24 Chilling Messages People Left Before Going Missing

According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), over 600,000 people go missing every single year in the United States. And on any given day, there are about 90,000 active missing persons cases in the National Crime Information Center. While going missing or having a loved one disappear is a nightmare that no one ever wants to imagine, this issue sadly impacts almost everyone.

Thankfully, however, Missing People reports that the vast majority of individuals who disappear are found alive. In fact, 79% of children who go missing in the UK are found within 24 hours, and 90% are found within two days. Meanwhile, 86% of adults are located, safe and sound within 48 hours. 

As far as why so many people go missing, there are a variety of explanations. In the case of children, some run away due to conflicts or neglect at home. Others decide to run away while they're struggling with mental health issues. And adults tend to vanish for similar reasons. Many cite mental health issues, relationships breaking down, financial problems or attempts to escape violence as reasons why they went missing.

But unfortunately, there are sometimes more sinister issues at play. Kids may go missing due to trafficking or exploitation. And adults sometimes vanish because they were kidnapped or chose to end their own life. These horror stories are not incredibly common, but they are devastating for everyone involved. 

As many of us know from watching detective shows and true-crime documentaries, the chances of finding someone alive decreases significantly after they’ve been missing for 72 hours or more. Law enforcement experts told ABC News that the first few days are absolutely crucial because it’s easiest to follow up on leads when they’re fresh in people’s minds. Plus, if the missing person has been taken or is a vulnerable individual, the danger they're in will continue to increase as time passes.  

There are certain things that can help move an investigation along though, and media coverage can be a significant help. If the missing person’s photo is shared on news programs and spread all over social media, there might be thousands of people on the lookout for them, rather than just a few investigators and a dozen friends and family members. And contrary to popular belief, it’s not actually necessary to wait 12 or 48 hours to file a missing persons report. So if you know that something’s wrong, don’t hesitate to call for help.  

We sincerely hope that you never find yourself in a situation where a loved one has vanished. But if that nightmare does become a reality, the Gabby Petito Foundation recommends documenting everything. Write down all details that you can remember, and make note of phone calls, conversations, messages, locations they’ve recently been spotted, etc. And after filing a police report, go straight to social media. Spreading the word as quickly as possible can be extremely helpful.  

It’s also best to keep an open line of communication with investigators while searching for a missing person. Update them with any new information you might have, and stay up to date with their investigation. But don’t forget to take care of yourself. It can be extremely overwhelming and exhausting when you’re worried about a loved one’s wellbeing. But remember to lean on friends and family members for support, and prioritize your mental health.