lost and missing in indian country

Lost and Missing in Indian Country was started to give a place to get/give/ask for information referencing missing persons and unidentified remains in Indian Country.

The goal of Lost and Missing in Indian Country is to get the word out to the public - to put FACES to these numbers. These missing are PEOPLE and they belong to somebody. We strive to assist law enforcement, Medical Examiners, Coroners, and families of these missing. We want to bring these lost people HOME.

Janet Franson

My name is Janet Franson and I am an honorably retired Homicide Investigator from Florida. I spent 21 years with my department before retiring and returning home (for me) to Wyoming. After arriving in Wyoming, I was accepted into the National Missing and Exploited Children's Center, where I was deployed twice right after Hurricane Katrina to work missing person cases. I then did cold case reviews for a total of 5 1/2 years. I later worked for 3 1/2 years for the National Missing and Unidentified Person System. In all, I have worked investigations for over 40 years. These investigations include missing persons, kidnappings, and homicides.

During this time I saw a need for more emphasis and attention to be put on missing Native American cases.

At last count, there were 550 recognized tribes and 310 reservations in the U.S.

Stats show that (as of Oct. 2014) there were 1,460 active missing Native American cases in NCIC - the National Crime Information network (computer). Out of that, there were only 183 cases (12%) entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Person System. Going back through my own records, out of those 183 cases, I noted I entered 53 of those cases myself. There is a void of Native American cases not getting entered into the system, or being followed up on if they do get put in the system.

Makoons Miller-Tanner

Aaniin nindanawemaaganidok, Makoons iindigo Anishinaabemong. Hello to all my relatives, my name is Makoons Miller-Tanner.  I obtained two bachelors degrees in Ojibwe Language and Culture Education and English Literature from the College of St. Scholastica in 2010. I have spent the whole of my adult career working in Indian Country. I worked for 4 1/2 years as a Domestic Violence Survivor's Advocate at the American Indian Community Housing Organization. I then spent 4 years working child protection investigations and ongoing case management first for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and then for Fond Du Lac Social Services.

My husband and I were foster parents for St. Louis County, MN,  for 2 years. I served for a short time as a Guardian Ad Litem for the 6th Judicial District in Minnesota. I currently work as a Systems Advocate for the Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault in Duluth, MN. My job includes responding to hospital calls for assaulted victims, court support, writing Harassment Restraining Orders and Orders for Protection, assistance in working with law enforcement, and following up with crime victims from the Duluth Police Department.  I also run the website Justice for Native Women, a website I was inspired to make after learning the story of the unsolved murder of my great grandmother. I am enrolled Oneida Nation of Wisconsin (turtle clan) and am a descendant of the Fond du Lac band of Lake Superior Chippewa (bear clan). I am mother to 3 future Native women and 1 future Native man. 

Megan McWilliams

My name is Megan McWilliams and I am currently a stay at home mom. I received my B.A. Degree in Visual Communications/Digital Design from American Intercontinental University in 2005. In June of 2006 I started working for the State of Wyoming as an Occupational Licensing Specialist where I issued licenses and permits. In April 2008 I moved to a new position as an Administrative Assistant where I remained until December 2009 when I decided I was going to stay at home and raise my children.

During my time at home I needed some time for myself to keep myself busy on a project and I knew looking at missing and unidentified cases peaked my interest. I would look at cases in NamUs and compare missing with unidentified persons. In February of 2014 I started a facebook page for the state of Wyoming called Wyoming Missing and Unidentified, where I would feature missing and unidentified individuals from the state. I also created and maintained a website for the page until February 2015. When I created the facebook page, I got in touch with Janet Franson and began working with her on Wyoming cases. Eventually, another page was created Lost and Missing in Indian Country.

Ashley Kroner

My name is Ashley Kroner and I live in Wyoming. In 2005 I obtained my B.A. Degree in Visual Communications/Digital Design and one year later started working for the State of Wyoming designing electronic media. I did this for 5 1/2 years, while also updating and maintaining four of their web sites, writing contracts, and coordinating with instructors on a variety of fire related courses.  

I've always wanted to help with missing person cases, normally sharing other posters I have seen on my personal Facebook page.  I 'met' Janet in May of 2015, where a Facebook page for Lost and Missing in Indian Country was discussed and soon after created.  In 2017, I obtained my M.B.A. Degree with an emphasis in Marketing.

I now create missing person posters on the Lost and Missing in Indian Country Facebook page in hopes of getting more people to share and spread the word of missing Native Americans in the United States.



TIPS AND INFORMATION

Please fill out the form below no matter how small the information.

Tips and Information



know someone missing?

Please fill out the form below if he or she is not listed on our Facebook page.

Fact Sheet



cold case reviews

Creating awareness to the public of older missing person cases.

read more