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IF YOUR CHILD IS MISSING, please contact the law enforcement agency of jurisdiction at the place of disappearance and file a missing person report immediately! Often the first 24 hours are the most critical for locating a missing child. Local law enforcement must also be notified before Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit (MUPU) can become involved.

• If you have reported a missing child and need assistance in locating the child, contact MUPU at 1-800-543-5678 or MUPU@wsp.wa.gov.
  
  
• You will also need to file a report with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678

What You Can Do If Your Child is Missing:

• If the child is missing from home, begin by thoroughly searching the house. Be sure to check any places a child could crawl, hide, and possibly fall asleep.

• If your child disappears when you are away from home — at a shopping center, for example — notify the manager of the store and the security office. Request assistance in finding your child. Then telephone the police immediately.

• If your child has run away, contact friends of the child; chances are good they've confided their plans to a friend. This information should be provided to law enforcement.

• When talking with law enforcement, try to stay calm. Identify yourself, and give your location. Ask that an officer be sent to take a report on your missing child.

• Be prepared to give descriptive information on your child including name, height, weight, and date of birth. Also provide information on specific identifiers such as eye glasses, braces, pierced ears, and a description of the clothing your child was last seen wearing.

• Listen carefully to the instructions of the police and respond to their questions.

• Request that your child be immediately entered into the National Crime Information Center's (NCIC) Missing Person File. This will assist other law enforcement agencies in identifying your if they are located in another community.

• Contact the Washington State Patrol Missing & Unidentified Persons Unit. You may contact the program by calling 1-800-543-5678.

• Contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by calling their nationwide toll free number 1-800-THE-LOST.

MUPU Contact Information

• Mailing Address

  • Washington State Patrol
    Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit
    PO Box 2347
    Olympia, WA 98507-2347

• Phone and E-mail

  • 24-Hour Toll Free: 1-800-543-5678
  • E-mail us at: MUPU@wsp.wa.gov

Missing & Unidentified Persons Unit

MUPU Quick Links

• Contact Information
• Homeward Bound Page
• Missing & Exploited Children Task Force
• Missing Persons FAQs
• Missing Children Page
• Prevention Checklist
• Prevention & Resources
• WA State Alert Plans