c u r it y
I n f o r m a tio n
Aval ! a b l e
Would a s s i s t
i f change o f
a d d re s s r e ­
q u ir e d
Yes
Yes
*A11 a g e n c ie s n o t l i s t e d b e c a u s e no answ ers w ere g iv e n .
Yes
CHAPTER V
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
When a fa m ily member d i s a p p e a r s , s e r i o u s and u r g e n t q u e s tio n s a r e
r a i s e d i n r e g a r d t o l o c a t i n g him..
T h is s tu d y was made in an attem p t- t o
p ro d u c e a f e e l i n g f o r t h e c o n fu s io n and f r u s t r a t i o n a ,fa m ily e x p e r ie n c e s
a t th e tim e- o f a c r i s i s —»a m is s in g member.
Much o f t h i s d i s o r i e n t a t i o n
o c c u rs b e c a u s e o f th e l a c k o f know ledge o f how t o p r o c e e d w ith a s e a r c h .
Then an i n v e s t i g a t i o n was c a r r i e d o u t t o d e te rm in e th e number o f
e x i s t i n g o r g a n iz e d a g e n c ie s^ -» k in d and ty p e —p u r p o r t i n g t o le n d a s s i s t a n c e
to f a m i l i e s i n t h e form o f s e a r c h a n d /o r c o u n s e lin g in t h e e v e n t o f a
m is s in g member.
The e x te n t- o f e a c h su ch a g e n c y ' s in v o lv e m e n t was e x p lo re d
and th e k in d s o f c a s e s e a c h a c c e p te d w ere d e f in e d .
T h is i n v e s t i g a t i o n was b eg an th ro u g h c o n ta c ts and s o u r c e s made
known th ro u g h in v o lv e m e n t i n th e c a se s tu d y a l r e a d y m e n tio n e d .
I t was
c o n tin u e d by means o f a s u rv e y o f l i t e r a t u r e w h ich c u lm in a te d i n th e d i r ­
e c t i n g o f q u e s t i o n n a i r e s , fo llo w e d up b y l e t t e r s and phone c a l l s , to t h r e e
c a t e g o r i e s o f a g e n c ie s : ( l ) g o v e rn m e n t; (2 ) p r o f e s s i o n a l o r - p r o f i t - o r i e n t e d ;
arid (3 ) c h a r i t a b l e o r n o n - p r o f i t .
. R esponse was v a r i e d in d ep th and d e t a i l .
T a b u la tio n s w ere made from'
t h e d a t a o b t a i n e d , b a s e d on some o f th e p a r a m e t e r s ' j u s t o u t l i n e d .
A d d itio n ­
a l in f o r m a tio n , made a v a i l a b l e by q u e s tio n n a ir e - r e s p o n s e , was l i s t e d f o r the-
-
50 -
u s e o f f a m i li e s in t h i s c r i s i s s i t u a t i o n , in c lu d in g su c h ite m s as m e d ia and
m ethods u s e d i n th e s e a r c h .
C o n c lu sio n s
The r e s e a r c h e r h a s s t a t e d t h a t t h e r e i s l i t t l e
on how to t r a c e a m is s in g p e r s o n .
docum ented e v id e n c e
T h ere i s much l e f t t o b e done in g a t h e r ­
i n g co m p reh en siv e d a t a t o c l a r i f y , f o r , t h e
f a m ily , p r o c e d u r e s t h a t s h o u ld
be i n i t i a t e d , fo llo v -X ip t h a t i s n e c e s s a r y , and c h o ic e o f a g e n c y , d ep en d in g
on w h e th e r' t h e one who h a s d is a p p e a r e d i s a c h i l d , an a d o l e s c e n t , a w if e
o r a h u sb a n d . ,
D is c lo s u r e by n in e re s p o n d e n ts o f i n t e r e s t i n t h i s r e s e a r c h i s
h e a rte n in g .
The w r i t e r f e e l s t h e re s p o n s e s o f th e a g e n c ie s w ere h a n d i­
cap p e d b y an in s tr u m e n t t h a t was n o t a d e q u a te f o r th e d i v e r s i t y o f th e
a g e n c ie s , even th o u g h th e y s h a r e d a common p u r p o s e .
Many who h av e l e f t home may w an t t o r e t u r n b u t th e y may f e e l tr a p p e d
i n t h e i r d e c i s i o n , e i t h e r th ro u g h p r i d e o r d e s p a ir.,
F raen k el p o in te d o u t
t h a t t h e r e a r e o n ly ab o u t 200 a y e a r who d is a p p e a r and a r e n o t " f o u n d ."
W hether o r n o t a f and Iy s h o u ld c o n tin u e a s e a r c h i s v o ic e d in a y o u th *s
p o ig n a n t l e t t e r t o L i f e as a ru n a w a y 's o p in i o n , "keep lo o k in g
I t m ig h t be d i f f i c u l t to a c c e p t b u t a fa m ily may h a v e t o a c c e p t
t h e c o n d itio n t h a t t h e " l o s t " p e r s o n may n o t even w ant h i s w hereaboutsre v e a le d .,, as w e l l as n o t w a n tin g t o r e t u r n . - One a g e n c y . The S a lv a tio n .ArmyB u re a u o f M issin g P e r s o n s , a c t s on t h i s p re m is e and th e f a m ily m ust a g r e e •
t o t h i s p o l i c y b e f o r e a s e a rc h i s s t a r t e d ( t h e y w i l l b e a s s u r e d o f th e
h e a l t h an d s a f e t y o f t h e a b s e n t member, o f c o u r s e ) . .
