COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost today released the 2023 Ohio Missing Children Clearinghouse Report, shedding light on the state’s efforts to address missing children cases. The report highlights both successes and challenges faced by local law enforcement agencies.

Key Findings:

  1. Total Missing Persons:
    • In 2023, the clearinghouse documented 22,374 people missing in Ohio, representing an increase of 1,757 cases compared to the previous year.
    • Of these, 17,405 cases were specifically reports of missing children, marking a significant rise of 1,950 cases from the previous year.
  2. Reunification Rate:
    • Authorities reported a commendable 98% reunification rate for missing children. By the year’s end, 17,033 of the missing children were safely recovered.
    • Unfortunately, five of the children reported missing were found deceased in 2023.
  3. Circumstances of Missing Persons Entries:
    • The annual report provides details on specific circumstances:
      • Runaways: A total of 9,469 casesinvolved runaways, where a child leaves home without permission and stays away overnight.
      • Noncustodial Parent Abductions: There were 35 casesinvolving abduction from a noncustodial parent. In such cases, a parent, other family member, or another person acting on behalf of a parent keeps or conceals a child, depriving another individual of custody or visitation rights.
      • Stranger Abductions: 15 casesinvolved abduction by a stranger.
  4. AMBER Alerts and Endangered Missing Child Alerts:
    • Ohio law enforcement issued 13 AMBER Alerts through the Ohio AMBER Alert Plan in 2023, involving 17 children. Fortunately, 16 childrenwere safely recovered, but one child remains missing.
    • Additionally, 10 Endangered Missing Child Alerts were issued, involving 12 children, and all of them were thankfully recovered safely.

County-Specific Data (Reported Missing in 2023):

  • Pickaway: 45 cases
  • Pike: 19 cases
  • Ross: 89 cases
  • Adams: 19 cases
  • Brown: 21 cases
  • Highland: 22 cases
  • Gallia: 25 cases
  • Jackson: 9 cases
  • Lawrence: 34 cases
  • Meigs: 12 cases
  • Scioto: 93 cases
  • Vinton: 3 cases