Latest news with #NationalMissingandUnidentifiedPersonsSystem
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Illinois may update missing person database policy with bill in Statehouse
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A bill overhauling how police respond to a missing persons case is gaining traction in the State Capitol. The proposal would require law enforcement to accept any missing persons cases without any waiting period. Police would also be required to share fingerprints and any DNA they have on the subject with National Databases. Senator Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort), the bill's Senate sponsor, said if this bill passes, no missing persons case will be closed until they are reported and identified, as cases will no longer be closed due to an exhaustion of leads. He also argues more rules will help bring more missing people home. School bus seat belt bill passes Illinois House, heading to Pritzker 'This bill actually makes sure that number one, that they do utilize fingerprints and DNA, that they do report it in the National Database, and that postmortem they have to go ahead and submit the information within seven days of recovery of the body,' Hastings said. Hastings worked with the Cook County Sheriff's Office on the bill. Their office runs Missing Women's Project, which works to locate women who have been missing for at least three years. According to the Department of Justice's National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, Illinois has 461 open missing persons cases, 429 open unidentified persons cases and 93 open unclaimed persons cases. 'Bring Your Own New Clean Energy': a proposed fix for Illinois' power grid shortcomings draws criticism from manufacturers 'Minorities are disproportionately affected by this. Homeless people are affected by this. All of those people have families,' Hastings said. 'And they should know where their loved one is, especially if they are found.' The bill passed the Senate with unanimous support and now heads to the House of Representatives, where it's sponsored by Rep. Bob Rita (D-Blue Island). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Body found in Santa Fe National Forest identified as 1950s grappler
Human remains discovered more than two decades ago in the Santa Fe National Forest have been identified as Keeble Wofford Sr., known in the 1950s as actor and wrestler Kimo Mahi, who had been missing since 1992. The case is the fourth in New Mexico in which state officials have been able to positively identify someone using the DNA testing technology of forensic genealogy company Othram, the firm claims. Wofford's bones were found by hikers in the forest in Sandoval County in 2001 and reported to the Sandoval County Sheriff's Office, Othram said in a news release. Deputies entered the case into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System as Sandoval County John Doe, whose identity remained a mystery. Kimo Kimo Mahi In 2021, the sheriff's office and the state Office of the Medical Investigator sent the remains to the lab of Texas-based Othram, which used a process it calls "forensic-grade genome sequencing" to build a DNA profile from the remains, the news release states. Othram compared a DNA sample from Wofford's daughter to the unidentified remains and was able to positively identify them, the company said. A death certificate was then drafted for Wofford, and his cremated remains were returned to his daughter. Investigators believe Wofford had been traveling from Pueblo, Colo., to Albuquerque in September 1992 for a business meeting and "was never heard from again," the news release says. Wofford competed as wrestler Kimo Mahi in the 1950s and '60s. He was described in an El Paso Herald-Post column as a "plucky Hawaiian grappler." He also appeared in at least one film — Twilight for the Gods, starring Rock Hudson and Cyd Charisse — and several television shows, according to IMDb, including the series Hawaiian Eye and Sea Hunt. Othram's technology has been used in the past to identify the remains of two women found in and near Albuquerque as well as a suspect in a 1987 rape and murder case in Carlsbad, according to the company. "People should know that it doesn't matter how old a case is, or whether it was hopeless in the past, there is technology here today that is able to bring answers to families like in this case," Kristen Mittelman, the company's chief development officer, said in a statement. "This was a well-known man who just disappeared more than 20 years ago and now he has his name again."
