According to the FBI, in the year 2016 there were 647,435 missing people in the United States in all races — and split almost evenly in males and females - with slightly more males. [Males = 325, 129. Missing females = 322,263.] In the category of 17 or younger, nearly 60% were white and 40% were black. But keep in mind that many are teenage runaways that return to run away again and are counted over and over in the annual missing people statistics.
However, there is another mysterious category that is only about one-half of 1% of that total. Those are the people who disappear, searches are carried out without finding any trace of the missing person, but days later the dead body is suddenly found where dozens of family and law enforcement had been searching. Then local coroners or state and federal investigators are supposed to examine the body, but the family often can’t get a copy of an official report. Or coroners say the cause of death is unknown. Or sometimes drug overdose is used as a catch-all explanation to satisfy the public and media without telling the truth.
The Feds know about all this, and it is being locked down. Got that straight from the mouth of a now retired 25+ year NPS backcountry ranger. To read more, click here.