The Colorado Bureau of Investigation understands that having a loved one go missing can be an extremely overwhelming and confusing time. Please see below for a list of resources that may help you as you continue your search for your loved ones. Additionally, please feel free to fill out the victim services webform below if you would like to share more information about your loved one or if you would like to be contacted by our victim assistance unit.
Please click on the links below for further information on each resource
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC): "The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is a private, non-profit,501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to help find missing children, reduce child sexual exploitation, and prevent child victimization. NCMEC works with families, victims, private industry, law enforcement, and the public to assist with preventing child abductions, recovering missing children, and providing services to deter and combat child sexual exploitation."
Team Hope with The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: "Team HOPE is a group of ordinary people who one day were forced to live every parent's nightmare; we have all experienced the trauma of having a missing or exploited child. We know the pain, fear, frustration, and loneliness that comes with having a missing or sexually exploited child. With this knowledge and experience, we are dedicated to offering compassionate peer support, empathy, understanding, kindness, and friendship to families who are still searching, have recovered their children safely, have located their children deceased, and families with children who have been sexually exploited. We are here to provide hope and walk the journey with other families."
National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs): "By bringing people, information, forensic science, and technology together, NamUs helps resolve missing, unidentified, and unclaimed person cases nationwide."
Forensic Facial Reconstruction: "Facial Reconstructions, also called Facial Approximations, are drawings or sculptures completed by trained forensic artists. The forensic artist is called in by an investigating agency (either Law Enforcement or Coroner/Medical Examiner) when an unidentified deceased person's facial features are no longer recognizable due to decomposition or trauma."
Unidentified Persons: Please see the below list of Colorado's unidentified persons in 2024 (Warning: the below presentation can be triggering for some individuals)
Colorado's Unidentified Persons 2024
The State of Colorado is committed to providing equitable access to our services to all Coloradans. Our ongoing accessibility effort works towards being in line with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1, level AA criteria. If you require an accessible version of this document, please complete the CDPS Issue Reporting, Accommodation and Translation Request Webform or email CDPS_CBI_Website@state.co.us.
Search and Rescue Dogs of the US: "Our mission is to assist Local, State, and Federal search and rescue dog teams by providing education, training and certification to National Standards." **This service can be requested by a Law Enforcement Agency ONLY**
NecroSearch International: "NecroSearch International Inc. is a 501(c)3 volunteer multidisciplinary team of specialists dedicated to assisting law enforcement in the location of clandestine graves and the documentation and recovery of evidence (including human remains)." **This service can be requested by a Law Enforcement Agency ONLY**
Age Progression Sketches: Please see the below resources for forensic art services in Colorado.
Cynthia Marsh: Forensic Artist
Colorado Coroners Association: "The Coroners Office is a statutory office, which is mandated to establish the cause and manner of death."
Families of Homicide Victims &, Missing Persons (FOHVAMP): "Since 2001 FOHVAMP has advocated for the families of cold case homicide victims and persons missing under suspicious circumstances in Colorado. By bringing together families and friends united by a common tragedy, FOHVAMP mentors these individuals seeking justice for their loved ones."
Crime Stoppers : "Crime Stoppers programs are operated as not-for-profit charities and are managed by a volunteer board of directors who take responsibility for fundraising and paying rewards to individuals who anonymously call with information that helps solve crime."
National Runaway Safeline: The National Runaway Safeline is the federally designated national runaway and homeless youth crisis hotline and online service in the United States. Visit the website for more information.
How to legally declare someone as deceased in Colorado?
Colorado Revised Statute 15-10-107
Legal Presumption of Death - Excerpt from The Long Term Missing: Hope and Help for Families by Silvia Pettem (Rowman & Littlefield, 2017)
Colorado Cold Case Database: "The Colorado Cold Case Database features unsolved homicides, missing person, and unidentified person cases to assist law enforcement agencies in the development of information, which can lead to the identification, and arrest of any person(s) who may have committed any crime described on this page." Family members and loved one's of missing persons - Please take a look at the Cold Case Database. If you would like to update any information that is posted about your loved one, or if you would like to add additional photos, please contact Audrey Simkins at 303-239-5764 or Audrey.Simkins@state.co.us.
Genetic Genealogy:
*The State of Colorado is committed to providing equitable access to our services to all Coloradans. Our ongoing accessibility effort works towards being in line with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1, level AA criteria. If you require an accessible version of this document, please complete the CDPS Issue Reporting, Accommodation and Translation Request Webform or email CDPS_CBI_Website@state.co.us.
If you have lost a loved one to a homicide or if you have a loved one who is missing, you are considered a Co-victim of that crime. Our Victim Advocates are here to offer you support, assistance, compassion and understanding. Please visit this Victim Assistance Webform if you would like to share more information about your loved one or if you would like to be contacted by our victim assistance unit. You can also contact us by phone at 303-239-4649.
Missing Persons Co-Victim Support Group:
Is someone you love missing? We are here to help!
Join us for a support group designed specifically for the loved ones of missing persons. Your needs are unique. This group understands, and will introduce you to others going through similar experiences.
This therapist facilitated peer support group give you the opportunity to share with others who, like you, are missing someone they love. Whether that person has been missing for a short time, or for decades, there are others who can share in your challenges and support you as you find ways to cope. Please join us!
For more information contact the Colorado Bureau of Investigation Victim Support Team at 303-239-4649 or email CBI.VictimSupport@state.co.us
You are your loved ones are never forgotten!
Please feel free to contact the Colorado Bureau of Investigation at 303-239-4211 if you have any further questions