There is a crisis surrounding victims of domestic violence going missing and we need to put an end to it

Black women in particular face disproportionately high rates of intimate partner violence. A 2020 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that more than 45% of Black women have experienced some form of physical violence, sexual violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. For Latina women, this figure is 37.1%, and indigenous women face even higher rates of violence: 55.5%. Moreover, black women in abusive relationships are three times more likely being killed by their partners than white women.

Domestic violence is more than a personal issue; it is a public health crisis, and for many women of color, it could become a precursor to their disappearance.

In cases of domestic violence, victims are often isolated from their support networks, which can make it easier for them to disappear without raising immediate concerns.

Therefore, understanding the intersection between domestic violence and missing persons crises is essential to effectively addressing both issues.

Media underreporting and neglect

The invisibility of black people in the media is not a new phenomenon, but it is especially poignant when it comes to missing persons cases.

When a white woman goes missing, her case is more likely to be covered extensively in the media, a phenomenon sometimes called the ‘Missing White Woman Syndrome’. Meanwhile, the disappearances of Black and brown women are often overlooked, leading to a discrepancy in how these cases are handled and the amount of attention they receive.

Take Gabby Petito – a 23-year-old white woman who was kidnapped and tragically murdered by her fiancé Brian Laundrie in 2021. Her case generated widespread national media attention. Photos and videos of her face were spread across social media platforms and picked up by 24-hour news cycles, causing millions of people across the country to tune in for updates from law enforcement agencies investigating her disappearance.

Compared to Akia Eggleston – a young black woman from Baltimore who went missing in 2017 – there is a clear and disturbing disparity. The 22-year-old was eight months pregnant when she disappeared shortly before her baby shower. Her body and the remains of her unborn child have yet to be found. It is a matter of incredible weight and seriousness – enough to merit national media attention. Yet it did not even attract the attention of the local media.

However, BAMFI’s intervention ensured that Eggleston’s case would not be overlooked. Through continued work with the Baltimore community, law enforcement agencies and national media, the visibility and awareness of Eggleston’s disappearance has dramatically increased. However, it still wasn’t enough to bring her home. Eggleston’s case came to a tragic end in 2023 when her boyfriend, Michael Robertson, was found guilty of her and her unborn son’s murder.

Both Petito and Eggleston’s cases are just two examples that reveal a stark difference in urgency and treatment by the media and law enforcement. It’s an imbalance that has real-world consequences. Black people make up nearly 40% of all missing persons cases in the United States, despite making up only 13% of the population.

Petito’s parents have used their platform to bring attention to this inequality. They have advocated for fair and equitable media reporting of cases arising from marginalized communities, emphasizing that every missing person deserves the same media attention, regardless of color or background.

In cases where missing persons cases involving people of color are neglected in the media, the resources devoted to finding them are limited as a result.

The need for systemic changes in law enforcement

Law enforcement agencies must take domestic violence seriously, especially when it concerns women of color.

A 2020 study by the National Library of Medicine reveals that Black and Latina women who experienced intimate partner or sexual violence were two to three times more likely to experience dismissive responses or mistreatment by law enforcement when reporting incidents of abuse.

In many cases, law enforcement is slower to respond to reports of missing Black women and children because they believe they are “runaways” or “involved in criminal activity.” This contributes to the cycle of neglect and invisibility that puts these women at greater risk of harm.

Authorities must investigate these cases with the same urgency as anyone else, and training is critical to strengthen appropriate responses and ensure the safety of all victims.

Adopting mandatory approaches such as early intervention and risk assessments can help police identify potential escalation of domestic violence cases before they turn into potential kidnappings and murders.

Additionally, police calls to domestic violence situations often end with just a police report or an arrest, but officers should take the time and opportunity to direct victims to community resources and support systems.

While nonprofits and domestic violence shelters do important work, they are often underfunded and overburdened. More funding should be allocated to these organizations to help them provide the services survivors need to escape abusive relationships and stay safe.

At the heart of both domestic violence and missing persons crises are survivors—victims of color who have been failed by systems meant to protect them. If we are to seriously address the issue of missing Black people, we must also take domestic violence seriously. It is not enough to report the statistics; we must first address the root causes and structural inequalities that make victims vulnerable.

To break the cycle of violence and disappearance, we must unite the voices of survivors and invest in the communities most affected by these problems. By doing this, we can begin to address the intersection of domestic violence and the missing persons crisis and work toward a future where every man, woman, and child, regardless of race or background, can live free from violence and fear.

If you or a loved one are experiencing domestic violence, visit the National Domestic Violence website or call their hotline at 1-800-799-7233. To learn more about the domestic violence and missing persons crises in Black and brown communities, check out BAMFI’s “Untold Stories: Black and Missing” podcast at blackandmissingpodcast.com.