What happens when a loved one disappears? Here’s what police say you should do

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Police agencies around metro Atlanta say they are some of the toughest cases to investigate and resolve: Missing persons cases can involve a variety of factors, often making it a difficult and lengthy process to give families the closure they are often looking for.

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Channel 2 Action News Anchor Justin Wilfon spoke with Gwinnett County police Public Information Officer Hideshi Valle about these type of cases. Valley said they could be runaways or trafficking victims with some ending up dead.

“I would say it’s a combination of all of the above. I know we actively try to work all these cases,” Valle said.

Gwinnett County police are looking for help from the public with the case of a woman whose skull was found in Buford. Thursday afternoon, they released a sketch of what they believe she looked like at one point.

In April, a Channel 2 Action News crew went along with police as they searched for clues in the case near some woods off Hamilton Mill Road.

“It’s very unusual. Luckily we don’t have these cases that often. I know our missing person’s search engine was searched and we didn’t find any leads on our end from here in Gwinnett,” Valle said.

Valle also explained that families often believe they should wait 24 to 48 hours to report a loved one who has gone missing. Gwinnett police say do not do that. They strongly encourage everyone to report it immediately.

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Wilfon spoke to Eric Roberts, whose daughter 20-year-old Keeslyn vanished on Jan. 18, 2020. Roberts said it’s been incredibly difficult to express the depth of his pain some 16 months after his daughter disappeared.

“It’s been very hard. It’s just the not knowing factor,” Roberts said.

Eric said he eventually found Keeslyn’s car and some clothing at a gas station in Gordon County, but could not find her. Wilfon asked if Roberts still believes his daughter is alive.

“No, I don’t,” Roberts said.

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Kesslyn is one of dozens of missing people across the state of Georgia found on the GBI’s website. Eric said he believes his daughter got mixed up with drugs and with the “wrong” crowd.

“Don’t know if somebody got her and put her in trafficking, sex trafficking or if she owed money to somebody bad. Don’t know,” said Roberts.

Roberts, like many other families desperate to find their loved ones, started a GoFundMe to help raise money for a $20,000 reward to anyone with information leading to whoever took his daughter.

“I will not stop until I find them,” Roberts said.

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