Children go missing in the United States due to a variety of reasons, including running away, family abductions, and stranger abductions, though the vast majority of missing children are runaways. Other causes include being lost or injured, or falling victim to online enticement leading to trafficking or other exploitation.
Common reasons children go missing
- Running away: The majority of missing children are teens who have run away from home. This is often listed as an "endangered runaway" because these children are at high risk of exploitation and trafficking.
- Family abduction: This is the most common type of abduction and is typically committed by a parent, often during a custody dispute.
- Stranger abduction: Kidnappings by strangers are rare, but they do occur.
- Lost, stranded, or injured: A child can become missing after becoming lost, getting stranded, or having an accident.
- Online enticement: The internet and social media are increasingly being used by predators to entice children into dangerous situations, including sex trafficking. The number of online enticement reports has increased significantly.
- Exploitation: Missing children are at high risk of exploitation, abuse, and trafficking, especially those who are runaways.
Other factors
- Digital predators: An increase in online enticement through social media, messaging apps, and gaming platforms has increased the risk for children.
- Disproportionate vulnerability: Certain groups, such as Native and Indigenous youth, are disproportionately vulnerable to trafficking, notes the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the Not Invisible Act Commission.
- Children with disabilities: Children with autism may wander off due to their interest in certain places or their efforts to escape overwhelming stimuli.
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