One o f th e p ro b lem s t h a t keeps r e l a t i o n o f s e r v i c e t o t h e cu sto m e r •
- 51from b e in g c o m p le te ly s a t i s f y i n g i s l a c k o f com m unication on w h at i s g o in g
on. and w h at i s b e in g a c c o m p lish e d b y t h e s e a r c h i n g ag en c y .
T h is was th e
e x p e r ie n c e o f t h e .fa n tily i n the* c a se s t u d y .
Recom m endations
The. p r e s e n t s tu d y s u g g e s ts s e v e r a l s p e c i f i c a r e a s o f r e s e a r c h n e e d e d
r e l a t i v e t o th e m is s in g p e r s o n s p r o b le m .. T h is s tu d y h a s a n a ly z e d t h e r o l e
p la y e d by a few a g e n c ie s o n ly ; t h i s i s a som ewhat l i m i t e d b u t r e p r e s e n t a ­
t i v e sam ple o f th o s e who a c c e p t r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t r a c i n g a p e rs o n who h a s
d is a p p e a r e d — and th o s e a g e n c ie s w h ich o f f e r l i m i t e d s e r v i c e s o n ly .
I n t e n s i v e an d e x t e n s i v e s tu d y and e x p e r im e n ta tio n a r e n eed e d in
t h e a r e a o f c r i s i s p ro b le m s an d " s t r e s s e r e v e n t s . "
T h e re was no r e s e a r c h
fo u n d on how a m is s in g p e r s o n s c r i s i s can b e u s e d to^pi-om ote th e l m o b iliz a ­
t i o n o f a fa m ily ? s s t r e n g t h s f o r r e c o v e r y .
B u t c e r t a i n l y t h i s can become
p a r t o f th e " ta s k " o f any h e lp in g a g e n c y , s i n c e i t i s th e q u a l i t y o f h e lp
a t th e s t r a t e g i c t i m e , r a t i o n a l l y d i r e c t e d , t h a t i s e f f e c t i v e .
These s k i l l s
i n c o r r e c t i v e i n t e r v e n t i o n can become p a r t o f t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f a l l h e l p in g
p r o f e s s i o n s , in c lu d in g th o s e who s ta n d re a d y t o a s s i s t when f a m i li e s a r e
u n e x p e c te d ly , f a c e d w ith th e unhappy s i t u a t i o n o f a m is s in g member.
E f f i c i e n c y i n c o n d u c tin g th e s e a r c h i s c r u c i a l , b u t p a r t o f th e
e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f an agency can become an e le m e n t alm o st m ore im p o r ta n t. ■
I f - p e rs o n s i n o r o u t o f h e lp in g a g e n c ie s a d o p t th e im p e r s o n a lity o f a .
" d e s k - s i d e m anner" o r h id e b e h in d p o l i c y o r o f f i c i a l i s m , p r o g r e s s w i l l n o t
b e made to w a rd th e r e a l h e lp t h e fa m ily n eed s , e i t h e r i n th e a n g u ish o f
t h e c r i s i s e v e n t i t s e l f o r -in th e o p p o r tu n ity o f f e r e d f o r c o u n s e lin g t h e .
fa m ily a f t e r t h e r e t u r n o f th e a l i e n a t e d member.
I t means becom ing more
52 s e n s i t i z e d and a l e r t t o t h e way th e fa m ily f e e l s i n t h i s t r a u m a ti c e v e n t.
I t means l e a r n i n g t o u n d e r s ta n d , as J o u r a r d 's m eaning i s i m p lie d , " r o le s
t h a t s ic k e n " and " t r a n s a c t i o n s t h a t h e a l ” a p p l i e d t o th e fa m ily p a r t i c i p a n ts and th e h e l p in g ag en cy .
28
Upon th e r e t u r n o f th e ru n aw ay , a fa m ily s h o u ld b e h e lp e d to
r e c o g n iz e t h e m eaning o f t h i s a l i e n a t i o n in th e r e l a t i o n s h i p .
P e rh a p s
i t may com pel a fa m ily t o fa c e h o n e s t f e e l i n g s and t o c l a r i f y t h e ■c o n fu s io n
an d d i s t o r t i o n s o f d e s t r u c t i v e e m o tio n s .
Then new b r id g e s o f u n d e r s ta n d in g
and em pathy can be b u i l t s o t h a t a member may n e v e r a g a in w an t t o " lo s e "
.
h i s f a m ily .
S in c e l e g i s l a t i o n i s n o t alw ays th e a n s w e r, p o s s i b l y b e n e v o le n t and
c h u rc h o r g a n i z a t i o n s n a tio n w id e (a s th o s e i n San F r a n c is c o w o rk in g w ith
many s o c i a l a g e n c ie s t o o r g a n iz e H u c k le b e r r y 's f o r Runaways) m ight la u n c h
on a t a s k o f d is s e m in a tin g in f o r m a tio n and i n i t i a t i n g t h e s u p p o r tiv e c o m -,
s e l i n g s o u r g e n tl y n e e d e d .
