It is a Tuesday afternoon, and your phone buzzes. Maybe it’s nothing. But for hundreds of families across the Peach State, that silence or that missed text is the start of a nightmare they never saw coming. Honestly, when we talk about people missing in Georgia, most of us picture a scene from a true-crime documentary. We imagine dark alleys or dramatic kidnappings.
The reality? It's much more complicated. And often, it's quieter.
Right now, as of early 2026, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) are tracking hundreds of active cases. We aren't just talking about historical cold cases like the 2020 disappearance of Keeslyn Noelle Roberts or the 2021 case of Forest "Clay" Preston. We are talking about people who vanished last week, or even this morning.
The Current State of People Missing in Georgia
Numbers don't tell the whole story, but they give us a starting point. Georgia usually ranks in the top twenty states for missing person reports. That’s partly because we have massive transit hubs like Hartsfield-Jackson and a web of interstates like I-75 and I-85 that make it "easy" for someone to move across state lines quickly.
According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), Georgia had over 90 active cases of missing children alone by the start of this year. That’s just the kids. When you add in adults, the number jumps significantly.
Basically, the "missing" aren't a monolith. You’ve got:
- Endangered runaways (the most common type).
- Seniors with dementia who wander off, often triggering a "Mattie's Call."
- People caught in the middle of domestic disputes or "family abductions."
- Critical missing cases where foul play is suspected from minute one.
Just this month, in January 2026, the Clayton County police were frantically searching for 14-year-old Dara Jackson, last seen in Riverdale. She’s considered endangered because of a health condition. A few days earlier, the search for 79-year-old Ernestine Merritt in DeKalb County ended in tragedy when her body was found in a creekbed. These aren't just names on a digital flyer; they’re neighbors.
Why Do So Many People Disappear in Atlanta?
Atlanta is a beautiful, sprawling mess of a city. It has a high population density, which naturally leads to more reports. If you look at the maps provided by the GBI, a huge chunk of reports cluster around the metro area.
But there is a darker side people sort of whisper about but don't always address: sex trafficking. Georgia has fought hard to shed its reputation as a trafficking hub, but the intersection of major highways makes the state a tactical "pass-through" for predators. The GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit is constantly making arrests—like the one just this week in Toombs County involving a 33-year-old man—linked to these exact dangers.
The First 24 Hours: Misconceptions and Truths
You've heard it in movies: "You have to wait 24 hours to report a person missing."
That is 100% false.
In Georgia, if you believe someone is in danger, you report it immediately. Law enforcement, from the Atlanta Police Department to the smallest sheriff’s office in South Georgia, is trained to take these reports seriously from the jump. For children in foster care, state policy (specifically DFCS Policy 19.22) actually requires reporting to law enforcement within 24 hours, but usually, it happens much faster.
The Different "Calls" You See on the News
Georgia uses a specific alert system to get the public involved. You've definitely seen them flash on your phone or on those digital highway signs:
- Levi’s Call: Georgia’s version of the AMBER Alert for abducted children.
- Mattie’s Call: Used for missing disabled or elderly persons (named after Mattie Moore).
- Kimberly’s Call: For abducted adults in immediate danger.
These aren't just "annoyances" on your phone. They work. They turn the entire state's population into a search party.
The Cold Cases That Won't Let Go
Honestly, the hardest part of the people missing in Georgia narrative is the cases that go cold. You see the flyers fade. The social media posts stop being shared.
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Take the case of Samuel Gearhart, last seen in November 2024. Or Joshua Bain, who disappeared around the same time. When a case hits the one-year mark, the investigative energy naturally shifts, but the families are still stuck in that "Tuesday afternoon" forever.
The Coleman-Baker Act in Georgia now allows families to request a formal review of cold cases that have gone unsolved for years. It’s a bit of a bureaucratic hurdle, but it’s a tool for those who feel like the system has moved on without them.
What Most People Get Wrong About "Runaways"
There is a tendency to dismiss a case if a teenager is labeled a "runaway."
"Oh, they'll come home when they're hungry," people say.
This is incredibly dangerous. An "endangered runaway" in Georgia is at high risk for exploitation. They don't have money. They don't have a place to stay. They are the primary targets for traffickers who hang out at gas stations or message them through gaming apps. In 2024 alone, NCMEC handled over 25,000 reports of endangered runaways nationally, and Georgia’s share of that is significant.
How to Actually Help (Actionable Steps)
If you see a missing person flyer, don't just "like" it. Engagement algorithms are weird; likes don't always mean the post gets seen by more people. Share it. Tag local news outlets.
If you are the one facing a disappearance, here is what you do:
- Call 911 immediately. Do not wait for the morning.
- Gather "identifiers." Police will need the person's height, weight, tattoos, and exactly what they were wearing.
- Secure their digital footprint. If they have a laptop or tablet, keep it safe but don't go poking around and accidentally deleting search history or location data that the GBI might need.
- Contact NCMEC or the Black and Missing Foundation. These nonprofits offer resources that local police departments sometimes can't, like national media reach.
The state of people missing in Georgia is a constant, shifting challenge. It’s a mix of tragic accidents, mental health crises, and, occasionally, the worst of human nature. But the faster we move and the more we pay attention to those "annoying" alerts on our phones, the better the chance we have of bringing someone home.
To stay updated or provide tips, you can always use the GBI "See Something, Send Something" app or call the tip line at 1-800-597-TIPS.
Next Steps for Families and Advocates
- Request a Case File: If a case has been inactive, use the GBI's Open Records Unit to request information on the status of the investigation.
- Update Biological Samples: Ensure that the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) has DNA samples or dental records on file for long-term missing loved ones.
- Utilize Social Media: Create a dedicated "Find [Name]" page to keep the story in the public eye, as local news cycles move quickly.