HOW TO FIND MISSING CHILDREN and RUNAWAYS

Hello, my name is Mr. Harry E. Oakes Jr. I’m the chief SAR Coordinator for International K-9 Search and Rescue Services.
We’re a professional K-9 SAR Dog team based in the state of Washington. We’re on call 24 / 7 to respond anywhere in the world to find missing persons.

"Over the last 38 years, I’ve worked in Law Enforcement for 12 years, volunteered in SAR (Search and Rescue) since 1972, and K-9 SAR since 1986. I’ve worked over 7,750 cases for the missing. I’ve been asked to write an article on how over the last 38 years, I found missing children".

From the child who is abducted by a stranger, to the angry defiant runaway, to the mentally confused child who wanders away from home. I’ve been in the field and found these kids dead and alive. I’ve often found the children, after the original law enforcement and search and rescue teams failed to find anything.

I’m retiring soon from my years in SAR and want to pass on the techniques
I’ve learned, developed, and used which has made me the success I am today.
My successes have been documented and audited by the Dept of justice.

This article is written for the law enforcement officials, volunteer and paid search staff, families and friends and other persons involved in the search for missing kids. I hope this helps.

A CHILD IS MISSING. WHAT SHOULD THE PARENTS DO?

DOCUMENT THE SEARCH FROM BEGINNING TO END.
The family of the missing child should first document the time and date the child shows up missing. Who they called, when they called, what was said, what was done, etc. WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHY, WHERE, and HOW. This is for legal reasons as well as for the effectiveness of the search. Should you end up in the courtroom two years later, this can be a saving grace.

DETERMINE IF THE CHILD IS REALLY MISSING.
Start calling the child’s friends and other family members to determine if there’s miscommunication going on or is the child really missing. Document the date, time, contact #, emails, text mails, numbers, who you talked with. Keep the original for your family files. Make a copy for the police or SAR Coordinator.

1. SEARCH THE HOUSE AND PROPERTY.
2% of the kids I’ve been called to find have been found on the property. One had killed himself and was hanging in the basement. Another died accidentally by getting stuck in a trunk of the family car. Another child was found playing with her imaginary friend in the attic. Searches should be conducted in a clockwise order. Main floor, upper floors, attic, basement, garage, other sheds and outbuildings, RV’s, boats, your own personal vehicles. Check closets, under beds.

We found a missing child once in the laundry room of the house she lived in, sound asleep in her favorite sleeping bag. This while five search dog teams, one helicopter, and 50 volunteer searchers were scouring the nearby woods.
Don’t assume anything.

Once you’ve determined through your own search, your emails, phone calls, etc. that your child is missing, call the police immediately.

80% of child abductions occur through an acquaintance. Someone who knows the child through school, family, friends, church, sporting events, etc.

TEENAGER VS INFANT.
The law enforcement’s attitude will differ on how they handle their investigation depending on the age of the child. If your child is 2 years old, you can expect a full immediate investigation. First of you and your family members and then the investigation will filter out from there.

If your child is 17, good luck getting any law enforcement agency to respond within 48 hours. If it’s an older child and law enforcement doesn’t respond immediately here’s what you need to do as the child’s parents.

Document the date, time, and contact in Law enforcement that you talked with. Obtain a police case # and a NCIC #. These are two separate numbers. If the officer(s) refuse to give you this information, contact their supervisor immediately or internal affairs and demand an investigation.

Light a fire under their ass. A child’s life may be on the line. This may sound that I’m anti-cop. Nothing could be further from the truth. I’m anti lazy cop. Like I said earlier, I served in law enforcement for 12 years and have been involved in search and rescue since 1972.

I know what it’s like to deal with frantic parents only to find their poor missing child stoned out of their mind at a friends party. I also know what it’s like to put a child in a body bag. This is why I’m writing this information to the public.

2. I also know how it feels to be the parent of a missing child. It’s a horrible experience I wish on no one. My own son was missing for 3 weeks, after leaving a suicide note and heading into a foreign country. He suffered from depression. We found him alive with the help of a lot of good cops and the US Military.

Friends and or family of the missing person should immediately call the police; # 9-1-1 if it's a child or endangered adult situation. Don't wait 24 hours, call immediately. Time is of the essence.

POLICE TASKS. (Here’s what the police should be doing).
Register the missing child with N.C.I.C. (National Crime Information Center). This is a national database for all Law enforcement and investigators.