As a p o s s i b i l i t y , t h e S a l v a t i o n Army, w ith i t s '
y e a r s o f s u c c e s s f u l s e a r c h in g and p e r c e p t i v e w ork done i n r e c o n c i l i n g fam­
i l i e s , m ig h t d i r e c t t h e w ay.
They a lr e a d y h av e a c l e a r i n g h o u s e o f i n f o r ­
m a tio n and a n e tw o rk s e t up f o r i n v e s t i g a t i o n . and r e p o r t i n g .
T h is w ay, w ith a l a r g e in f o r m a tio n c e n t e r o p e r a t i n g , a g r e a t amount
I
*
o f .m if o f m ' s t a t i s t i c a l and p s y c h o lo g ic a l d a t a from many r e p o r t i n g ,.ag en cies
c o u ld 5be g a t h e r e d t o g e t h e r t o p r o v id e a co m p reh en siv e fram ew ork f o r a n a ly ­
s i s o f t h i s im p o r ta n t s o c i a l p ro b lem .
T h e -re a s o n why a n e r s o n le av es-h o m e' i s n o t a c a r t o f t h e p r e s e n t
------ " l i S-----------id n e y M. J o u r a r d ,
The T r a n s p a r e n t S e l f : S e l f - D i s c l o s u r e and
W e ll-B e in g ( P r i n c e t o n : D. V ariN ostrand C onpany, I n c . , 1 9 ^ ) .
'™
-
53 -
s t u d y , f o r t h i s i s a com plex s u b j e c t w hich h a s h a d some e x t e n s i v e r e s e a r c h .
B u t t h e r e i s a n e e d f o r much g r e a t e r p r o b in g t o d e te rm in e how f a m ily coun­
s e l i n g can b e u s e d e f f e c t i v e l y t o p r e v e n t t h e t r o u b l e d p e r s o n from u s in g
d is a p p e a ra n c e as a s o l u t i o n .
C o u n se lin g s e r v i c e s c o u ld becom e more o f a
p a r t o f th e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f th e h e lp in g a g e n c ie s .
One w r i t e r , F ra n z m e ie r
tias o f f e r e d some c l e a r d i r e c t i o n , f o r th e f u t u r e :
A n a t i o n a l c l e a r i n g h o u se o f in f o r m a tio n on
m is s in g p e r s o n s and a l s o a c o u n s e lin g s e r ­
v ic e have, b e e n s u g g e s te d . To g iv e t h e s e r v i c e
d r a m a t i c a p p e a l , i t m ig h t b e c a l l e d Runaways
Anonymous. P e o p le who f e e l p r e s s u r e s m o unting
who a r e ab o u t t o abandon t h e i r f a m i l i e s c o u ld
c o n s u lt th e c o u n s e lin g s e r v i c e . The m illio n s ,
who h a v e ru n away and r e g r e t t e d i t and th o s e
th e y l e f t b e h in d w ould a g re e t h a t i t ’s w o rth
a try .
^ F ra h z m e ie r, "H usbands - T e e n -a g e rs L e a v e ," p p . 6 -7
A P P E N D I X E S
A P P E N D I X
A
I
- 56 —
QUESTIONNAIRE
.I.
2.
What i s th e p u rp o s e o f y o u r, agency?
What a r e y o u r p o l i c i e s i n a c c e p tin g t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r b e g in n in g
a s e a r c h f o r a m is s in g p e rs o n ?
'
’ ' ■
______
'_______ __
W hat..kinds o f c a s e s a r e a c c e p te d by y o u r agency?
hu sb a n d s
' ____ c h i l d s u p p o r t
o th e r
w ives.
_ h e irs .
_adoles c e n ts
jd e te c tiv e
_chi ld r e n
_ p o lic e
alim ony
m e n ta l
U.
^fhat k in d s o f c a s e s a r e n o t a c c e p te d by y o u r agency?
hu sb an d s
ch i l d s u p p o r t
o th e r
_ h e irs
J fiv e s
ja d o le s c e n ts
J ie te c tiv e
_ c h ild r e n
jp o lic e
alim on y
m e n ta l
5.
Hovf i s
____ i n
by
P le a s e
6,
W ith w h at o t h e r o r g a n iz a ti o n s do y o u c o o r d in a te y o u r s e a r c h a c t i v i t i e s ?
Tc
Do y o u a l s o co n d u c t y o u r s e a r c h e s i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y ?
th e s e a r c h co n d u cted ?
p e rs o n
o t h e r means
e x p l a i n.
_________
y e s ____ no
8. ' I n w hat c o u n t r i e s o t h e r th a n th e U n ite d S t a t e s do y o u m a in ta in o f f i c e s ?
9c
10.
What p r o c e d u r e s a r e i n i t i a t e d when y o u u n d e rta k e a s e a r c h ?
W h a t.is t h e fo llo w up?
-
57-
11.
Check th e m ed ia o r d e v i c e s 'u t i l i z e d in f u r t h e r i n g y o u r s e a r c h :
em p lo y ers
____ p e n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s
p o s ta l a u th o ritie s
mi l i t a r y l o c a t o r s
____ o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a f f i l i a t i o n s
___ J S o c ia l S e c u r i t y A d m in is tr a tio n
di r e c t o r i e s
t ax r e c o r d s
'____ r e g i s t r i e s
n ew spapers
JS u re a u o f V i t a l S t a t i s t i c s
r a d io
^ e m ig ra tio n r e c o r d s
t e le v is io n
^M erchant M arine
o th e r
s c h o o l e n r o llm e n ts
12.
