Improving Missing Persons Investigations: The Creation of Ohio's Missing Persons Working Group

photo of a document signing

Governor Mike DeWine recently announced the creation of a Missing Persons Working Group to improve how missing persons cases are investigated in Ohio. The group, led by Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson, includes law enforcement officials, experts, and family members of missing persons. They will review Ohio’s resources, law enforcement staffing, training, and best practices to bring more missing people home safely.

Additionally, the Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) provides expert investigative services. BCI offers forensic science, criminal records, and impartial investigative services to local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. They also have specialized teams, such as the Officer-Involved Critical Incident Response Team, which independently investigates incidents involving law enforcement officers.

In Ohio, the number of missing persons cases has been on the rise. According to recent data, approximately 22,374 people went missing in Ohio in 2023, which is an increase of nearly 18% over the past three years. On any given day, roughly 1,000 Ohioans are reported missing.

It's a concerning issue, and that's why initiatives like the Missing Persons Working Group are so important. They aim to improve the investigation process and bring more missing people home safely.

There have been significant issues with reporting missing persons and getting them into the system in Ohio. A recent investigation by The Columbus Dispatch, called "VANISHED," uncovered several problems. Reporters found that law enforcement agencies often fail to do the bare minimum in missing persons cases and sometimes disregard department policies and best practices.

One major issue is that many missing persons cases are not entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). Despite a federal law requiring missing children reported to the National Crime Information Center to also be reported to NamUs, Ohio law enforcement failed to enter 327 out of 366 missing children into NamUs. This lack of proper reporting and training has left many families without answers for years.

Governor Mike DeWine has responded to these findings by forming a Missing Persons Working Group to review and improve the investigation process. The group aims to bring more missing people home safely by examining resources, law enforcement staffing, training, and best practices2.

It's a concerning issue, but efforts are being made to address these problems and improve the system. The Missing Persons Working Group includes a diverse group of individuals from various backgrounds and expertise. Here are some of the members:

• Andy Wilson, Director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety (Group Leader)

• Kamran Afzal, Chief, Dayton Police Department

• Jeff Allen, Chief Deputy, Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office

• Kevin Callahan, Detective, Cleveland Division of Police

• Kelli Cary, State Anti-Trafficking Director, Office of Criminal Justice Services

• Matt Champlin, Sheriff, Gallia County Sheriff’s Office

• Aimee Chapman, Sister of Andrew Chapman

• Vince Ciola, Bureau Chief, Ohio Department of Children and Youth

• Jonisa Cook, Mother of Joshua Al-Lateef Jr.1

• Sylvia Colon, Co-founder, Cleveland Family Center for Missing Children and Adults

• Gerald Ehrsam, Sergeant, Columbus Division of Police

• Pete Elliot, U.S. Marshal, Northern District of Ohio

• Aaron Haslam, Prosecutor, Adams County Prosecutor’s Office

• Rebecca Kincaid, Detective, Toledo Police Department

• Jennifer Lester, Criminal Intelligence Analyst, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation

• Lydia Smith Lockwood, Ph.D., Assistant Principal, Upper Arlington High School

• Chris Nicastro, Deputy Director, Criminal Justice and Recovery Services, Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

• Bruce Pijanowski, Superintendent, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation

• Tessa Pohovey, Chief, New Philadelphia Police Department

• Ronald Raines, Captain, Ohio State Highway Patrol

• Mike Rankin, First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney - Special Services, Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office

• Rick Rodger, Judge, Union County Probate/Juvenile Court

• Kara Wente, Director, Ohio Department of Children and Youth

The group will meet for the first time on January 23, 2025, and is expected to issue recommendations by the end of April.

Does this list include anyone you were particularly interested in?

Is there anything specific you'd like to know about missing persons cases or the efforts to address them?

Do you think these new initiatives will make a difference?