There are more than 6,600 people still missing as a result of Hurricane Katrina, according to the National Center for Missing Adults, a group working with the Justice Department on the issue.
The missing are out there, somewhere. Alive or dead or … just plain gone with the wind.
"What a perfect time for someone to disappear," says Gary Hargrove, Harrison County coroner and member of an ad hoc task force working to locate the missing from the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, of the circumstances surrounding the destruction of Hurricane Katrina.
Hargrove’s task force has winnowed the missing list from the 1,300s down to just 68. "But really, there are only 12 missing," he says quite matter-of-factly. And frankly, it’s only those 12 he’s really concerned about. "The other 56 are child molesters or other types of criminal" that have likely used the chaos wrought by Katrina to slip into the wind, Hargrove said. "These are people that don’t want to be found, aren’t going to be found."
The dozen remaining missing are likely deceased, Hargrove acknowledged; however, without a body he can’t declare them dead. And so the wait goes on, even if the searching has long since stopped.
Into the wind
"Into the wind." It’s a euphemistic phrase for something that’s gone, unlikely to be retrieved. And as sure as the magnolias will bloom again along this shattered coast, there are those that have used the tragedy of Katrina to simply slip away, to get into the wind.
Authorities suspect that many people who are still listed as "missing" in Hancock County chose to slip away in the post-Katrina chaos to start new lives elsewhere. (John Brecher / MSNBC.com file)
"I feel comfortable saying certainly there are individuals out there that may take a tragedy (like Hurricane Katrina or 9/11) and use it as an opportunity to maybe escape from things going on in their lives; change their location, etc.," says Erin Bruno, lead case manager at the National Center for Missing Adults.
Bruno didn’t have any hard statistics on how many people might have gone missing on purpose after Katrina hit, "but my guess is that it’s going to be less than 10 percent," she said. "I’ve come across a few cases, assisting with Hurricane Katrina families, where individuals have done such a thing but I think those cases are few and far between," Bruno said.
Most of those still missing in the regions affected by Katrina are probably alive and trying to get in touch with family members but they just don’t have any records or means to do that, Bruno said. "Many of those still missing we’re hoping are OK, and are just in a different location, trying to touch base with their loved ones," she said.
In terms of comparing the missing from Katrina and those listed as missing as a result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, "there’s really no comparison," says Tal Moise, CEO of Verified Person, a private firm that does corporate backgrounder screening. Where 9/11 was a short, sharp, horrific incident, its impact and affected area were largely constrained to a small geographic area; Katrina blew away whole chunks of three states, said Moise, who has volunteered the services of his company to local law enforcement agencies in order to help track down and keep tabs on various criminal types that used Katrina as an opportunity to disappear.
In the New Orleans area, Human Rights Watch compared an official list of all inmates held at the Orleans Parish Prison prior to Katrina hitting with a list of inmate evacuees complied by the state Department of Corrections and Public Safety and found 517 missing names. Many of those missing included men that had been jailed for criminal trespass, drunk in public or disorderly conduct, Human Rights Watch said. Many of those hadn’t even been charged, much less convicted, the group said.
Attempts to reach the Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety weren’t successful. However, a spokeswoman for the Orleans Parish sheriff’s department told Human Rights Watch that search-and-rescue teams scoured the jail facilities and she insisted that "nobody drowned, nobody was left behind."
"What did we learn from 9/11? We learn that fraud occurs," Moise said. "Whether that’s done for insurance purposes or it’s done as a way to start life over or it’s done because it’s such a mental trauma for the individual to live through, some people become listed as deceased who were not," he said. "And some families attempted to collect settlements in order to take advantage of a very unfortunate situation," he said.
No reason to come back
Many of the Katrina victims still missing throughout the region might simply just have decided there’s nothing to come back to or for, Moise notes, and so they’ve stayed away, leaving friends behind still wondering about them.
Still others, like sex offenders or other criminal types, possibly saw Katrina as an opportunity to get out from under a watchful eye, Moise figures. Although sex offenders are required by law to register with local law enforcement officials when they relocate, the impetus is all on the sex offender. If offenders never register, the local authorities would likely never know they are there.
Verified Person has a nationwide database system able to track any convicted sex offender. "Whenever a new point of knowledge comes up about that individual, a flag goes off in our system," Moise said. "At that point we notify the local police, if they are working with us, that a new sex offender has moved into their location."
Individuals whose livelihood will be benefited by a re-establishment of their identity in a new location will use (disasters) to get lost, Moise said. "A natural tragedy is only a reason for it [relocation] to occur in a very short window of time," he said. "Any of these guys can get on a bus, go two states over and get lost just as easily at any time and any place. The disaster did not cause them to go away; it gave them the impetus to do it at the same time."