The i n i t i a l s t e p s t h a t a fa m ily o r an i n d i v i d u a l m ust t a k e i n r e q u e s ti n g
y o u r s e rv ic e s a r e :
.
.
.
.
13.
The a v e ra g e ex p en se t o a fa m ily who u s e s y o u r s e r v i c e s i s :
_____
14 . . A f t e r e n l i s t i n g t h e s e r v i c e s o f y o u r o r g a n i z a t i o n th e f a m ily i s
r o u t i n e l y in fo rm e d o f t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e s e a r c h th ro u g h r e g u l a r
re p o rts
y es
no
15.
I f y e s , how f r e q u e n tly ? ____ w eek ly
mo n th ly
on ly i f and when
r e s u l t s a r e a c q u ir e d . ( P le a s e e x p la in i f n e c e s s a r y )
16 .
Y our agency w i l l a c t i v e l y c o n tin u e a s e a r c h u n t i l ?
IT .
What I s y o u r a g e n c y 's r a t i o o f num ber o f m is s in g p e r s o n s fou n d com pared
w ith th e num ber o f s e a r c h e s u n d e rta k e n i n t h e f o llo w in g y e a r s :'
1963
1965
■ . 1967 '
1964.
• 1966
18.
19.
Would y o u r agency f a v o r th e id e a o f s e t t i n g up a N a ti o n a l C le a rin g
• House o f I n f o r m a tio n f o r t r a c i n g m is s in g p e r s o n s ?____ y e s
no
What l e s i s l a t i o n m ig h t be e n a c te d in t h e o p in io n o f y o u r agency in
r e g a r d t o f a c i l i t a t i n g s e a r c h e s f o r m is s in g p e r s o n s :
1 . F i n g e r p r i n t i n g f o r ev e ry o n e f o r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n p u rp o s e s ?
. ____ y e s •____ no
2 . R e le a s e o f s o c i a l s e c u r i t y in f o r m a tio n f o r c e r t a i n s t a t e d
a u t h o r i t i e s su c h as y o u r agency? ____y es. ____ no-.,.
3. O th er?
_______ _____________ ,______ ^ ______ L______ __ '_________ ,
-
58-
GMERAL- INSTRUCTIONS
I h a v e t r i e d t o make t h i s , q u e s t i o n n a i r e b r i e f . . Some q u e s tio n s a r e
c o n s t r u c t e d so as t o p e r m it y o u t o sim p ly ch ec k (
re s p o n s e ite m .
) t h e a p p r o p r ia te
T h ere ' may b e s ta te m e n ts t h a t r e q u i r e tw o o r more r e s p o n s e s .
I f t h i s i s t h e c a s e , p l e a s e p la c e a ch eck b e s i d e th e a p p r o p r i a t e re s p o n s e
ite m s .
Some o f t h e q u e s ti o n s r e q u i r e a w r i t t e n r e s p o n s e .
On t h e s e q u e s­
t i o n s , p l e a s e w r i t e in th e an sw er.
When y o u h a v e c a r e f u l l y co m p le te d th e e n t i r e q u e s t i o n n a i r e , p le a s e
p l a c e i t i n th e e n c lo s e d , s e l f - a d d r e s s e d e n v e lo p e and m a il i t t o me as
soon as p o s s i b l e .
Thank y o u .
.
-
59 -
QUESTIONNAIRE COVER LETTER
March ,2 0 , 19 68
D ear S i r s :
;
A m is s in g p e r s o n may p r e c i p i t a t e a c r i s i s i n th e fa m ily a n d , f o r
th o s e who fa c e t h i s e x p e r i e n c e , s e r i o u s and u r g e n t q u e s tio n s a r e r a i s e d
as t o w h at p ro c e d u r e s s h o u ld h e f o llo w e d ( o r i n i t i a t e d ) and w h at agency
s o u rc e s a r e a v a i l a b l e to h e lp th em .
P o l i c e i n t e r e s t i n m is s in g p e r s o n s h a s e v o lv e d o u t o f p u b l i c co n ce rn
f o r t h e i r w e lf a r e an d s a f e t y and p o l i c e d e p a rtm e n ts a r e assu m in g re s p o n s ­
i b i l i t i e s f o r s e r v i c e s i n t r a c i n g m is s in g p e r s o n s . O th e r a g e n c ie s a r e
s p e c i f i c a l l y o r g a n iz e d t o s u c c e s s f u l l y r e s o l v e many o f t h e s e c a s e s and
th e y a r e a b le t o d i r e c t f a m ilie s ' who s e e k h e lp i n l o c a t i n g a m is s in g
member.
As a g r a d u a te s t u d e n t a t M ontana S t a t e U n iv e r s it y an d w ith th e
a p p ro v a l o f D r. C la rk S w a in , my m a jo r p r o f e s s o r , I h av e ch o sen t o w r i t e
a M a s te r 's t h e s i s c o n c e rn in g th e p ro b lem o f t r a c i n g a m is s in g p e r s o n .
