When we hear about missing children, it seems obvious. However, missing adults are harder to figure out. according to Ms Paula Simpson, producer of the TV series "America's Most Wanted", having a missing person is a very difficult circumstance. A missing adult can leave under their own volition at any time. It's hard to sift through who wants to escape their life or who has gone missing against their will.
High-profile cases are often built by the missing person's family, said Indianapolis private investigator Thomas Lauth. Lauth, who is recommended by the National Center for Missing Adults, has 20 years of experience searching for missing persons in North America. The media has a huge influence on missing person investigations, he said. News coverage can help the search for a missing person, and it can pressure police to make an arrest. Once an arrest is made, the pressure continues to show if the suspect is guilty. "It's just unfortunate that there are so many families out there with missing loved ones that just don't get the attention," Lauth said. "How (does Lisa Stebic) compare to Laci Peterson? To me that's every other adult case out there."