SUFFOLK, Va. — This year, 163 children have been reported missing in Virginia, 99 of whom are Black, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. That's six in 10 cases.
The data comes as WTKR News 3 reported on three missing juveniles in Hampton Roads just this week, as missing cases tend to go up in the summer months when kids are out of school.
This also follows viral social media posts highlighting the disproportionate numbers of reported missing Black children in Virginia.
Experts say the disproportionality requires context. Children can go missing for many different reasons, including family conflict or staying with another family member without permission.
Missing Persons
Disproportionately high numbers of Black children reported missing in Virginia
LaShonda Carson, the program director at Samaritan House — an organization that helps people who have experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and homelessness — says some children feel unwelcome at home and seek comfort elsewhere.
"Kids that are just, you know, frustrated. They feel unheard, unwelcomed sometimes in their home environment and feel a sense of comfort and community in a different environment," Carson said.
Carson says some children can also go missing due to more serious circumstances, including being lured away from home or family financial instability. She says it is important to understand the complexity behind these cases, especially when it comes to how communities respond to missing children of color.
"There's oftentimes a response of fear vs concern when there's a single or group of youth, particularly minority ones, and that garners a completely different response," Carson said. "If I see a teen boy on the street, am I going to fear that person or invest in concern for their well-being."
Carson also says communities should pay attention to all missing children cases, regardless of race or background.
In Virginia, state law requires missing child reports to be entered into state and national databases within two hours, helping cases spread quickly across law enforcement agencies. This also accounts for why numbers in Virginia appear higher than in other states — fueling false online speculation of mass abductions in viral TikToks.
Watch previous coverage: VSP refutes mass child abduction claims made in viral TikToks
News 3 has reached out to The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Black and Missing Foundation, both were unavailable for an interview.
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