Assign a department case #.

Obtain a missing persons profile.

Search the PLS (Point Last Seen) for any clues.

Investigate the Who, What, When, Why, Where, and How questions regarding
The child’s disappearance.

Interview all witnesses, suspects, form a chronological history of the missing persons where a bouts and activities. If the police develop a valid suspect, they should polygraph them.

*If it involves a missing child, please alert all Local and National missing children locate centers. Have an AMBER ALERT sent out nationally.

Rule out Willful disappearance. Is this a homicide, suicide, accidental death?
Have volunteers, paid staff, searchers, search nearby DUMPSTERS, Abandoned properties, abandoned homes, structures, landfills, areas where someone one would dump a body.

Check all water sources. Creeks, wells, parks, alleyways, cliffs, ponds, lakes, and rivers. Rural roads. Generally within 10 miles of the PLS. Develop a search plan. Areas of POA's. (Probability of Areas). Areas of POD's (Probability of Detection).

DOCUMENT who the searchers are, what they searched, when they searched, where they searched and their findings, etc.

3. POLICE SHOULD BRING OUT SEARCH DOGS IMMEDIATELY.
As of 1996, there were 171 registered search dog teams in the USA and Canada. Officers should contact their local department of emergency management, within their jurisdiction, for the most qualified search dog teams.

POLICE DOGS VS. SAR DOGS. Tracking the scent.
Don't rely just on police tracking dogs. Most are "bad guy chasers" and unless they are trained, tested, and documented, as having tracked OLD scent, you're actually putting your department at risk to a lawsuit if you use them and miss the victim. It doesn't hurt to try, but document the handler’s findings, and then bring in other search dog teams who are trained to follow old scent, if nothing is found.

Many times I’ve been brought in days, weeks, months, and even years later, when police and volunteer K-9 teams have failed to find anything. I’ve not only found the victim(s) remains in the original search area, but also identified the suspect(s) involved in the case through scent evidence.

So if you use one team and they fail to find anything, don’t be afraid of bringing in other teams from out of the area for a fresh response and perspective. Outside scent (tracking scent), can be detected and followed exposed to the elements up to a year later. Inside a protected structure scent has been detected for longer periods of time. We found human remains, later determined buried in the late 1800’s, on St Croix USVI with my third search dog Valorie.

COLLECTING SCENT ARTICLES.
Immediately gather good scent articles. NEVER let a family member or a friend of the family, hand your officer the scent articles. Only the officer or dog handler should collect these items. Note chain of custody of the scent items in your report / notebook. The officer, who does this properly, will be a hero to the dog handlers.

Take a NON SMOKING Officer / handler, he / she goes to the residence of the missing person. Put on a pair of rubber gloves and bring 2 clean paper sacks and one large plastic bag FOR EACH item to be collected.

The officer, while wearing rubber gloves, collects non-washed clothing, shoes, pillows, hairbrush, and bed sheets of missing person. Places them individually inside separate paper sacks. Closes paper sacks. Places the paper sack inside another paper sack. Closes paper sack. Places these sacks inside plastic bag and seals bag shut. Never put scent items directly into plastic bags. The plastic bag can destroy scent. Try not to expose any cigarette smoke to the scent items.

Cigarette smoke contains various poisons that desensitizes the search dog’s noses and can affect the ability of the search dog to perform his or her tasks.


4. START THE SEARCH AT THE VICTIM’S HOME.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Let a qualified search dog team search the victim’s home, surrounding sheds, buildings, and vehicles.

Many times I’ve determined that the child was killed or injured by a FAMILY MEMBER on the premises and was removed by the family member. A qualified search dog team can detect a “FEAR – STRESS or DEATH” scent and this should be an immediate turn in the investigation.

We were able to prove that a deputy sheriff killed his own son and then filed a false police report stating his son was abducted. All through the use of a search dog. The suspect was later convicted for the murder of his son.

On another case, a friend of the family killed two girls. Ashley Pond and Miranda Gaddis murders on Ward Weaver’s property in Oregon City, Ore. we located Ashley and Miranda’s remains after the State, Federal, and County search dogs, searchers, and law enforcement officials failed to find their remains in 7 different searches they conducted. Ashley was buried under cement. Miranda was stored in Wards Freezer in his kitchen then later moved to a box in a shed.

DOCUMENT all Telephone records for last 30 days. Including calling cards, cellular telephones, text messages, etc. Outgoing & Incoming.