Making tracks
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This is an unbelievable (in the literal sense) story. So this is why the death-toll which is so low. Because the powers-that-be are assuming that 6600 people just up and walked out. While I could believe that a few did take the opportunity to drop out of society, the thought that because someone was arrested while drunk or committed some other misdemenor is going to take the opportunity to hide from the world is pretty farfetched. I'm glad at least one official did say that it is probably "less than 10 percent". Is there no one that could possibly believe, especially since it seems that the largest number of missing persons in on the Mississippi coast, that they were washed out to sea? If they are not found in a reasonable length of time, say 6 months, they should be counted in the official death toll.
Stephen W, Blacksburg VA (Sent Dec 9, 2005 5:25:14 PM)
all criminals should have a GPA device surgically implanted in them so they can be easily tracked anywhere in the world.
Kev, RI (Sent Dec 9, 2005 5:25:15 PM)
About people that lost each other in a disaster like "Katrina".
It should be simple to put up a message-board on any web-site where the"lost-and-looking" could post their where-abouts and means to get in touch.
Give me a web-site and I will donate the space for that purpose.
John Schenck Toronto Ontario (Sent Dec 9, 2005 5:28:24 PM)
I hope none of these people come to Oregon! The good or the bad. I think the crime would follow shortly after.
Justin W., Medford, Oregon (Sent Dec 9, 2005 5:29:30 PM)
Maybe we can give the missing policmen in New Orleans a chance to find the missing criminals to get there jobs back. Since the cops that bailed have just been fired,,,,I am thinking bring back 2 criminals and get your job back.
Eric, Medford Oregon (Sent Dec 9, 2005 5:31:33 PM)
Feedback from all these other folks not withstanding, I'm amused by all the misspelled words in their blogs and some of their disjointed thoughts as well. It is too bad that our government can't seem to coordinate a tracking system nationwide for the sex offenders instead of relying on these fine young criminals to automatically report in when they move to another area. Did somebody say there was a fox near the hen house? Oh well. Business as usual I guess.
Cathy Titchenal, Klickitat, WA (Sent Dec 9, 2005 5:31:33 PM)
I suspect that some of the people who are "missing" probably are people with huge in debt problems as well.
James Hustead, Jacksonville, FL. (Sent Dec 9, 2005 5:34:05 PM)
Hopefully, the criminals and the people that wanted
to "get lost" will make a new start and live a productive life.
Cynthia W. El Paso Texas (Sent Dec 9, 2005 5:39:05 PM)
Kev....we might even outfit them w/ GPS devices. I think a GPA device would be lost on these degenerates.
Brad, Atlanta GA (Sent Dec 9, 2005 5:42:48 PM)
If I was a criminal, I would do the same thing. I think the laws that label you a sexual offender for life are a little over the edge. Why can killers get out of prison and then go live where they want to without having to notifying the police? I would much rather know there are killers in my neighborhood. Doesen't seem quit fail to me. I'm sure some will commit new crimes, but most will get caught again.
Kyle (Sent Dec 9, 2005 5:48:58 PM)
Here's an idea...why not arrest and detain all those child molesters when they show up to apply for federal and/or state aid?
R.S., Dallas, TX. (Sent Dec 9, 2005 5:49:41 PM)
Now, really, who COULDN'T evacuate? People who were so backward that they had no TV or radio, to know there was an evacuation happening? Hmmm. Maybe some folks were "too busy" with their lives, to plan ahead, or have a car, or work for a decent job, so they could protect themselves and their families from the threat.
It would seem obvious that there were a lot of "grasshoppers", rather than "ants", in New Orleans. The "ants" planned ahead and got out when it was time. The "grasshoppers" found they had wasted their time, and now were at the mercy of nature.
Darwin called it "Natural Selection".
Doug, NYC (Sent Dec 9, 2005 5:52:16 PM)
Backgrounds checks are used for nothing else but legalize discrimination. Do you know how hard it is too get misinformation off your record? It will just create another class of citzen. I also love the ankle monitoring deal.
Why not just have every citzen get an implant in their arm. Those that committ a crime are tagged as a criminal. There could even be different class systems.
Such as this:
Job status = Employed
Threat status = Low (Medium pass crime) (High wanted)
Tax Paying status = Paid current
Overall status = Green
Ever U.S. Citzen would have to get the implant. There would be NO ID theft and people who and what you are. You would put sensor readers all over cities and counties. The RFID sensor might be a good start as a sensor. At the end of the day it's just inventory control. Scary but could work. ACLU might not like it but the ends justify the means. If you did not want a sensor what do you have to hide?
Orson Welles, Hollywood California (Sent Dec 9, 2005 5:52:47 PM)
The government failed to get me out, failed to respond quickly and left me to suffer. I lost everything. Reality is, I could have left and saved myself and family. But that would take effort on my part. Now feed me, cloth me, and build me a home. Oh and where is my debit card? Job? You mean go to work in New Orleans! Work, what a dirty word. Where are the illegal immigrants when you need them!
rogers, Gainesville, Fl (Sent Dec 9, 2005 6:04:42 PM)
Dear "Orson",
I hope that was a joke.
