In this week’s episode “Lost in Houston” we shed light on: Texas Center for the DisappearedAn organization dedicated to supporting families in crisis throughout the state.

Mel Turnquist, CEO of the Texas Lost Center, tells the story behind the center’s founding, underscoring the critical mission they serve.

“In 1999, Doreen Wise, a business owner in the Houston area, found her son missing…law enforcement needs to work in a triage capacity,” Turnquist shared, explaining that the original name of the Texas Center for the Missing was Gabriel’s Gifts Missing Children’s. The organization was born.

The center provides essential resources to families, including 24/7 case management services.

“We believe in a holistic approach to serving these searching families,” Turnquist explains. “When a missing person is reported missing to law enforcement… our case manager will immediately reach out to the family and evaluate what services would best benefit the family.”

Their services go beyond just flyers; including supporting families in hosting media events and annual gatherings such as “Missing Day in Southeast Texas” to assist families with DNA collection and create coming-of-age images for long-missing individuals.

“Every year, we host an annual event called Lost Day in Southeast Texas, which is a one-stop service at the Juvenile Assessment Center,” says Turnquist. “It’s a really powerful and supportive environment for families to have all these resources in one place.”

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A common misconception Turnquist touches on is the idea of ​​a mandatory waiting period before reporting someone missing.

“There is no 24-hour waiting period in the state of Texas and there never has been one… If someone gets lost, call 911 immediately.”

He also explained the value of a recent passport photo in quickly locating missing people, explaining that DNA is valuable but serves as a “long-term investigative tool.”

For those looking to help, Turnquist encourages the community to lend support by sharing missing persons postings online.

Drawing attention to the impact of awareness in digital areas, he says, “Many missing people are found thanks to social media posts.”

The organization also welcomes volunteers and donations to assist with its operations, including participation in internet safety training and child identification booths.

“As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Houston, we are always looking for volunteers,” Turnquist explains. “We receive very little public funding so if you would like to support us through a contribution we would love it. But as I said, we are always looking for internet safety instructors and helpers at child ID stands, health fairs and children’s carnivals.”

For more information or resources, you can visit the Texas Center for the Missing website: centerforthemissing.orgwhere they offer a help button for families who need immediate help.

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