I picked up my grandsons (7 and 8) at school again today.

[Mariana]

46. It doesn't help at all

that some like to publicize the numbers of kids who are reported missing, rather than the numbers of actual kidnappings. The overwhelming majority of children reported missing are not in any danger, they just aren't where they're supposed to be.

There's a reason the first thing the cops do when a child is reported missing is to search the kid's house - it's because a lot of them are found sleeping, in a closet, behind the sofa, under the porch or in some such place. But, they nevertheless get added to that scary number of children reported missing, yes indeed.

My kid was reported missing when she was three. She was visiting her aunt and uncle, and she got sick of them, so she set out to walk home. She went about 1/2 mile before someone noticed her. That person called the police and stayed with her until the officer arrived. By the time she was reported missing, she'd already been found.

There was a story posted here a few months ago about a kid who got lost in the woods, and was found safe after several days. Some people here were/are absolutely convinced he was abducted, kept for awhile, and then let go. Never mind there was zero evidence that happened, never mind that the police, the FBI, and the kid's doctors didn't think so, and never mind that a kidnapping and release scenario made no sense on any level.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211734071