JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Throughout the month of November, we have been featuring missing persons cases from the Jacksonville area as a part of our Unsolved series.
Before the month ends, we want to take a minute to talk about what to do if someone you care about goes missing and the resources available.
"Most people can't leave without leaving a trace of something," said Sgt. Michael Monts, who leads the Missing Persons Unit at the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
"Missing persons cases are unique. When you are dealing with crime, a lot of times you start with a body, you start with a person," said Monts, "With us, you start with nothing and you have to find that person or find that body or find that scene."
Eight detectives in the unit handle thousands of cases each year.
"In 2023 we had 3,388 cases and to date we have one open case out of those," explained Monts.
The cases range from runaways, missing children, people with mental disabilities that make them prone to wander, or adults that have cut off contact with family and are reported missing.
Monts said since consolidation in the 1960s the unit only has 75 missing persons cases they have not been able to close and are considered cold cases.
If you have a family member with Alzheimer's or cognitive disabilities that make them prone to wander, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said it can provide scent preservation kits for free. The kits include a cloth and a jar to collect a person's scent and would be kept by the family to be used by a trained K-9 for tracking if a person is lost. It saves time, has greater accuracy and can last up to 10 years.
Also, Monts said it is a myth that you must wait 48 hours to report someone as missing. If you are concerned report them right away.
"Get the information out there. Share it, share it with your neighbors and friends," he said.
Because you never know what could spark a tip that brings someone back home.
To get the free scent preservation kits, you can sign up on the R.E.V.A.M.P registry if you live in Duval County. R.E.V.A.M.P Duval is a voluntary identification program that aids in finding those with cognitive or memory impairment who may be at risk of wandering off.
If a person in the registry is reported as missing, the information is sent directly to the frontline police officers and rescue personnel which can give them tips about where the missing person frequents, medical conditions and best ways to approach. The goal is to decrease the time needed to gather information and get it to first responders. You can sign up at www.jaxready.com/revamp.
If you are reading this from outside the Jacksonville area, ask your local police or sheriff's department if they have something similar available. Because when someone is missing, time is of the essence.