T h is w i l l b e r e l a t e d to s p e c i f i c a g e n c ie s , t h a t a r e o r g a n iz e d t o g iv e
co m p eten t a d v ic e and d i r e c t i o n t o th e f a m i l y 's s e a r c h .
W ith y o u r h e l p , I hope t o c o l l e c t and e v a l u a te in f o r m a tio n o f th e
ty p e w hich m ig h t b e u s e d i n a b r o c h u r e o r g u id e t o p r o v id e f a m i l i e s w ith
a c c u r a te in f o r m a tio n an d u n d e r s ta n d in g o f how t h e p o l i c e an d o t h e r
a g e n c ie s f u n c tio n to h e lp th e fa m ily i n t h e i r s e a r c h . W ould y o u p le a s e
c o m p lete t h e e n c lo s e d q u e s t i o n n a i r e and r e t u r n i t i n th e e n c lo s e d s e l f a d d r e s s e d e n v e lo p e no l a t e r th a n A p r il 2 , 1 9 6 8 .
I f t h e r e i s any in f o r m a tio n s o d e s ig n a t e d , i t w i l l b e h e l d in s t r i c t
c o n f id e n c e . A ls o , a b r i e f summary o f th e r e s u l t s w i l l b e s e n t a t y o u r
r e q u e s t.
Thank y o u f o r y o u r c o o p e r a tio n w ith o u t w h ich t h i s s tu d y w o u ld b e
im p o s s ib le .
Y ours v e ry t r u l y .
(M rs .) B .- K a th ry n -J o rd a n
E n c lo s u re
A P P E N D I X
B
I
-.61. APPENDIX B
AGENCIES SENT QUESTIONNAIRES
U n ite d S e r v ic e D e te c tiv e B u reau
A lb e r t R. V a l e r i a t i , D i r e c t o r
l6 o Broadway a t C o r tla n d t S t r e e t
New Y o rk , New Y ork 10017
T r a v e le r s A id A s s o c ia tio n
44 E a s t-.2 3 rd S t r e e t
New Y o rk , New Y ork 10010
T e le p h o n e : 212 254-1700
Jam es B. N olan
I n v e s t i g a t i v e and P r o t e c t i v e S e r v ic e s C o ., I n c .
7 E s is t. 42nd S t r e e t
New Y o rk , New Y ork 10017
A m erican Red C ross
(Moved - Not F o r a a r d a b I e )
1 7 th .a n d D S t r e e t s , N.W.
' W a sh in g to n , D. C. 20006
G ilm o re B u reau o f I n v e s t i g a t i o n
F am ily and M a rriag e C o u n se lo rs
S eam en 's Church I n s t i t u t e
HO W est 7 th
T r a c e r ’s S e r v ic e
San P e d r o , C H i f o m i a
25 S o u th S t r e e t
( i n o p e r a t i v e now)
New Y o rk , N ew Y orkT e le p h o n e : 212 269-2710
T ra c e rs - I n v e s tig a tio n s
I r v G ro s s , G e n e ra l M anager
■V anguard M in is tr y
1010 N o rth S t a t e
257 S outh S p r in g
C h ic a g o , I l l i n o i s
Los A n g e le s , C a l i f o r n i a
( i n o p e r a t i v e now)
Mefv G r i f f i n S h ra
■1293 F o u rth S t r e e t
C o n tin e n ta l D e te c tiv e S e r v ic e
New Y o rk , New Y ork
F ra n k M. B artholom ew
615 W ilcox B u ild in g '
P o r t l a n d , O regon
C a p ta in , C rim in a l D iv is io n
O regon S t a t e P o l i c e
T e le p h o n e : 503 226-6561
S ale m , Oregon
A A A A s s o c ia te d N a ti o n a l D e te c tiv e Agency
T e le p h o n e : 503 363-3125
1000 A u ro ra N o rth
' G a l l a t i n C ounty S h e r i f f
S e a t t l e , W ash in g to n
County J a i l
(Moved - No F o rw ard in g A d d ress)
.. Bozeman, M ontana
U n ite d Seam en’ s S e r v i c e , I n c .
T e le p h o n e : 406 586-2315
39 Broadway '.
T r a c e r s Company o f A m erica
New Y o rk , New Y ork •
515 M adison Avenue
T e le p h o n e : 212 422-4567
New Y o rk , New Y ork 10022
T e le p h o n e :'2 1 2 753-9030
-
62 -
C h ie f o f P e rs o n n e l' R e g i s t r a t i o n C e n te r
M a ritim e S e r v i c e , C o ast G uard H e a d q u a rte rs
1300 E a s t H.W. .
W a sh in g to n , D.C.
H u c k le b e rry *s f o r Runaways
I B r o d e r ic k S t r e e t
H a ig h t-A sh b u ry D i s t r i c t
San F r a n c is c o , C a l i f o r n i a
T e le p h o n e : kl5 62 6-1 8 8 6
C r e d it B u reau o f G a l l a t i n County
G a l l a t i n T r u s t & S a v in g s B a n k .