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Missing Persons Day: Families still seeking loved ones who disappeared
The Brief On Thursday for Missing Persons Day, loved ones of those who have disappeared and never found gathered to share their stories. The family of Randall Childs spoke about him going missing since June 7, 2011. He and his girlfriend, Karen Young, were never heard from again. DETROIT (FOX 2) - For the families of Michigan's missing, giving up is never an option. On Thursday, some of them came together not just to grieve but to remind the world that their loved ones are still out there, and they're still searching. Every year, investigators across the state law enforcement will investigate 9,000 missing children. Thankfully, most will come home, but right now there are 3,500 missing people in the state. People like Randall Childs, who has been missing since June 7, 2011. The backstory "My light has dimmed a little," said Sharon Murray, Randall Childs' brother. "I will never stop looking for my brother." Loved ones say he had a disagreement with his girlfriend, walked out the door - then vanished into the night. "He went to walk her down out of the apartment because it was late. That was the last time anyone has seen him," said Murray. Incredibly, both of them - Randall and Karen Young, disappeared without a trace, and no goodbye. "The family is kind of stumped now," Murray said. "Where is Randall? He would not have gone missing and not contacted his family." His family says they have searched everywhere, like abandoned houses, shells of buildings, and the medical examiner's office. They've covered streets with flyers, covered billboards with his face, and have left no stone unturned. "Give us some kind of tip or anything. We're looking for my uncle," said Mario Mathis, Randall's nephew. "We can't say somebody did something to him. We're looking for my uncle." Thursday, families who share this same unbearable pain stood shoulder to shoulder for Missing Persons Day. They gathered not just in grief, but in hope. Hope that someone, anyone will come forward with even the smallest clue. "A lot of these families are hurting," said Inspector Sarah Krebs, state police. "And we really need people to be on the lookout for their loved ones and bring us answers." Across the country, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, at any given time, about 100,000 people or more are reported missing. The Source Information for this story came from interviews with the family of Randall Childs and Michigan State Police.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
51-Year-Old Hiker Missing Since January Found Dead by Search Dog, Rescuers During Training
State police, with the help of a search dog, discovered a missing woman in Vermont last week The body is believed to be that of 51-year-old Sue Mi Ko, who went missing in January "She has been on everyone's minds in the North East Kingdom since search efforts were hampered and delayed by difficult terrain and high snowpack," North Country Search Dogs shared on Facebook Vermont authorities taking part in a training last week believe they discovered the body of a hiker who went missing back in January, with the help of a rescue dog. On Wednesday, April 30, the Vermont State Police announced that it had discovered what is believed to be the body of 51-year-old Sue Mi Ko earlier that afternoon — over three months after the Craftsbury woman was initially reported missing on Jan. 9. During the rescue, which happened during a search and rescue team training near Lake Willoughby in the town of Westmore, crews recovered the woman's body "several hundred yards from the Mount Pisgah trailhead," per state police. The Chief Medical Examiner's Office in Burlington will next conduct an autopsy to determine the woman's cause and manner of death, however, state police notes that there are "no indications that this incident is suspicious." A spokesperson for the VSP confirmed to PEOPLE on Thursday, May 8, that no further information was available. According to the VSP, the agency was first notified of Ko's missing status on Jan. 9, when she "was overdue" in the area of the Mount Pisgah trailhead. Ko's vehicle was discovered in a trailhead parking at the time, per the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Related: 'Experienced' Hiker, 71, Spends Night in the Calif. Mountains After Friend Reports Her Missing The woman's body was also located thanks to the work of Radar, a black German Shepherd rescue dog, according to a Facebook post by North Country Search Dogs in West Wardsboro, Vermont. "Yesterday, one of our search dogs located the remains of Sue Mi Ko, who has been missing since early January. She has been on everyone's minds in the North East Kingdom since search efforts were hampered and delayed by difficult terrain and high snowpack," the nonprofit shared in its statement. "North Country Search Dogs has been very invested in this search — this was the third time our dogs were deployed to look for Sue Mi, and we've been impatiently waiting for the snow to melt so we could get back out there. We were searching yesterday in parallel with the Vermont State Police SAR team, who were conducting a team training in the area." Related: Hiker Missing for 13 Days Found Alive After Living off Foraged Berries and Granola Bars: 'Happiest Day of Our Lives' The nonprofit added that it is "proud and honored to provide some closure for Sue Mi's family, who have been through the agony of unknowing and can now begin the next stage of the grieving process." As for the dog responsible for the discovery, Radar "delivered the result we have all been hoping for" as he alerted his handler, Katie. "A find like this is the result of countless hours of training and we commend Radar and Katie for their dedication," North Country Search Dogs added. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
NamUs releases more information on body found in Killingly
KILLINGLY, Conn. (WTNH) — New updates about the body found in Killingly in April have been released. According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System , the person was roughly 5'8″ with an estimated age somewhere between 25 and 45 years old, and that they could've been Caucasian or African American. Police dispel increasing rumors of serial killer as investigation into body found in New Haven continues NamUs estimated that the person likely died some time in 2024 or 2025. No identity has been revealed. The investigation is still ongoing at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
