This Saturday, DeKalb County is rolling out a lifeline for those grappling with the grueling uncertainty of having a loved one gone missing, as the District Attorney's Office and Medical Examiner's Office band together to host a Missing Persons Event & DNA Drive. Earmarked as a pivotal community engagement initiative, the gathering aims to aid identification efforts and is slated for May 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, confirmed the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office.
Families and individuals bearing the weight of their missing will be able to share vital information, enhance existing reports, and contribute DNA that could potentially turn the tide in ongoing investigations. Registration for the event is encouraged but not mandatory, and you can grab your spot by visiting their website. All gathered data will find its way into national databases like NCIC and NamUs, while DNA samples will boost both law enforcement and genealogical searches through databases like CODIS. Attendees are asked to bear with the airport's bustling milieu as the Good Neighbor Day Air Show will be entertaining the masses simultaneously.
Those set to report a missing person need to arm themselves with a suite of items if accessible: photographs, original police reports, medical documents, and importantly, if possible, family members from divergent branches of the lineage to truly fuel the CODIS search with robust genetic data. On this day, the airport is more than a mere takeoff point for planes — it transforms into a beacon of hope, guiding those lost back to the fold of their families.
The DeKalb County District Attorney's Office explains that their current initiative is not isolated but part of the broader mission of the DeKalb County Cold Case Task Force. They're focusing on solving over 20 unidentified individuals' cases, supported by a significant MUHR Program grant. The goal is to bring closure by identifying these individuals who have remained nameless for too long. If anyone has information about cold cases, the District Attorney encourages them to contact the tip line anonymously if they prefer.
