Sunday, June 7, 2009

Fresh Start For Cold Cases

At last we have enough information on a couple missing Kentucky couple, Claude and Sue Shelton, to include them into NamUs.

https://www.findthemissing.org/cases/2057

https://www.findthemissing.org/cases/20578

The couple have not been seen by family since spring of 1971.

The Kentucky State Police recently began family reference sampling from relatives of the couple including their daughters. A broader sampling is in the works.

Though talks were already in progress between Shelton family and KSP -- a local Doe Network researcher, Angie Bunch, accelerated the conversation between the family and NamUs. Once connected we were quickly able to revise and fill in several gaps of data in the file. Efforts are taken to fill more of the blanks will continue.

KSP & NamUs have been working closely to enter several Kentucky's Missing into the NamUs database. But family members of the missing are invited to begin the process themselves - if they have a local missing report on file.

It is imperative that family members are able to provide valid information on their missing loved ones including current dental information and X-rays if possible.

The NamUs system - http://www.namus.gov/ is composed of two databases.

http://www.findthemissing.org/

&

http://www.identifyus.org/

If you have a missing loved one -- even long term like the Shelton case, gather your facts and consider using NamUs. Missing persons cases can be listed by registering as a public user at http://www.findthemissing.org/

A simple search before entering your case information will help you determine if your loved has already been entered into the system.

Efforts are also underway to review a long term Jane Doe case in Harlen County, Kentucky. Unidentified for 40 years and counting.

http://www.wkyt.com/wymtnews/headlines/47071827.html

NamUs is funded through a grant from the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.