Missing persons and run-aways
Our Impact
Since we started in 2021 we have assisted with 29 missing persons cases. 6 adults and 23 Juvenile Runaways.
25 Digital Flyers. 3 Printed. 2 Canvasing. 2 Meals.
18 suspected human trafficking cases, 14 confirmed sex trafficking case. 8 mental health situations, several cases we reached out to outside resources. All but 1 Juvenile found safe. 4 adults accounted for. Families assisted were located in Mesa, Delta, & Montrose Counties, even while some were missing outside of the Western Slope area.
Safety is always a priority. Law enforcement is always notified. Some cases we help in person while others we specifically help online.
From our trainings when it comes to runaways; there are two things to consider. And questions to be asked.
Runaways are either running from something or to something.
Do you know which one? Do you know where they feel the most safe and or welcome? Do you know where they go to think if under mental distress?
Working with adults is far different than working with juveniles. It is helpful to understand the laws in your area when it comes to missing persons.
Every case may be different, however often times there are similarities. We ask questions because the more questions you can answer the better chances of finding your missing loved one.
All the services we offer, we offer for free, but we need your help to continue. Please consider donating today.
Missing persons & Family care
Bravestone Project helps with finding missing persons in our community and beyond. We specialize in helping find missing juveniles and young adults who are at risk, to include runaways.
Our services are free to family and friends seeking to find their loved one.
We offer:
Free e-flyer to share on social media and in text messages.
Printed flyers if needed or wanted to hand out.
Help with canvasing the area to assist in finding the missing person. (Currently in Mesa County CO only).
Food and support for the family while still searching for the missing person.
Opportunities to connect you and your found missing person to services you may need.
Continued support if you so choose to have it, through organizations we work and/or partner with as well as our own support services we may have available.
Having someone go missing can be very difficult. We do our best to work with you in a capacity that allows us to support you and help find your missing person.
Our highest priority is safety first. We will work in a capacity that will help keep you and your missing persons safe. Sometimes we do reach out to outside resources for assistance if we feel it is necessary.
We do not charge for any of our services but if you wish to donate so we can continue to help supply food and other things during the searches we will gladly accept. We can’t do it without you. Please consider donating today to help us further our mission.
Why do we help find run-aways and missing young adults?
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children a large percentage of missing run-aways have potentially been trafficked or at the very least in the “Grooming” phase of being trafficked.
Often times people do not see run-aways as a person that should be searched for, they just feel their being disobedient in nature and need to be delt with accordingly. With proper training and experience our team of individuals assist with helping find missing run-aways and young adults in our area.
For Run-Aways under 18 we reach-out to the families and do a little bit of investigating to see if we need to step in. We then will ask a few questions, design and send out an eflyer with the permission of the family and spread it to the network of people we have available and then we ask for the same to those receiving the flyer. If the situation deems it we may call in other organizations we work with to assist.
Our priority is always safety first. We ask that for every missing person you contact 911 and make a report after you have searched everywhere in and around your house. If your child/young adult left under suspicious circumstances or may have friends, you do not feel is write or feel as if child left and it is unsafe contact 911. There are many safety guidelines that need to be followed and extremely important to go step by step to ensure the safety of all parties.
If your child is missing for longer that 72 hours we suggest you contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children or NCMEC - www.missingkids.org or call at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)
Tips to Help
There are things you may not be aware of when your child runs away and goes missing.
There are a few things to consider when your child goes missing or is a runaway. First do your best not to panic. Check every area in and around your home. Closets, under the bed, under laundry that may be out, in the cupboards, the garage, any vehicle that may be nearby, the trunks of vehicles, the sheds, if you have pool check in that area. If you have searched all locations with no luck, contact your local PD and begin knocking on doors. Ask neighbors to assist you. Most importantly don’t forget to breathe and eat and always have someone at the home and answering the phone for those moments for just incase.
For more tips go to the NCMEC website at www.missingkids.org
If your child is a runaway, ask the questions:
Do they have new friends either in person or online?
Why would they leave? Are they running from something or to something?
What changed in their lives that may cause the need to run away? Do they have a new friend or intimate relationship? Are Drugs involved? Did you fight? Are they in mental health distress?
Did they have a backpack with them? Their cell phone? Are they driving? Who do they feel is the safest for them? Is there a shelter for runaway teens nearby or in the area? Where do they usually go to think?
Always contact the police department even if you don’t believe they will help.
If you are in Mesa County contact us and we will do our best to assist where we can, when we are able to. you can email us at info@bravestoneproject.org