Do you know where they are? 43 missing persons cases the FBI needs help solving (2024)

The disappearance ofGabby Petito captured the nation's attention and attracted the sleuthing skills of thousands on social media who shared her story andeven turned up leads.

Thousands more need that same level of care and attention, too, officials say.

Hundreds of thousands of people go missing every year, according to FBI data. In 2020, more than 540,000 people went missing, including more than 340,000 juveniles, according to the data.

In May, the FBI conducted an internal audit of its field offices and compiled a list of 43 active missing persons cases of people under the age of 21 that the agency says need fresh leads. Some date back decades.

The agency conducted the audit around National Missing Children’s Day, May 25, as part of an annual practice of taking inventory of ongoing cases, saidSiobhan Johnson, an FBI special agent and spokesperson in Chicago who provided the list to USA TODAY.

"We are just looking for fresh leads," Johnson said, noting the list is hardly all-inclusive. "Now is a good time to start soliciting for additional information."

Thomas Lauth, who runs a missing persons agency in Indianapolis, said the combination of factors in Petito’s case — the multiplestates involved, videos of the couple arguing anda 911 call about her fiancéslapping her — made for headlines.

But underlying all this is what experts call "missing white womansyndrome," in which white women — particularly young, attractive and blonde — get the majority of the media’s attention.

Wealth and class also play a role, so much so that Lauth advises clients of all backgrounds to create GoFundMe pages, hold vigils, contact the media and be available for interviews to drive awareness.

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FBI list of 43 unsolved missing cases of people under the age of 21

Here's the list, by date of disappearance:

Daniel Barter was 4 years old when he went missing from Perdido Bay, Alabama, on June 18, 1959.

William "Billy" Ebeneezer JonesJr. was 3 when he went missingfromVineland, New Jersey, on Dec. 17, 1962.

Christine Marie Eastin was 19 when she went missing fromHayward, California, on Jan. 18, 1971.

Margaret Ellen Fox was 14 when she went missing fromBurlington, New Jersey, on June 24, 1974.

David Williams was 12 andSteven Anderson was 17 when they went missing from Pemberton Township, New Jersey, onApril 7, 1975.

Tammy Mahoneywas 19 when she went missing from Oneida, New York, on May 8, 1981.

Anthonette Christine Cayeditowas 9 when she went missing from Gallup, New Mexico, on April 6, 1986.

Tara Leigh Calicowas 19 when she went missing fromValencia County, New Mexico, on Sept.20, 1988.

Ilene Beth Misheloffwas 13 when she went missing from Dublin, California, on Jan. 30, 1989.

Mark Himebaugh was 11 when he went missing fromDel Haven, New Jersey, on Nov. 25, 1991.

Crystal Ann Tymich was 6 when she went missing fromSouth Los Angeles, California,onJune 30, 1994.

Cayce Lynn McDaniel was 14 whenshe went missing from Milan, Tennessee, on Aug. 16, 1996.

Kristen Modafferi was 18 when she went missing fromSan Francisco, California, on June 23, 1997.

Suzanne G. Lyall was 19 when she went missing fromAlbany, New York,onMarch 2, 1998.

Karla Rodriguez was 7 when she went missing fromLas Vegas, Nevada, onOct.20, 1999.

Asha Jaquilla Degreewas 9 when she went missing from Shelby, North Carolina, on Feb.14, 2000.

Steven Earl Kraft, Jr. was 12 when he went missing fromBenton Township, Michigan, on Feb.15, 2001.

Bethany Leanne Markowskiwas 11 when she went missingMarch 4, 2001. Location is undetermined.

Shausha Latine Hensonwas 2 months andShaina Ashley Kirkpatrickwas 3 when they went missing while en route to Sacramento, California,onApril 4, 2001.

Wesley Dale Morgan was 2 when he went missing from Clinton, Louisiana, onMay 15, 2001.

Diamond Yvette Bradley was 3 andTionda Z. Bradley was 10when they went missing from Chicago, Illinois,onJuly 6, 2001.

►Read more about this case: Two missing sisters. One bizarre note. For 20 years, a family has asked: Where are our girls?

Rachel Louise Cookewas 19 when she went missing from Georgetown, Texas,on Jan.10, 2002.

Alexis S. Patterson was 7 when she went missing fromMilwaukee, Wisconsin, on May 3, 2002.

Tabitha Danielle Tuderswas 13 when he went missing from Nashville, Tennessee, on April 29, 2003.

Joshua Keshaba Sierra Garcia was 1 when he went missing fromMexico City, Mexico, on Aug.12, 2003.

Amber Elizabeth Cates was 16 when she went missing from Columbia, Tennessee, on April 11, 2004.

Ashley Summers was 14 when she went missing fromCleveland, Ohio,on July 7, 2007.

Kyron Richard Hormanwas 7 when he went missing from Portland, Oregon, on June 4, 2010.

Shanna Genelle Peoples was 19 when she went missing from Geneva, Alabama, on Sept.8, 2011.

Keiosha Marie Felix was 15 when she went missing fromDuson, Louisiana, on April 30, 2012.

Myra Lewis was 2 when she went missing from Camden, Mississippi, on March 1, 2014.

Kaylah Hunter was 9 andKristian Justicewas 7 months when they went missing from Detroit, Michigan,on May 24, 2014.

Belel Kandil was 8 andAmina Kandil was 10 when they went missing from New York City onAug.29, 2014.

Sara Nicole Graham was 18 when she went missing en route to Pembroke, North Carolina, on Feb.4, 2015.

Arianna Fitts was 2 when she went missing from Oakland, California,on Feb.1, 2016.

Lashaya Stine was 16 when she went missing from Aurora, Colorado, onJuly 15, 2016.

Sunny Sramekwas 18 when she went missing from Trenton, Nebraska, on April 20, 2019.

Dulce Maria Alavez was 5 when she went missing from Bridgeton, New Jersey, onSept.16, 2019.

Opinion: It's OK to want justice for Gabby Petito and acknowledge the thousands still missing