At Outpost for Hope, we believe every child matters. But the reality is that not every lost or missing person is being accounted for, as is evident by the disparity in the reporting of unidentified deceased John and Jane Does.

Outpost for Hope and other forensic experts believe there are more than 40,000 unknown deceased persons across the nation, although the FBI reports only around 6,000 in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database. No one really knows how many of these unidentified persons could be someone's lost loved one who is unreported as missing; but one thing is certain: each one had a name before he or she became an unknown and unaccounted-for statistic.

There is new hope today as a result of NamUs - The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) is a clearinghouse for missing persons and unidentified decedent records. NamUs is a free online system that can be searched by medical examiners, coroners, law enforcement officials and the general public to solve these cases

The Unidentified Decedents Database contains information entered by medical examiners and coroners. Unidentified decedents are people who have died and whose bodies have not been identified. Anyone can search this database using characteristics such as sex, race, distinct body features and even dental information.

The Missing Persons Database contains information about missing persons that can be entered by anyone; before it appears as a case on NamUs, the information is verified. NamUs provides the ability to print missing persons posters and even map out possible travel routes in a search for a missing person. Other resources include links to state clearinghouses, medical examiner and coroner offices, law enforcement agencies, victim assistance groups and pertinent legislation.

When a new missing persons or unidentified decedent case is entered into NamUs, the system automatically performs cross-matching comparisons between the databases, searching for matches or similarities between cases.

NamUs also provides free DNA testing and other forensic services, such as anthropology and odontology assistance. Visit www.namus.gov to learn more.