Over the past several years, Amber Alerts have been issued for missing children across several different U.S. states, prompting manhunts from law enforcement agencies and concern among family members.
In 2022, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs and Amber Alert published a report, showing that there were 227 Amber Alerts involving children in different states across the U.S.
"Of the 181 AMBER Alerts issued in this time frame, 180 cases resulted in a recovery, 16 of which were successfully recovered as a direct result of an AMBER Alert being issued," the agencies said in a 2022 report. "As of March 10, 2023, when statistics for this report were finalized for the AMBER Alerts issued in 2022, one child remained actively missing and four children were located deceased."
A map created by Newsweek using data from the report shows which states have seen the most Amber alerts in 2022. According to the data, there were 31 Amber Alerts in Texas in 2022, 14 in Georgia, 13 in Florida and 12 in North Carolina. A number of other states saw eight or less Amber Alerts in 2022, such as Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, California, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Colorado, Washington and Wisconsin.
"From January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, 181 AMBER Alerts originated in 42 states," the report said. Throughout 2022, over 90 percent of children reported missing through Amber Alerts were recovered within 72 hours of the alert being issued.
According to the NCMEC, there are currently four active Amber Alerts with two in Texas, and one each in Wisconsin and Tennessee. So far in 2024, there have been 41 Amber Alerts, with 37 of these alerts being cancelled.
In Houston, Texas, an Amber Alert was issued on February 28 for 12-year-old E'minie Hughes, after she disappeared from her home in the late hours of February 22. Hughes was last seen entering a pickup truck near her home on February 22 and is believed to be wearing "a white crop top and pink joggers." While speaking with KPRC news in Houston, Hughes' mother said, "Anything could have happened, even though we're going to pray for the best."
In Weslaco, Texas, an Amber Alert was issued on February 29, for 13-year-old Esmeralda Mireles, who is believed to be in "grave or immediate danger." Police said that they were searching for 37-year-old Luis Gomez in connection with Mireles' disappearance.
On February 26, an Amber Alert in Hendersonville, Tennessee, was issued for 15-year-old Sebastian Rogers, who was last seen "wearing a black sweatshirt, black sweatpants, and glasses."
"Sebastian has a medical condition that may impair his ability to return safely without assistance," the Amber Alert said.
In Wisconsin's Manitowoc County, an Amber Alert was issued for 3-year-old Elijah Vue, who is believed to have been abducted on February 20.
"He was last seen wearing gray sweat pants, long sleeve dark colored shirt and red and green dinosaur slip on shoes," the Amber Alert said, adding that Vue is believed to weigh around 50 pounds and has a height of around 3 feet.
In New Hampshire, an Amber Alert was issued on March 1 for two sisters, Elowyn Duren (4) and Vaelyn Duren (1). According to the Amber Alert, the two sisters were believed to have been abducted by their father, Dustin Duren, in his white 2017 Subaru Impreza.
However, on Friday, Jean Mackin of WMUR news in New Hampshire reported on X, formerly Twitter, that the Amber Alert for the two sisters was canceled after they were found safe in the custody of their father.
Amber Alerts first began in 1996, following the abduction and death of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman in Arlington, Texas.
"Once law enforcement has determined that a child has been abducted and the abduction meets AMBER Alert criteria, law enforcement notifies broadcasters and state transportation officials," the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs states. "The AMBER Alert program as of December 31, 2023, has contributed to the recovery of 1,186 children and wireless emergency alerts resulted in the rescue of 165 children. There are 82 AMBER Alert plans throughout the United States."
Newsweek reached out to the NCMEC and Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs via email for comment.