Missing Persons Investigations: How a Licensed Private Investigator Can Help

When someone goes missing, it’s an emotionally overwhelming and time-sensitive situation. Whether it’s a loved one, a vulnerable adult, or someone you’ve lost contact with under unusual circumstances, every minute matters. While law enforcement plays a crucial role in these situations, private investigators can provide focused, independent help—especially when cases stall or involve sensitive personal details.

At Easton Secure Solutions LLC, we specialize in missing persons investigations and offer licensed, professional services across New York City, Long Island, and remote support nationwide. Here's how we can assist when someone you care about has vanished—and what makes our approach different.

 
What Is a Missing Persons Investigation?

A missing persons investigation involves locating an individual whose whereabouts are unknown and whose absence may be concerning or unexplained. It is not limited to criminal cases—many people disappear voluntarily, leave without informing family, or become unreachable due to mental health issues, addiction, or homelessness.

While the police are often the first call, private investigators can step in for parallel efforts—especially in cases where:

• The police aren’t taking action due to voluntary disappearance
• You’re looking for a missing adult, not classified as endangered
• There are family conflicts or privacy concerns
• The case requires surveillance or extensive OSINT research
• You’re out of state, but the person is believed to be in New York
   

  Common Types of Missing Persons We Help Locate

Some missing person cases don't fall under law enforcement's jurisdiction or are deprioritized due to limited resources. These include:

• Runaways or young adults who voluntarily left home
• Estranged family members or long-lost relatives
  
• Individuals struggling with addiction or mental illness
• People experiencing homelessness
• Former romantic partners who’ve cut off contact
• Witnesses or parties related to civil disputes

Important Note: You do not need to wait 24 hours to report someone missing. Contrary to popular belief, most jurisdictions, including New York, encourage immediate reporting—especially for children or adults at risk.

Also, a missing person should typically be reported to the police in the jurisdiction where they reside, even if they went missing elsewhere. Police can then coordinate efforts across agencies.

 
How a Private Investigator Can Help Find a Missing Person

1. Advanced OSINT (Open Source Intelligence)
Our investigations rely heavily on advanced OSINT techniques, which go far beyond a basic internet search. Using cutting-edge tools, we can:

• Identify social media activity (even when accounts are hidden or inactive)
• Analyze username patterns, email footprints, and IP-linked content
• Discover location clues from online behavior
• Correlate public data with real-world indicators

Many missing individuals continue to use online services, leave digital trails, or appear on platforms unknown to the general public. We know how to find them.

2. Field Investigation & Surveillance (Local to NYC/Long Island)
When necessary, we deploy licensed field investigators to:

• Conduct discreet surveillance
• Interview neighbors, acquaintances, or key contacts
• Verify leads in person
• Locate shelters, encampments, or hospitals in the area

In many cases, a person is still physically nearby but hard to find due to transience or avoidance.

3. Reviewing Local Resources & Institutions
We check:

• Area hospitals, treatment centers, or shelters
• Local jail rosters or recent arrests
• Outreach centers or places the person has a history with

Especially in New York City and Long Island, there are dozens of potential touchpoints that aren’t always captured by centralized systems.

 
What Makes Our Missing Persons Investigations Unique

• We Specialize in Non-Criminal Disappearances
  • Our focus is on non-skip tracing, person-locating cases involving emotional, sensitive, or long-term disappearances. These cases often require more nuanced work than simply finding someone’s mailing address or current employer.
• We Work Quickly and Independently
  • You don’t need a court order, police file, or attorney to start. If you have a legitimate concern and enough identifying information, we can begin an investigation promptly.
• We Maintain Full Confidentiality
  • Every case is handled with strict discretion. We understand the emotional sensitivity of locating someone—and we always approach contact (if needed) with care.

 
Real Case Example (Thumbtack Contractor Disappearance)

A family in Nassau County hired a contractor they found on Thumbtack, who accepted a deposit and then disappeared without completing the work. After police said it was a civil matter, the client turned to Easton Secure Solutions LLC.

Using advanced OSINT, public record research, NYS DMV and local investigative work, we:

• Identified the real name behind the contractor’s profile
• Confirmed their recent movement across multiple boroughs
• Verified their employment at a different contracting firm
• Provided the client with the information needed to pursue small claims action

While the contractor wasn’t legally “missing,” they were intentionally avoiding contact—and this case proves how a licensed PI can uncover someone who is purposefully staying under the radar.

 
Understanding the Role of Law Enforcement

It’s critical to know that in criminal or endangered cases, the police are the priority. They have:

• Access to national databases
• Authority to issue alerts and warrants
• Tools like cell tower tracking, surveillance footage access, and more

However, their involvement is often limited when the case doesn’t meet strict criteria (e.g., voluntary absence, adult over 18, no signs of foul play). That’s where a private investigator steps in—to support, not replace, official efforts.

 
When to Call a Private Investigator

You should consider hiring a Licensed Private Investigator if:

• The police won’t open a case or have stopped actively searching
• You need discreet inquiries made into someone’s location
• The missing person is not officially declared endangered
• You’re trying to reconnect with someone who left under non-criminal circumstances
• You need fast, independent results without bureaucracy
   

  Missing Person Resources

If someone you care about has gone missing, it’s important to take immediate action. These resources can help you get started:

Click the Links below:

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) – Offers support, tips, and a 24/7 hotline for missing children cases.
National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) – A free, national database for missing persons and unidentified remains.
New York State Missing Persons Clearinghouse – State-level assistance and information for missing persons in New York.
National Runaway Safeline – Support and resources for runaway and at-risk youth.
FBI Kidnapping & Missing Persons – Information on ongoing federal missing persons cases.

If you need discreet, professional help in locating a missing loved one, Easton Secure Solutions LLC can assist with legal and ethical investigations.

Final Thoughts: Working Together for the Same Goal

Police and private investigators don’t have to be in conflict—we’re often pursuing the same goal from different angles. And while law enforcement remains the best first step in truly urgent or criminal disappearances, private investigators can fill in the gaps, offer specialized tools, and move faster when there’s no red tape involved.

 
Licensed in New York — Remote Services Available Nationwide

Easton Secure Solutions LLC is fully licensed in New York and provides remote investigative services across the United States, with local field support in New York City and Long Island.

 
Need Help Locating Someone? We’re Ready to Start.
If someone has vanished from your life, you don’t have to face it alone. Whether it’s a missing family member, an estranged loved one, or someone avoiding contact, we’re here to help—ethically, legally, and effectively.

👉 Learn more about our Person Locate services here.

📞 Call us today at (516) 962-1267
📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Visit our website https://eastonsecuresolutions.com

Let’s find the answers you need.