Over 50 years ago, 24-year-old James Norris of San Francisco disappeared leaving his family in Fairfield distraught and devastated.So they filed a missing persons report with police, then spent the next three-and-a-half decades waiting and wondering.“He just said he was taking a trip and left his dog with us, and we never saw him again. That was in 1974,” said Norris’ sister Rosemary Southward. “We spent 36 years not knowing where James was, what happened to him.”Advances in computer technology, missing persons and crime information data sharing among national agencies, and enhanced DNA processing capabilities over the years eventually helped crack the cold case of James’ disappearance.But his sister Rosemary says no family should have to wait that long for answers.That’s where an event like Find CA Missing comes in.Hosted by the state’s Department of Justice Saturday on the campus of Sacramento State University, Find CA Missing gets law enforcement agencies and missing persons advocacy groups, all in one place.The groups then assist families in working to find their long-term missing loved ones — free of charge.“There’s approximately 23,000 active missing person cases just in California and about 3,500 unidentified deceased remains cases throughout the state,” said Megan Eschleman of the California DOJ.At the event, missing persons cases can be checked or added to with photos, dental, or military records. DNA samples can be collected for cross checking, and any paperwork that may help the case can be filed.“When people experience the loss of a loved one, they don’t always think of everything that first time that they’re talking with an officer,” explained Eschleman about the importance of events like Find CA Missing.Rosemary Southward only wishes this kind of outreach happened at the time of her brother’s disappearance.“Since I’ve been in the shoes of the families that are out of hope, they don’t know how the system works. They might just feel that their case is forgotten,” she said.Now she hopes what’s offered here ultimately brings these families a sense of relief. A feeling of peace, much sooner.“I don’t want a family to have to wait for answers like that. Not when there’s hope out there. There’s help.”If you missed the Find CA Missing event, you can get connected with helpful resources on the justice department’s website at this link.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Over 50 years ago, 24-year-old James Norris of San Francisco disappeared leaving his family in Fairfield distraught and devastated.
So they filed a missing persons report with police, then spent the next three-and-a-half decades waiting and wondering.
“He just said he was taking a trip and left his dog with us, and we never saw him again. That was in 1974,” said Norris’ sister Rosemary Southward. “We spent 36 years not knowing where James was, what happened to him.”
Advances in computer technology, missing persons and crime information data sharing among national agencies, and enhanced DNA processing capabilities over the years eventually helped crack the cold case of James’ disappearance.
But his sister Rosemary says no family should have to wait that long for answers.
That’s where an event like Find CA Missing comes in.
Hosted by the state’s Department of Justice Saturday on the campus of Sacramento State University, Find CA Missing gets law enforcement agencies and missing persons advocacy groups, all in one place.
The groups then assist families in working to find their long-term missing loved ones — free of charge.
“There’s approximately 23,000 active missing person cases just in California and about 3,500 unidentified deceased remains cases throughout the state,” said Megan Eschleman of the California DOJ.
At the event, missing persons cases can be checked or added to with photos, dental, or military records. DNA samples can be collected for cross checking, and any paperwork that may help the case can be filed.
“When people experience the loss of a loved one, they don’t always think of everything that first time that they’re talking with an officer,” explained Eschleman about the importance of events like Find CA Missing.
Rosemary Southward only wishes this kind of outreach happened at the time of her brother’s disappearance.
“Since I’ve been in the shoes of the families that are out of hope, they don’t know how the system works. They might just feel that their case is forgotten,” she said.
Now she hopes what’s offered here ultimately brings these families a sense of relief. A feeling of peace, much sooner.
“I don’t want a family to have to wait for answers like that. Not when there’s hope out there. There’s help.”
If you missed the Find CA Missing event, you can get connected with helpful resources on the justice department’s website at this link.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google