Medical Examiner’s Office Hosts Missing Persons Day in Cook County

The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office is again hosting a Missing Persons Day to connect families, relatives and friends with loved ones who have been missing for more than one month, as well as making available resources and experts in the field.

Those with missing friends and family will be able to submit DNA samples, medical records, pictures and other records to aid in the search. Emotional support services will also be available to families. 

The Medical Examiner’s Office first participated in Missing Persons Day last year. This year’s event will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 28th at the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office’s, 2121 West Harrison St., Chicago.

More than 100 people attended the inaugural even last year. DNA samples were collected on behalf of 23 missing people and the Medical Examiner’s Office helped one family resolve their missing person’s case.

“Our office wants to serve as a central resource for those with long-term missing friends or family,” Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Ponni Arunkumar said. “I encourage those that need help to come to this event and bring photos, medical records and the missing person’s police report.”

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office is hosting Missing Persons Day with the assistance of National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, the Chicago Police Department, Illinois State Police and coroners from throughout the region. 

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office maintains updated information about unidentified remains on its website with the goal of identifying the deceased with information obtained from the public.

Those with long-term missing loved ones interested in attending are encouraged to submit the registration form available on our website.