Homes: Garbage’s, sheds, crawl spaces, attics, personal computers (chat rooms) MY SPACE accounts, etc. Check for hand written diaries, notebooks, journals, etc. Check alarm-monitoring stations for detailed records of times alarms / doors were detected open, closed, or set.

Vehicles: Check (RO). Registered operators, note odometer readings. Search car and trunk, noting tire patterns, plant, dirt, mud types in, under, around vehicle. Search closed compartments, if possible, trunks, and glove compartments. Inspect all materials found inside the vehicle. Credit card receipts, notes, trash, cash register receipts. Video record all data if possible. Process for forensic evidence.

Bank Accounts: Any activity on the ATM's? Have bank pull all camera tapes. Pull bank records for last 30 days of all checking’s, savings, other money accounts. Check on computer for "HIDDEN ACCOUNTS". Did the child have extra money stashed away they used to leave the area? Is someone the child meant in person or online paying for the child’s transportation?

If you suspect foul play from a family member, check their work offices:
Interview fellow employees. Search garbage cans, appointment notebook, computer files. Check "Trash Bin" and deleted files as well as all old and new emails.
5. Pull their computer’s hard drive and view the incoming and outgoing messages, files, etc.

Check alarm-monitoring stations for detailed records of times alarms/doors were detected open, closed, or set.

Schools: Interview friends, teachers, councilors, security officials. Review security camera tapes, files. Search lockers, areas of interests. Regarding runaways or willful disappearances, I’ve found in 90% of the cases, the child, teenager, talked with a close friend in person, wrote notes in their school notebooks, or chatted on line with someone before they disappeared. The search for this kind of information is invaluable.

STORES / RESTAURANTS: Check to see if you can post fliers there. Also check to see if they have security cameras that might have victim on camera at the time of his / her disappearance.

Note for families.
For whatever the reasons, usually most law enforcement agencies will do only a limited work up on the case if it’s an older child. This is do to many factors, limited manpower, budgets, and other reasons we won't discuss at this time.

NOTE: If the local police department refuses to do any of the things I’ve listed, or if the family of the victim(s) aren't happy with what Law Enforcement has done, then the family needs to take charge of the private search efforts and the investigation and hire a private experienced Search Coordinator, or Private Investigator, to perform each of these tasks. The family must check the references of the person(s) they’ve brought in. Do this before you put someone in a position of trust.

Again I’m going to repeat myself. This is so important. Document everything you’ve said and done to search for your child. WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHY, WHERE, and HOW. Remember the courts usually won't recognize any activity or action, unless it was documented. Set up a private search committee.

PUBLIC RELATIONS: Gives out specific information related to the search efforts / investigation. Fund raising efforts and support information. Must keep a written file on each and every public information release.

MEDIA: Develop a press media release in writing. Give description of what your agency has found out in its investigation. (Limit information on a need to know basis). Ask for the publics help. Set up a call in hotlines, etc. Document every bit of information released. Get copies of all videos, written communications etc.


6. Newspapers, TV, Radio, etc. List of contacts, names, email addresses, fax #, pager #, cell phone #, etc.

Logistics. Brings in office supplies, tape recorders, computers, telephones, radios, portable bathrooms, foods, maps, flagging, notebooks, and all other equipment needed for the search efforts.

Legal: An attorney should help the search committee set up a general release waiver form for all volunteer participants. All team members should sign in. The searchers state issued identification should be checked, documented and validated before they are put out on the search.

Also have someone debrief the searchers when they sign out, issue a written report and diagram of their search areas, and a written report of their findings.

Anything found should be reported, documented, and turned over to the search coordinator or local law enforcement representative on scene.

NOTE: The volunteer staff should instruct everyone that should they find anything they feel is relevant to the case, they are not to touch anything. Freeze the scene and call the police or a qualified SAR staff member.

Planning. Maps. Documents all information on a map. Date and time, location searched and findings. (Note: this may help the police determine if this is a murder or accidental death should the victim be found later after the search effort has ended).

Why document the mapping and search?
We had a case where the county SAR group searched the property and found nothing. We then were brought in and found some clues, which led us to believe his father murdered the 17-year-old healthy son. The son’s remains were found three weeks later face down in 5 inches of water, in the same search area the police and our search dog teams searched. The body wasn’t there when we searched the scene. The father stated the boy drowned.

