Missing Person Photos
A missing person is a person who has disappeared and whose status as alive or dead cannot be confirmed as their location and condition are unknown. A person may go missing through a voluntary disappearance, or else due to an accident, crime, death in a location where they cannot be found (such as at sea), or many other reasons. In most parts of the world, a missing person will usually be found quickly. While criminal abductions are some of the most widely reported missing person cases, these account for only 2 to 5 percent of missing children in Europe.
By contrast, some missing person cases remain unresolved for many years. Laws related to these cases are often complex since, in many jurisdictions, relatives and third parties may not deal with a person's assets until their death is considered proven by law and a formal death certificate issued. The situation, uncertainties, and lack of closure or a funeral resulting when a person goes missing may be extremely painful with long-lasting effects on family and friends.
A number of organizations seek to connect, share best practices, and disseminate information and images of missing children to improve the effectiveness of missing children investigations, including the International Commission on Missing Persons, the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), as well as national organizations, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in the US, Missing People in the UK, Child Focus in Belgium, and The Smile of the Child in Greece.
Resources for Missing Persons
According to current statistics, 4,000 people in the United States go missing every day.
Sometimes a child suddenly vanishes from the bus stop or the local park or even from their own yard or bedroom. Or a teenager doesn�t return home after a walk to the neighborhood grocery store or a bike ride or a party with friends.
Other times, an adult is mysteriously absent from their job or neighbors haven�t seen them for several days, and family and friends haven�t heard from them either.
Missing Person Case Updates with Photos
Michelle Rae Vanek
Vanek, date, approximate 2005; Vanek in the clothes she wore on the day of her disappearance
Date Missing 09/24/2005
Missing From
Eagle County, Colorado
Missing Classification Lost/Injured Missing
Sex Female
Race
White
Date of Birth 02/05/1970 (52)
Age 35 years old
Height and Weight 5'8, 145 pounds
Clothing/Jewelry Description A blue lightweight ski jacket with white stripes on the sleeves, a black or red shirt, black stretch pants, a blue hat with a white stripe, and blue and white mittens. A photo of Vanek in those clothes is posted with this summary.
Markings and/or Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. Blonde hair, blue eyes.
Details of Disappearance Vanek was last seen on September 24, 2005, when she and a friend, Eric Sawyer, went to hike on the 14,000-foot Mount of the Holy Cross in Eagle County, Colorado. She was carrying a small Camelback water pack, some energy bars and ski poles.
The pair started out at 6:30 a.m., but they accidentally took a more difficult trail than they had intended and they moved much slower than they had planned.
Vanek lagged behind Sawyer most of the way. By 1:30 p.m., she had run out of water. About 400 yards short of the summit, she stated she couldn't go any further and told Sawyer to continue on without her. He told her to either wait for him, or go towards the East Cross Creek Trail, where they were going to begin their descent.
Sawyer arrived at the summit at 1:42 p.m. and called his wife from there. He stayed only a few minutes before turning back to rejoin Vanek. When he arrived at the boulder field where he'd last seen her, she was gone. She has never been heard from again.
An extensive, week-long search of the mountain turned up no indication of Vanek's whereabouts. She is presumed to have died in a mishap in the wilderness, perhaps a fall. She left behind a husband and four children.
Investigating Agency
Eagle County Sheriff's Office
970-328-8500
Other
The Casper Star-Tribune
The Denver Channel
The Vail Daily
9 News
NamUs
Colorado Bureau of Investigation
Missing Person Photos
A missing person is a person who has disappeared and whose status as alive or dead cannot be confirmed as their location and condition are unknown. A person may go missing through a voluntary disappearance, or else due to an accident, crime, death in a location where they cannot be found (such as at sea), or many other reasons. In most parts of the world, a missing person will usually be found quickly. While criminal abductions are some of the most widely reported missing person cases, these account for only 2 to 5 percent of missing children in Europe.
By contrast, some missing person cases remain unresolved for many years. Laws related to these cases are often complex since, in many jurisdictions, relatives and third parties may not deal with a person's assets until their death is considered proven by law and a formal death certificate issued. The situation, uncertainties, and lack of closure or a funeral resulting when a person goes missing may be extremely painful with long-lasting effects on family and friends.
A number of organizations seek to connect, share best practices, and disseminate information and images of missing children to improve the effectiveness of missing children investigations, including the International Commission on Missing Persons, the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), as well as national organizations, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in the US, Missing People in the UK, Child Focus in Belgium, and The Smile of the Child in Greece.
Resources for Missing Persons
According to current statistics, 4,000 people in the United States go missing every day.
Sometimes a child suddenly vanishes from the bus stop or the local park or even from their own yard or bedroom. Or a teenager doesn�t return home after a walk to the neighborhood grocery store or a bike ride or a party with friends.
Other times, an adult is mysteriously absent from their job or neighbors haven�t seen them for several days, and family and friends haven�t heard from them either.
Missing Person Case Updates with Photos