Bozem an, M ontana 59715
Telephone": Uo6 586 - 5U77
M issin g P e r s o n s , c /o C a p ta in o f D e te c tiv e s
S a l t Lake C ity P o l i c e D ep artm en t
k50 S o u th T h ir d E a s t
S a l t Lake C i t y , U tah S U lll
T e le p h o n e : 801 328-7222
B u re a u o f C rim in a l I n v e s t i g a t i o n an d I d e n t i f i c a t i o n
H e a d q u a r te r s , M ontana S t a t e P r is o n
P o s t O f f ic e Box 7
D eer L odge, M ontana 59722
T e le p h o n e : Uo6 8U6-1320
S p e c ia l I n v e s tig a to r
F e d e r a l B u reau o f I n v e s t i g a t i o n
F e d e r a l B u ild in g
Bozem an, M ontana 59715
T e le p h o n e : U06 586-2315
A rt L i n k le tte r V s House P a r ty
C olum bia B r o a d c a s tin g S ystem
T e l e v is io n C ity
H ollyw ood, C a l i f o r n i a
T e le p h o n e : 213 653 -U 600
C a p ta in J o s e p h M. Lynch
Hew York P o l i c e .B ureau o f M issin g P e rs o n s
2 Uo C e n te r S t r e e t
Hew Y o rk , Hew Y ork 10000
T e le p h o n e : 212 226-2000
L ie u te n a n t Thomas M. D aly
C hicago P o l i c e B u reau o f M issin g P e rs o n s
C h ic ag o , I l l i n o i s
60600
1121 S o u th S t a t e
T e le p h o n e : 312 922-U7U7
F am ily L o c a tio n S e r v ic e
Jaco b Zukerm an, E x e c u tiv e D i r e c t o r
31 Union S q u a re West
Hew Y o rk , Hew Y ork
A P P E N D I X
- 61» SEAMEN'S CHURCH IN ST IT U T E OF NEW YORK ; .
M ISSIN G SEAMAN
(PL E A SE PR IN T OR TYPE)
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.
F u l l Name o f M i s s i n g S e a m a n ______
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New Y o rk U, N-. Y.
.T e le p h o n e :
BOwling G reen 9-2710 .
-
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TRACERS COMPANY OF AMERICA
■ PERSONAL HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION
NAME IN FULL'
Form No. 30
( C o n f id e n t ia l )
•
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OTHER NAMES USED
LAST KNOW ADDRESS (v h e n )
OTHER KNOWN ADDRESSES (w hen)
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EYES ( c o l o r and c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s )
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EYEBROWS (s h a p e and c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s )
___________'
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WEAR GLASSES ( f i s o , w hat k in d ) _______ '
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- COMPLEXION ( d a r k , p a l e , f l o r i d o r s a llo w T
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NOSE ( s i z e , , s h a p e , or p e c u l i a r i t i e s ) __ _______
MOUTH ( s i z e and sh a p e )
TEETH ( c o n d i t i o n , f a l s e o r s o ld )
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CHIN AND LOWER JAW (s h a p e and c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s )
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SCARS ( i n j m y , s u r g e r y , o r b ir th m a r k s — l o c a t i o n )
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LEFT OR RIGHT HANDED '
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PHYSICAL CONDITION
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B U SIN E SS' o r PROFESSIO NAL"LICENSES HELD (w h en ' 'an d w h e r e )
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RELIGION_________ _______________ SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
PAST OR PRESENT MEMBER OF ANY ORGANIZATIONS, S O C IE T IE S , C LU BS, .UN IO N S,
LODGES, F R A T E R N IT IE S, E t c . ( w h e n a n d w h e r e )__ _____________________________ _____
MOTHER'S NAME
BANKING CONNECTIONS
___________FATHER'S NAME
. - 66 . REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS
INSURANCE ( w h e r e a n d ~ w h e n )
'
FAVORITE FOODS
FAVORITE SPORTS
HABITS ( s m o k e ) .
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OTHER RELATIVES ( t h e i r names and a d d r e s s e s )
-■ ■■ ■■■
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FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES ( th e ir " n a m e s and " a d d re s s e s')
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EVER EXPRESS A DESl-RE TO LIVE IN OTHER,PARTS OF THIS COUNTRY OR THE WORLD;
Use t h i s s p a c e f o r rem a rk s o r a d d i t i o n a l in f o r m a tio n . A tta c h 3 p h o to g ra p h s
o f t h e m is s in g p e r s o n and g iv e th e a p p ro x im a te d a te t h a t i t .w a s ta k e n .
A lso e n c lo s e a s p e c im e n 'o f h a n d w ritin g i f p o s s i b l e .
,
R e tu rn t h i s
MISSING PERSONS AND
P . 0 . Box
San F r a n c is c o ,
form t o
INQUIRY BUREAU ■ '
38H6
C a lif.
■ ■
■■/
'
CASE NO. '
THE SALVATION ARMY■INQUIRY FORM . .
(To e n a b le u s t o h e lp f i n d t h e p e r s o n y o u a r e - m aking
in q u i r y a b o u t, p l e a s e answ er a l l q u e s t i o n s . ' A ll
in q u ir ie s a re c o n f id e n tia l.
G ive m ore d e t a i l b y ­
l e t t e r i f p o s s ib le .)
RE: MISSING PERSON
FULL NAME ( u n d e r l i n e l a s t nam e)
NICKNAME OR ALIAS ( i f any) '
DATE OF BIRTH
■
,
■ PLACE . OF BIRTH
NATIONALITY
;
~ . . I NSURED?