Search Coordinator. Coordinates all search efforts of dog teams, private ground searchers, aircraft, boats, ground vehicles.

Example: Search & Rescue Date Times Results: Sign Contracts, interview Family, get family organized with 3-ring booklet, and obtain Missing Persons Profile. Search room, garbage, locker, and office, computer files. Obtain Scent articles. Tape recorder/phone jack. Telephone Trap. Police Report, Meeting with missing child investigator(s).

7. Issue receipts for payments / deposits, Perform initial search and K-9 track, diagrams, reports, interview friends. Interview co-workers, neighbors, and relatives. Track down each and every lead. Gives copy to detectives on the case.

EXAMPLE OF Search Committee's Check Off Sheet.
Date, Time, Name, Police, National Missing Children's Locate Center.
Search team(s).
International K-9 Search & Rescue Services. SAR Coordinator Mr. Harry Oakes Jr. P.O. Box#1472, Longview, Washington 98632 www.k9sardog.com
Media Koin TV Komo News KPTV
Attorney
Check of Morgues
Hospital
TRANSPORTATION-PUBLIC Bus Trains, Amtrak Taxi Services, airports.
MALLS, bowling alleys, movies, parks, amusement parks, other Kid hangouts.
Work leads.
Final Reports.
Critical incident Stress Management and debriefing.
Debrief all teams.

Counseling: A local pastor or councilor should be on hand for support should the outcome be a grim one.

Secretary. He/she should document everything. Meetings, minutes, search reports, media releases, etc. Recommend a tape recording and written documentation of all.

Fund Raising. Raises funds, documents all monies into a specified account assigned for the search effort. All Cash flow coming in and going out. Contacting your local bank or IRS office can do setting up a 501C-3. Search Committee $ In Document Sheet Account Date $IN, $ Received By, Deposit Date Receipt Issued Balance. Receipts for all purchases.

Treasurer: Expense Report Sheet Example: $ OUT Document Sheet. Date Telephone Equipment Printing Postage Legal Search & Rescue Fuel, Meals, Other Comments.

LEGAL JOURNAL:
For a third time I’m going to repeat myself. This journal is for legal purposes. Make sure you document in writing, who, what, when, why, Where, & how information.

8. Example of a Journal:
7/31/97 1900hrs. Called Clack. County Sheriff's office and talked with Deputy Smith. Filed a police report, obtained Case# 97-9007. NCIC# M3N56NH565656.

7/31/97 1930Hrs. Called Telephone Company Security at (503) 555-5555 and talked with Security manager Mr. Tom Brown. Obtained Telephone Trap and requested telephone records from 06-10-97 to current on all out going / in coming telephone calls.

7/31/97 2100hrs. Called the National Missing Children's Locate Center and obtained contract services 0945Hrs. obtained photographs for the Internet. Talked with NMCLC Investigator Chapman 503 257-1308.

1300Hrs. I met with her in person at her office.

7/31/97 2350Hrs. I called International K-9 Search and Rescue Services. (503) 705-0258. Talked with Search Coordinator Mr. Harry E. Oakes Jr. reference the use of search dogs for our search efforts. Set up contracts, file systems, search systems, personal and legal journals. Caller ID and Tape recorder for home telephone. Page# Contact Date Time Notes: etc...

08-01-97 1200Hrs. Search dogs located child deceased behind park in creek. Police taking over investigation.

Every 5 days, sit down with all involved, debrief the searches and investigation that has been done to date. Determine of something else different needs to be done. If it does, write it out and do it. If nothing else can be done. Then accept the fact that you’ve done all you can and make a decision to continue or close the search efforts down based on your notes, the findings.

Mr. Oakes has also written 4 books regarding Search and Rescue.

Be Safe "Help Us Find You" Coloring book for children. Teaches parents and children what to do if the child becomes lost and how the child can survive until search teams or family members find them.

"A Call to Duty". A story about Search and Rescue through the search dogs eyes.

"Scent Evidence and Forensic Scent Evidence”." The use of scent as evidence to determine what happened and often who did it.

Harry’s been involved in disaster and missing person searches around the world.

9. Harry’s Yahoo 360 blog re SAR.
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-aczg0BU5erSlJvtwUKlYqssO

Photos of Harry’s search dog teams in action.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/searchdog/page1/ 

Before your child comes up missing, identify them.
Write us at searchdog@iinet.com and we’ll send your our free child id kit.