LITTLE ROCK Ark. (KTHV) -- Family and friends of missing people in Arkansas came out today to the state police headquarters to update their files and provided more information, all hoping to help find their loved ones.
The Attorney General's office held this event called "Never Forgotten." Many of the families that came out today say they have been missing someone for more than 20 years. Today gave them an opportunity to provide DNA, more photographs and meet with investigators about their case.
"We want closure," saysKevin Earls. Earlsand his is sister Karen Jones are looking for answers. He says, "We came to get our DNA's done so we can hopefully find our brother who is missing."
Their brother, Ernie Earls, disappeared when he was 21. Jones says, "He was last seen in Noble Arkansas, he came up missing on Father's day of 1987, that's when he was last seen." Earls would now be 47. "He would have been home, he was always in and out so something happened we just don't know what."
They are one of many families who came out to the state police headquarters to take part in a new initiative, "Never Forgotten." It's geared to help families of missing people update files and provide new DNA samples. "We are bringing families in here to make sure that their information is captured, if they don't have their information in the system we want to make sure that it gets there." Kermit Channell with the State crime lab says there are nearly 80 sets of unidentified remains at the state crime lab.
Now, after meeting with investigators and working on their bothers case, Jones and Earls are hoping this will help them find that closure they are always longing for. "You just don't forget, it's something that's always in the back of your mind no matter what you're doing."
The state crime lab says there are 453 active missing persons case in the state alone. Nationwide there are more than 87 thousand active missing persons cases.
