Without a Trace: Long Term Missing Person Cases

More than 600,000 people go missing in the U.S. every single year according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). Even if 90% of them are found alive or their remains are recovered, that would leave around 6,000 who become a part of the long-term missing. So that number grows every single year.

 

Welcome to another episode of The Unlovely Truth. I’m your host, private investigator Lori Morrison. Join me for more true crime stories, where physical, spiritual, and emotional safety takeaways are waiting for us. If you are listening, I believe you have a unique calling—to become a different kind of PI, not a typical private investigator, but a person of impact!

 

This is Season 4, Episode 42. This week we’re going to talk about the growing problem of long-term missing people in the United States, highlight some cases, and I’ll give you ways that you can protect yourself and your loved ones. 

Every missing person case is a tragedy and collectively the issue has been called the nation's silent mass disaster. When we think of missing persons, the initial image that comes to mind might be a recent disappearance—a frantic search, news coverage, and community efforts to find the individual. But what about those cases where the passage of time hasn't brought closure? Where loved ones continue to grapple with uncertainty, not knowing the fate or whereabouts of their family or friends for months, years, or even decades?

As time passes, the public and media attention tends to diminish, reducing the resources and support available for continued search efforts. Families often experience prolonged emotional distress, with the uncertainty of not knowing whether their loved ones are alive or what might have happened to them.

We can’t forget that these long-term cases affect the families and communities involved.

The impact on families is profound. The ongoing emotional distress and ambiguity can disrupt their lives in so many ways—financially, emotionally, and psychologically. Many families are left in a perpetual state of limbo, unable to move forward, and yet not having closure. You have to re-evaluate so many life events. Do you have a vacation or wedding planned - do you postpone them?

 

The toll on mental health, relationships, and everyday functioning is immeasurable. 

These cases also affect communities, as unresolved cases erode trust in the justice and law enforcement systems, leaving communities feeling vulnerable and often overlooked.

Let’s take a look at four long-term missing persons cases and see if we can help find some answers for the families of Jason Washington from Columbia, Missouri, Warren County Jane Doe from Bowling Green, Kentucky, Lulaida Morales Sejalbo from Santa Clara, California, and Michelle Parker from Orlando, Florida. 

 

The Bible passage I chose for this episode is one I’m sure many of you are familiar with. 

Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV)

 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

To put Paul’s words into context, we have to remember that when he wrote this, he was living under house arrest. He understood what it was like to face an uncertain future. Hope seemed like a very far off thing.

 

It’s hard to imagine not being anxious about anything when our worlds have been turned upside down. But Paul isn’t asking us to do something superhuman - he’s simply encouraging us to replace the anxiety and fear we naturally feel in horrible situations with prayer. That’s how we can have a peace from God that we can’t even understand, and we don’t have to. As the old hymn says, we just trust and obey. That’s how we can have a peace that will allow us to hold onto hope. 

 

The families of the missing persons we talked about today need that so very desperately. I don’t know the families, but because of their situations I know they desperately need our prayers, and our help if we are in a position to give some. We certainly can all share this episode and someone who has answers to help solve these cases might come forward. 

Visit my website to access more episodes, read my blog posts, or check out ways you can financially support the podcast so that together we can impact more people, more families, and more communities. If you would like to contact me about booking me as a speaker, or ask about my consulting and investigative services, please email me at lori@theunlovelytruth.com. 

Bring Jason Washington Home Facebook page

 

You can submit an anonymous tip here

 

Learn more about Warren County Jane Doe

 

Check out the great work being done at NamUs

 

Find out how you can help with long term missing kids cases

 

If you have any information about the disappearance of Lulaida Morales Sejalbo, please call the Santa Clara Police Department at 408-615-4700

 

Check out her information at missingkids.org

 

Anyone with information about the disappearance of Michelle Parker is urged to come forward and contact Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).

 

Learn more at the Michelle Parker Missing Person Facebook page

 

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Learn more about safety on trust by reading my books How to Kick Fear to the Curb and In God We Trust: Everyone Else Gets a Background Check. And be on the lookout for my training guide, “Reclaiming Sanctuary: Enhancing Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Safety in Our Churches” being released this month!