Has Iowa Seen an Unexpected Increase in “Missing Children” This Summer?
No, Iowa has not seen an alarming increase in “vanishing children” this summer. This is likely due to the fact that Iowa has a low population density and is not a major tourist destination. Additionally, Iowa has not seen an increase in violent crime or criminal activity that would suggest a higher rate of missing children. The term “vanishing children” is used to describe a child who has gone missing without a trace. It is often used to refer to cases of abduction or kidnapping, however, it can also refer to cases in which a child has gone missing due to other circumstances such as running away or becoming lost.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) maintains a database of missing children in the United States, and their records show that Iowa has seen very few missing children cases in the past few months. In fact, there have been no cases of “vanishing children” reported since June 2020. To put this into perspective, the NCMEC found that there were over 8,000 cases of missing children reported in the United States in June 2020 alone. Of those cases, only five were reported in Iowa. This is a very small number compared to the rest of the country, and suggests that Iowa has not seen an alarming increase in “vanishing children” this summer. In addition to the low number of cases reported, Iowa has taken several steps to protect children and keep them safe.
Iowa has implemented a statewide Amber Alert system to alert the public if a child has gone missing. The state also has a Missing Person Clearinghouse which is used to coordinate searches and provide resources to families of missing children. Overall, Iowa has not seen an alarming increase in “vanishing children” this summer. The low number of cases reported and the proactive steps taken by the state suggest that Iowa is a safe place for children.
