A few months ago I was scrolling through my YouTube "suggestions" and came across an interesting video that I instinctively clicked on. "What Happened to Elisa Lam?" from the YouTube Channel belonging to Bella Fiori was the video that sparked my interest in disappearances. There are so many missing people, and it is something that I never realized before seeing this video. Though Elisa was eventually found dead, it is still a mystery as to what exactly happened to her.
After watching more of Bella's videos, I knew I wanted additional information. I watched different videos about varying missing persons cases and learned a lot. It is through the "Where Is" YouTube series by Kendall Rae that I discovered that most missing people end up in in human trafficking and sex trafficking.
Recently, I was watching a video about Natalee Holloway on Oxygen. Hers is a case that I am familiar with as I remember her disappearance being publicized. Natalee disappeared from Aruba in 2005. This particular case resurfaced on Oxygen September 8th, 2017. When I visited Aruba this past summer, I was shown the bar she disappeared from. The empty space stands as a reminder of just one of the most famous mysteries in recent history. It has been apparent to me that finding these missing people has become increasingly important in the eyes of the media.
You can discover stories about missing people on YouTube channels such as BuzzFeed Unsolved. You can find more information on TV, for example, Investigation Discovery's "Disappeared." The television show recently highlighted the case of Maura Murray.
These outlets allow for better communication with the general public. It was Oxygen that announced further developments in the case of Natalee Holloway this past month. It is people like Kendall Rae and Bella Fiori who are working to publicize these cases, increasing the odds of solving the mysteries. You may feel powerless when watching these videos, but you are not. By informing yourself, you are keeping their stories in the limelight. It is important to make sure that you do not share any information that is incorrect. With the latest disappearance of Ken'neka Jenkins, there has been a disturbing amount of incorrect information shared via social media.
People have gone so far as to alter the original footage of her last known moments by photo-shopping men into the security video. Be aware of the rumors and pay attention to the facts. This is not a new issue. Unfortunately, with the recent tragedies in Manchester and Las Vegas, there has been an increase in false missing persons cases. BuzzFeed has done great work releasing articles about the fallacies presented by social media in the wake of these horrific events. YouTuber Kendall Rae repeatedly says that the most helpful thing that we can do is to talk about them, to keep their stories alive until they are found. I recommend staying up to date with Kendall Rae, Bella Fiori, BuzzFeed, Oxygen or Investigation Discovery if you are interested in missing persons cases. It is here that you will get the correct information.
To report a missing person, contact your local authorities as soon as you can. You do not have to wait any length of time to report someone missing.
"If you have information about a missing child or suspected child sexual exploitation, report it to 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678)" - The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
