Barbara 's Law

This would require all unidentified remains and missing persons cases to be entered into NamUs (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System) in the state of Georgia. This will provide vital resources to law enforcement, coroners, investigators and families in need in the state, in regards to missing loved ones and unidentified remains.

According to the NamUs database, more than 600,000 people go missing every year.

NamUs is more than just a database, it connects law enforcement with tools and resources to resolve missing persons cases and provides technology to safely store, share and compare case information with other criminal justice professionals. 

For medical examiners and coroners, it provides technology and resources to resolve unidentified remains cases across the country. The NamUs analytical division also assists with locating family members for next of kin death notifications and DNA sample collections for comparison.

For families of missing persons, it provides tools to enter and search case information and connects families to criminal justice professionals to assist in the search of their missing loved ones.

NamUs Services:

 The NamUs Database application fills the Nations need for a free, unified, secure online database for unidentified remains and missing persons records.

Forensic services:

 NamUs provides free forensic services, to include forensic odontology, fingerprint examination, forensic anthropology, and DNA analysis. Family DNA kits are also provided at no cost.

Investigative support:

 NamUs' seasoned staff consult on cases and support criminal justice efforts to drive resolution- All free of charge.

Training and Outreach:

 NamUs' subject matter experts provide free training and perform direct outreach to families of the missing person for day of events with agencies across the country.

NamUs currently has 33,601 resolved missing persons cases, 6,293 resolved unidentified remains cases and 2,161 resolved unclaimed persons cases. This is proof that these systems and resources are vital for our communities, especially in the rural communities in our state.

At this time, there are 23,091 open cases for missing persons and 14,414 unidentified remains on the NamUs database. When I asked our local police department, investigators, coroner's office, etc… about NamUs and how to get my Granny, Barbara McCray, entered into the database, no one knew what I was talking about. 

There is no reason that a national database funded by the US Department of Justice should not be required by law to be updated with all missing, unclaimed and unidentified persons in all states. There are 15,650 unclaimed persons / remains cases open on NamUs. These are lost loved ones and could mean closure and justice for so many families.

Currently, there are only 12 states with laws requiring the use of NamUs.

New York, California, Washington, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Illinois, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Connecticut, Texas (Pending), and Pennsylvania.

*All of the information can be found and checked on NamUs.gov*

The experience of searching for a missing loved one and coming up empty handed and left with little to no options is one of the worst and most helpless feelings imaginable, but I believe that NamUs will be a vital resource for our state to have in these cases.

Please sign this petition today to require NamUs to be updated with ALL missing persons, unclaimed persons, and unidentified remains cases (old and new) in the state of Georgia. This will not only help families and loved ones of the missing, but also provide resources to our criminal justice professionals, medical examiners and coroners.

Even if this doesn't lead me and my family to her, I know that it will help so many others who are suffering like we are. My Granny was the matriarch of a huge family and spent her whole life taking care of and serving others, she was so very loved and is missed more and more every day that goes by without her.

I dedicate this to her in the hopes that we can help bring families peace and answers that we all so desperately need.