How many people are missing in Texas today, and what would it take to close their cases? KXAN discovered a patchwork of police and public systems that make answering that question challenging. While the state's Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation both have robust numbers, their case details are sparse and privileged. Citizen sleuths must rely on a handful of web-based public portals — like the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) — that are anything but complete, meaning many cases may never be seen by the public. Our analysis found the information submitted to those sites is often limited and — as we uncovered with the state's own missing persons bulletin — incorrect. We found errors with some dates of birth and race, as family and experts suggest those errors could hurt the chances of matching unidentified bodies with unsolved disappearances. Explore the interactive map below for video profiles in some of those cases.
A 32-year-old man was booked into a county jail on a public intoxication charge, but his family hasn't heard from him since he was released from jail that same day. KTAB's Claire Kreuz reports from Abilene. If you have information in his case, call the Abilene Police Department at (325) 673-8331. View Rodman's NamUs profile.
A 77-year-old homeless veteran was last seen in 2016 at a shelter in Odessa, but his case isn't listed on the state's online missing persons bulletin. KMID's Monica Quintero reports from Midland. If you have information in Neria's case, call the Odessa Police Department at (432) 335-4961. View Neria's NamUs profile.
For several weeks after a 23-year-old woman went missing, the photo officials shared with the public and that later ran on the news was of the wrong person. KETK's Daniel Pierce reports from Tyler. If you have information in her case, call the Longview Police Department at (903) 237-1197. View Wells' NamUs profile.
Despite being missing since 2017, a 32-year-old man who identifies as transgender is not listed on the state's official online missing persons bulletin. KVEO's Marlane Rodriguez reports from the Rio Grande Valley If you have information in Avila's case, call the Brownsville Police Department at (956) 548-7000. View Avila's NamUs profile.
A 26-year-old man called 911 saying he ran out of gas, but when officers arrived 20 minutes later he was missing and no one has heard from him since. KLST's Victor Glenn reports from San Angelo. If you have information in his case, call the Coke County Sheriff's Office at (325) 453-2717. View Lawson's NamUs profile.
Police know where a 28-year-old woman's cellphone was last pinged but say other information is limited as her family continues to search for her. KAMR's Angelina Perez reports from Amarillo. If you have information in her case, call the Amarillo Police Department at (806) 378-3038. View Moore's NamUs profile.
Lubbock police say it is protocol for every missing person to be entered into several law enforcement databases, but a 41-year-old man's information isn't on the state's public missing persons bulletin. KAMC's Avery Travis reports from Lubbock. If you have information in his case, call the Lubbock Police Department at (806) 775-2816. View Hubbard's NamUs profile .
The family of a 52-year-old man whose body was found near his truck two months after he went missing say police didn't do enough during their initial search. KWKT's Anna Thrash reports from Waco. If you have information in his case, call the Coryell County Sheriff's Office at (254) 404-8911. View Nesbit's NamUs profile.
Parents of a 20-year-old man who went missing in 1997 say decades later there are still few clues surrounding his disappearance. KFDX's Nicholas Quallich reports from Wichita Falls. If you have information in his case, call the Wichita Falls Crime Stoppers (800) 322-9888. View Mann's NamUs profile.
Police say new information is needed to move forward the case of a mother who went missing more than 30 years ago. KTAL's Alexandra Meachum reports from Northeast Texas. If you have information in her case, call the Marshall Police Department at (903) 935-4575. View Barnett's NamUs profile.
A 25-year-old woman's family hasn't seen her since she left her apartment and got into a dark-colored car more than a decade ago. KTAL's Jenna Jordan reports from Northeast Texas. If you have information in her case, call the Texarkana Police Department at (903) 798-3161. View Grissom's NamUs profile.
A text message from a missing 21-year-old man's phone shows he asked for help the night he disappeared, but police say there's no evidence to support foul play. KTSM's Tatiana Favela reports from El Paso. If you have information in his case, call the El Paso Police Department at (915) 832-4400. View Castillo's NamUs profile.