•' , I N. WHAT.COMPANY?
CITIZEN -OF •
■~ MARITAL' STATUS
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
PERSONAL DESCRIPTION:
Sex
H e ig h t
' W eight
. B u ild
Eyes '
H a ir
■' Race
C om plexion
S c a rs
T a tto o Marks
D e fo rm itie s o r m annerism s by w h ich h e m ig h t b e re c o g n iz e d ?
E v er F in g e r p r i n te d ?
When?
EMPLOYMENT:
T rad e o r O c c u p a tio n
■ Name and A d d ress o f l a s t known .em ployer
Names. and A d d re s se s o f p r e v io u s em p lo y ers '
Where?
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Names and A d d re sse s o f U n io n s , C lu b s , e t c .
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S o c i a l S e c u r it y Number
I f S e a m a n ,-g iv e l a s t known r a t i n g
R ank, G rade o r R a tin g ■
Army, o r Navy S e r i a l Number
Has he r e c e iv e d V e te r a n s ' B e n e f i ts ?
At w hat V e te r a n s ' O f f ic e
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DATE LAST HEARD FROM
' In- P e rs o n
LAST KNOWN ADDRESS
REASON FOR GOING AWAY . ( i f known) ■ --V;. NAME OF-.,PASTOR'
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
CHURCH ADDRESS . . .
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NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY BE ABLE TO GIVE INFORMATION
CONCERNING MISSING PEISON
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FAMILY DATA ( l i s t n am es, ag es and a d d r e s s e s ) :
■■■
F a th e r
M o th e r' " '
..........
'
............
.........
' -.....................................
B r o th e rs and S i s t e r s
’
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I f M a r r i e d ( l i s t name and d a te o f b i r t h o f ) :
*
H usband o r W ife
'■ W if e 's M aiden Name
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Names o f C h ild re n
:
.........
L i s t P re v io u s M a rria g e s
, ---
WEAT- HAVE YOU DONE TO LOCATE PERSON? - '
"
MAY WE ADVERTISE IN "The War Cry" IF NECESSARY?.
'
BE: INQUIRER
FULL NAME ( u n d e r li n e l a s t name)
ADDRESS
TELEPHONE NUMBER
■
RELATIONSHIP T 0‘ MISSING PERSON REASON FOR INQUIRY
P lease-, q u o te t h i s num her .
in a l l c o rre s p o n d e n c e
"
■
-
-
- • SIGNATURE OF INQUIRER
.
P le a s e l i s t a l l ' Documents e n c lo s e d :
NOTE
'•
' DATE •
■.
'■■■• ... ' '
.
As t h e r e i s c o n s id e r a b le expense- i n c a r r y in g on - th is b ra n h o f o u r v o rk v e .. .
c h a rg e .a . s m a ll f e e o f $ 1 .0 0 w hich i n c lu d e s a d v e r t i s i n g i n The War Cry w hen'
n e c e s s a r y . I f t h e a p p l i c a n t i s u n a b le t o - p a y , t h e c a se w i l l b e a c c e p te d
f r e e o f c h a rg e . B e fo re we u n d e rta k e - t o do s p e c i a l work i n ' c o n n e c tio n w ith ,
t h e i n q u i r y , we m ust know i f y o u a r e a b le to" assiune f u r t h e r 'e x p e n d i t u r e . •
Such e x p e n d itu r e m ig h t in c lu d e i n s e r t i o n o f p h o to g ra p h w ith a d v e r tis e m e n t -.; .
in The War C ry , s e c u r in g o f G overnm ent, o r M u n ic ip a l c e r t i f i c a t e s , a d v e r t i s i n g
in l o c a l p a p e r s ', e t c . (Use a l e t t e r f o r e x tra ;' d e t a i l s ..)
A P P E N D I X
— TO —
SAMPLE PAGE POLICE BULLETIN
MONTANA STATE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL IDENTIFICATION AND INVESTIGATION
DEER LODGE, MONTANA
B u l l e t i n #2^5
8783
O c to b e r 1966.
MISSING PERSON- MINEOLA. KEW YORK
CATHARDTA BARISHC, WF, DOB: 1 0 /2 1 /4 9 , 5 , T " , 130 l b s . , brow n h a i r , brown
e y e s , d a rk co m p lex io n .
- MARKS& SCARS: P i e r c e d . e a r s .
S u b je c t w orked as a p a r t - t i m e s e c r e t a r y and may s e e k s i m i l a r em ploym ent.
S o c i a l S e c u r i t y No. 1 1 5 -3 8 -5 5 9 0 .
............
M issin g from home in V a l l e y S tre a m , New Y o rk , s in c e S ep te m b er 4 , 1966 . She
h a d $ 600.00 and co m p le te w ard ro b e in h e r p o s s e s s io n .
ANY INFORMATION, NOTIFY: POLICE DEPARTMENT, COUNTY OF NASSAU, MINEOLA,
NEW YORK 11501
8784
MESSING PERSON- WENATCHEE, WASHINGTON
SHARLENE VAN DE MARK, UFA, l 6 y e a r s , 5 '9 " , 165 l b s . , l i g h t brown h a i r , '
. .
brown e y e s . . W ears p l a s t i c rimmed g la s s e s .
