FAQs

Four criteria must be met to activate an AMBER Alert. 1. The abducted child must be 17 years of age or younger; 2. The abducted child must be in immediate danger of serious bodily harm or death; 3. There must be enough descriptive information available to believe a broadcast will assist or aid in the recovery; and 4. The Alert must be requested by a law enforcement agency. 

(Source: https://cbi.colorado.gov/alerts-FAQ)

This is one of the most common questions that is asked when someone goes missing. We reached out to CBS Colorado to learn more. Here is their response: 

"We follow the lead of the CBI and local law enforcement on all missing persons. 

The CBI issues a series of alerts:

Amber

Medina

Missing Indigenous Persons  

Missing Senior

Missing At-risk Adult

Among others.

A newsroom is not the proper venue to be conducting a thorough investigation as to the nature and background of the missing persons, so law enforcement is whom we defer to.

As you have learned through your Facebook group, at any given moment there are always a large number of missing persons.  The problem isn’t the number, it is the fact that some of those missing do not want to be found as they may be escaping domestic violence or threat of violence, or could be an older teen trying to emancipate from a dangerous parent or living situation. Law enforcement or the justice system could also be protecting them, and it’s better for them that folks believe the person to be “missing”.

We do sympathize with those who have a missing relative or loved one and want the best possible outcome for everyone, we have learned through experience that this is safest for everyone when we defer to law enforcement."

When family or friends of a missing person contact us, we assist with creating fliers and social media posts to raise awareness and provide referrals for further in-person assistance. 

On Facebook and Instagram, we boost these cases as "advertisements" to put them on the screens of social media users located in the same area where your missing loved one was last seen. We can assist with reaching out to hospitals, shelters and local businesses. We are always willing to share any missing persons case! We do not discriminate for any reason, and fully believe that every missing human being deserves to be found. 

We also assist with locating next of kin for unclaimed persons cases and assist people with finding estranged relatives and old friends. 

ABSOLUTELY. We understand that many people have legitimate reasons to fear police or not trust them. We are happy to offer the same services with or without police involvement. However, if the case gets to a point where a serious crime may have occurred (murder, kidnapping, etc.), we do have to get the police involved. The main setback we encounter when police are not involved is that most major news stations will not air missing persons cases unless police have verified the case and given them permission.

Cases in which police are not involved will be thoroughly vetted before the case is accepted. This is to protect the privacy and safety of missing persons who chose to go missing for a variety of reasons, including abuse. 

Due to HIPAA, most hospitals will not release information unless a patient gives them permission. If your loved one is listed as a 'Doe' in the hospital, they may not state whether or not any unidentified individuals are in their facility. It is best to have police check the hospitals, but I have dealt with cases where the police have delayed doing this step for many days while the missing person is actually there receiving care. The best thing to do is visit the hospital in person with a photo of your missing loved one, and proof of your relationship. 

In my experience with shelters, many have been able to tell me over the phone whether or not they have seen someone matching the description of the missing person we are looking for. Some have allowed me to come in person and place a photo and message, or flier, on their message boards. It's important to remember that many unhoused people do not feel safe sleeping in shelters, and will choose encampments or choose to sleep on the streets. If you are searching these areas, it is important to keep yourself safe! Dress in older clothes that you don't mind getting dirty, don't bring anything valuable and try to blend in. It is good to bring small bags of essentials or snacks to provide to unhoused people you come across during your search.  It can take time, but it is very possible to locate an unhoused person. Private investigator, Lindsey Paison, has a proven track record for locating unhoused missing persons and we often refer families to her. 

This is the unfortunate reality for thousands of cases! The best thing to do is to keep the case alive on social media and don't give up! We can assist with creating groups and pages for your missing loved one. If your loved one is not listed in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), we can assist with that as well. However, the law enforcement agency investigating the case must approve the NamUs page before it is publicly available.