People go into hiding for multiple reasons. Some have broken the law and go into hiding to try to avoid responsibility for their crimes. Some people go into hiding so they won’t be found by someone who has harmed or threatened them.
Other people aren’t necessarily in hiding but are trying to avoid being found by specific people who have legal claims against them. For example, if you want to file for divorce, you must have your spouse served. If you know where your spouse is, you can hire a process server to initiate your lawsuit. If you can’t find your spouse, you must go through many steps to satisfy the courts before proceeding with your filing. Whatever the reason you’re searching for someone is, there are some effective, unconventional strategies you can use to locate the person you’re looking for or determine how to serve papers to someone you can’t find.
Use social media.
Social media (SM) can be an effective way to find people because it’s possible to reach a broad audience and distribute your message internationally. Law enforcement officials use sites such as Twitter and Facebook to locate people who’ve broken the law and people who are classified as missing. Distributing the information through SM sites has enabled the police to widely share relevant information within hours of determining a person is missing or wanted by authorities. This makes it harder for criminals to change their appearance before the public is aware they’re wanted. It also makes it harder for people who are missing to leave the region they went missing from. This helps narrow the scope of the investigation in its early stages. Law enforcement officials post videos and photographs, along with general information about the person who is being sought.
If you know the names of friends or associates of the person you seek, you can check their SM accounts and look for interactions with the missing person. Although a person in hiding may use a fake name, you may recognize details they share about themselves or their writing style.
You can also use information from their friends and associates to identify places the missing person has spent time in over the years or other associates who may be helping them. You can use this information to identify places to look for the person in hiding.
If you can locate a social media account that belongs to the person you’re looking for, you may be able to use their content to identify their location. Many individuals post photographs on social media, and unless posters take steps to strip photographs of location-based information, many photos contain EXIF data that can tell you if they’re in Los Angeles or another city in the United States. The metadata attached to the image may contain the GPS coordinates of the location where it was taken. With GPS coordinates and Google Maps, you can get directions to the same site. Even if you don’t locate photos from their new home, you may use photos to identify places the person goes to regularly. You can also use landmarks in their photographs to determine where the picture was taken. Another way to gain information about their location is to run a reverse image search on the photographs. This type of reverse search may identify where the picture was taken or provide additional location information you can use to narrow your search.
Hire an attorney.
Whether you’re searching for someone you need to serve legal papers to or someone else you wish to find, an attorney can provide you with legal help and may be able to help you locate them. Attorneys know how to satisfy a court of law, so your legal proceedings can progress, even if you can’t locate the defendant. Your lawyer can fulfill these steps on your behalf. Some lawyers employ investigators who have experience locating people in hiding.
If you were in a car accident, one of the first things you should do is hire an attorney. Google “Glendale car accident attorney” to find a personal injury lawyer near you who handles auto accident cases. Your lawyer will advise you of the steps you should take to protect your rights. Contact an attorney from the scene of the car crash. They will tell you to seek medical treatment to identify any injuries you sustained, get the name and badge number of the police officer who files the accident report, and take photographs of the other vehicles involved and the damages. Your lawyer will also tell you to get the name and contact information of the other drivers involved.
If another driver leaves the scene without providing you with their contact information or waiting for the police to arrive, you can photograph their license plate and use their license plate number to locate them. You may be able to access the vehicle owner’s personal information through the department of motor vehicles (DMV). You can also use a site that allows you to enter a license plate number to access information about the vehicle and owner.
Visit places they frequent.
Use your knowledge of the person you’re searching for to help facilitate your search. Did they read works from the library of Genesis? Although the Torah contains the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, which are also the first five books of the Christian Bible, the Old Testament Library focuses on Christian theology. These books include commentaries designed for Biblical scholars and religious leaders. People who read works from the Old Testament Library would be invested in learning about the Christian faith. They may be interested in a religious vocation, or are devout church members, suggesting that they would attend church even in hiding. You may use this information to locate their church and identify family members or friends who can help you locate the missing person.
There may be other places a person in hiding would still frequent. If they have health issues, they may need to see their doctor or find a new doctor who can provide comparable medical care. People who have serious hobbies may also continue shopping at specialty stores or attending hobby-related events. If you identify locations where you suspect they may e staying, you may be able to find them by visiting specialty shops or attending events in that area.
Post in news outlets.
Publish information about the person you’re looking for in print newspapers, magazines, and online news sites. This is a traditional way of locating a person in hiding and is commonly used by lawyers. Each state determines guidelines for acceptable publication venues. Posting the pertinent information in acceptable publications over a predetermined number of weeks or months can satisfy the legal requirements to proceed with a court case if you can’t locate the defendant.
When you distribute information about the person you’re looking for, you increase the chances that someone who knows them will see your notice and contact you or the authorities. Although it’s common for individuals and police officers to use social media to distribute these notices, using traditional sources can also be effective.
Search ancestry.
The person you’re seeking may be hiding without realizing it. If you’re looking for a person who’s been kidnapped, you may be able to locate them through sites such as Ancestry.com. These sites allow you to upload DNA data and track biological relatives through their databases. There are documented cases of kidnapped children being located decades after their abduction through genealogical websites.
You may be able to use social media sites to track the location of a person you’re searching for. It’s also possible photos you’ve taken yourself or information you have about the person’s interests will help you locate them. If you’re related to the person you’re searching for, you may be able to use genealogical sites, such as Ancestry, to track them down. You can also opt to hire an attorney to help you with your search. A combination of these methods gives you your best chance to succeed.