She, i s b e l i e v e d t o be in com pany o f Jo h n F r a n c is A nthony R e y n o ld s , 30 y e a r s ,
St9 140 l b s . , brown e y e s , f a i r co m p lex io n . He i s a m a c h in is t by t r a d e and "
b e l i e v e d he w i l l c o n ta c t l o c a l C a th o lic C hurch f o r a h a n d o u t. S u b je c t
b e lie v e d , t o b e d r i v i n g 1950 F o r d , w h ite s te p van t r u c k w ith C o lo rad o
L ic e n s e T F -6750. R ey n o ld s r e p o r t e d l y a fem ale im p e r s o n a to r , b ack g ro u n d
i n d i c a t e s c a p a b le o f f o u l p l a y . He l e f t W e n a tch ee, W ash in g to n on 9 /1 5 /6 6 ,
p o s s i b l y h e a d in g f o r Nova S c o t i a , C anada. W a rra n t on f i l e c h a rg in g . R eynolds
f o r a b d u c tio n , b a i l $2500. TOLL EXTRADITE I F LOCATED, DETAIN JUVENILE GIRL'
FOR-HER CTO SAFETY, NOTIFY; DEPUTY,- DOSS PAYNE, J R .. SHERIFF'S OFFICE, ■
WENATCHEE. WASHINGTON
8785
BERNEIL TWEET.
M ESSIN G - K A L ISPE L L , MONTANA
(N o D e s c r i p t i o n )
$100. CO Reward f o r any in fo rm a tio n - le a d in g t o th e w h e re a b o u ts o f B e m e i l
T w eet. D riv in g 1963 F o rd S t a t i o n Wagon, 4 d o o r , b ro w n ish g re y i n c o l o r ,
M ontana l i c e n s e 7 -4 9 4 .
ANY INFORMATION, N O T IF Y : S H E R IF F 'S
O F F IC E . KALISPELL., MONTANA
LITERATURE CITED
A bram son, M a rtin . "Why Men Up and L e a v e ."
. p p . 42-U6.
T h is Week M ag azin e,. J u l y , 1967
" C r is e s i n th e F a m ily ."
A p p e n d i x B i n G e r a l d Ca p i a n ' s
P r i n c i p l e s o f P r e v e n ti v e P s y c h i a t r y . JTew Y ork: B a s ic B o o k s, I n c . ,
*
C adden, V iv ia n .
C a p la n , G e ra ld . P r i n c i p l e s o f P r e v e n ti v e P s y c h i a t r y .
B oo k s, I n c . , 1 9 ^
New Y o rk : B a sic
F o s t e r , R a n d a ll M; " I n t r a p s y c h i c and E n v iro n m e n ta l F a c to r s . i n . Running
Away From Home." A m erican J o u r n a l o f O r th o p s y c h ia t r y , XXXII .
(1962) , 486- 491 .
F r a e n k e l , F ra n z . M issin g . P e r s o n s : The Law i n , U .S . and E u ro p e .
O ceana P u b l i c a t i o n s , 1950.
New Y ork:
Franzm ei e r , S te p h e n A. "Why H usbands - an d T e e n -a g e rs Run Away from
Home." F am ily W eek ly , J u l y 2 3 , 1 9 6 7 , p p . 6 -7 .
H ild e b r a n d , Jam es A.
"Why R u n a w a y s L e a v e H o m e."
P o lic e S c ie n c e ,
LEV
(1 9 6 3 ) .
H i l l , Reuben. " G e n e ric F e a tu r e s o f F a m ilie s U nder S t r e s s . " C r i s i s
I n t e r v e n t i o n : S e le c te d R e a d in g s , e d . by Howard. J . P a ra d '.' New
York-: F am ily S e r v ic e A s s o c ia tio n o f A m eric a, 1965 .
J o u r a r d , S id n ey M.. The T r a n s p a r e n t S e l f : S e l f - D is c l o s u r e and W e ll-B e in g .
P r i n c e t o n : D. Van N o s tra n d Company, I n c . , 19°641
'
Low rey, Lawson G. "Runaway's and N om ads."
p s y c h i a t r y , I I ( 1 9 4 1 ) , 77 5 -7 8 3 .
A m erican J o u r n a l o f O rth o -
R in g o ld , E velyn S . "Why They Run Away From Home.."
■M ag a z in e , May 1 0 , 1 9 6 4 , p p . 6 3 -6 4 .
New. Y ork Times
R u b in , E r n e s t. "On M issin g P e rso n s and M issin g T a b u l a ti o n s . " - The
A m erican S t a t i s t i c i a n , X XIII ( O c to b e r , .1965 )» .pp. 33-367
Schw ab, S id n e y I . an d V e e d e r, B orden S . . The A d o le s c e n t: H is C o n f li c ts
and E s c a p e s . New Y o rk : D. A p p leto n and Company, .1929.
- 72 -
S heI lo w , R o b e r t: S champ, J u l i a n ; L iebow , E l i o t t ; N o r g e r , E l iz a b e th .
S uburban'R unaw ays o f th e 1 9 6 0 's . Monograph o f t h e S o c ie ty f o r .
R e se a rc h in C h ild D evelopm ent. S e r i a l 1 1 1 , V o l. 3 2 , 1967.
S t e n g e l , E. " F u r t h e r S tu d ie s on P a t h o l o g i c a l W an d e rin g ."
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