The National Missing and Unidentified Person System (www.namus.gov) has aided in solving an average of a case per month since its launch in January 2009. The system has experienced significant growth in 17 months, and is achieving its goal—to provide answers and resolutions for missing and unidentified persons around the country.

Since NamUs’ initial launch, more than 1,500 law enforcement personnel have become registered users. While knowledge of this free tool is steadily increasing in the law enforcement community, more cases are needed in order for the system’s success and effectiveness to continue.

Data regarding missing persons can be entered in NamUs by law enforcement professionals as well as missing persons clearinghouses and the general public. Those with law enforcement clearance can add sensitive information and photos that are not viewable by the public, keeping necessary communications associated with the cases conveniently with case data. Unidentified remains cases are entered by medical examiners and coroners offices.

Two recent cases illustrate the critical role law enforcement plays in the success of the system and of public access to NamUs:

In August 9, 1987, Paula Beverly Davis went missing from, Kansas City,Missouri. Her body was found in Montgomery County, Ohio, 14 hours after she was reported missing. In October 2009, Davis’ sister, Stephanie Clack, was watching an episode of “The Forgotten” and saw a NamUs public service announcement. She went to NamUs.gov and searched with the information she had about her sister’s case. After looking at a number of records, she was able to identify her sister by descriptions of her unique tattoos—a unicorn and a red rose. Family DNA reference samples were taken and on December 11, 2009, Paula Davis was positively identified.