Love,
George Orwell
George Orwell, Oceania (Sent Dec 9, 2005 6:14:50 PM)
Let's face facts, if someone wants to go missing, whatever the reason, they will do so and be successful. Just like after 9/11, our government is fighting the previous war. There has been an outpouring of funds that will produce no results whatsoever. The British were so right with their headline following the 2004 election..."How can 84,000,000 Americans be so stupid"
Steve, NJ (Sent Dec 9, 2005 6:20:23 PM)
So the govt has declared the missing to be miscreants. How convenient. We abandon them to die and now we can shrug and say, "Who died? They're just cowards who ran away. They're lowlifes too stupid to evacuate and so therefore deserving of abandonment and death." It was Darwin who wrote, "The poor deserve to die." And that Christ fellow, he said, "Let the poor drown, serves 'em right. For the rich will inherit the earth."
If only a hurricane would hit Washington, DC, so that the miscreant lowlifes there -- and you know who you are, Dubya & the Silver Spoon Mafia, Inc -- could slink off and hide, too.
Oh, sorry, I forgot, we're not allowed to hold the politicians who run things responsible for anything. Thank you, George "Don't blame me, I'm just the President" Bush for that civics lesson.
George Orwell, Missoula, MT (Sent Dec 9, 2005 6:40:58 PM)
6600 missing? Allegedly we have 100,000 ex-New Orleanians here in Houston. But one never sees them!
Seldom do you even see a Louisiana license plate on cars. Oh, I know where they are... holed up in their
free (still) hotel rooms. I guess looking for work is
too new of a concept for them.
Martin Sundholm, Nassau Bay,TX (Sent Dec 9, 2005 6:46:32 PM)
Orson, RFIDs might be a start, but you can't stop there. We must put cameras in everyone's homes, because that's where most crime occurs. One thing I have noticed in my work as an attorney is that the Guilty scream the loudest for law enforcement. It throws everyone off. So, I would start with all of these people here. If they aren't Guilty of anything, they won't mind, will they?
Ray Bradbury, City Hall (Sent Dec 9, 2005 6:48:29 PM)
I think the government must also give there concern to those unemployed people for they might commit crime. It might give them another horrible problem!
Jay, Philippines (Sent Dec 9, 2005 7:10:28 PM)
This is just trashy, sensastionalistic journalism. I can read better junk in the "National Enquirer." The first paragraph says 6600 missing, then that drops down to 1300 missing, then to 68 missing. By paragraph four, it is twelve missing. It must be a very slow newsday.
Michael Brady, Tucson (Sent Dec 9, 2005 7:23:41 PM)
Most of you people do not seem to understand. How in the world do you expect an already tapped out state or county to pay for someone else's child fetish? The officials supposed to be keeping with up them have a hard time doing that, and trying to do all the other jobs that come along with it. Ankle monitors are a joke, and massive waste of time & money. How long do you think they will wear it? If they do take it off & it sounds the alarm, how far away will that subject be when the authorities arrive? As for the FBI finding these folks when they get a job... PLEASE. Won't happen. How many of these people do you think are using their real names or social security numbers if they have went some where else? If they are, do you really think that they are working for taxed money? I highly doubt it. They work as carpenters, handy men, etc and getting paid under the table. If you have a pool guy, or gardner, have you ever wondered where they came from? Most of these people can disappear, and you would never know who they were until they got arrested & fingerprinted again. That is the only way they will show up.
Monica Gainesville, GA (Sent Dec 9, 2005 8:26:45 PM)
Why don't they use the same computer chip identifier for convicted sex offenders that they use in animals? That way they can be tracked if they go to a hospital?
schmeltz, minneapolis (Sent Dec 9, 2005 8:30:34 PM)
Names and pictures please. Now!
Raven Stands Alone - Jacksonville, Florida (Sent Dec 10, 2005 3:59:49 PM)
THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY THOUGHT OF ALL THE DETAILS OF THESE RAPEST AND CHILD MOLESTERS. CHIPS, ANKLE MONITORS, ECT. IT'S BECAUSE IT HASN'T HAPPENED TO THEM. IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO A CHILD OF THE PRESIDENT YOU BET YOUR --- THEY WOULD FIND THESE SICK PEOPLE. THEIR SITTING COMFORTABLE IN THEIR LEATHER RECLINERS WATCHING TV WAITING ON SOMETHING TO HAPPEN. IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ONE OF MY CHILDREN I WOULD HAVE TO DISCARD OF THESE CHILD MOLESTERS MYSELF.
AMARILLO,TX (Sent Dec 10, 2005 4:02:45 PM)
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