By Casey Nolen
Jefferson City, MO (KSDK)-- The numbers are hard to imagine. More than 1200 people are considered missing or unidentified in the state of Missouri and that's just the official count.
Missouri Missing chose June 17th for their event because it is the day the Governor has set aside for their cause. They chose to come to the capitol with the hopes of getting people to stop and take notice.
In his proclamation for the day the governor said the goal was to speak for those who can't speak for themselves. For the families of those missing in Missouri that was exactly their intent.
"We've missed two birthdays with her" said Cindy Young whose daughter Christina Whittaker went missing from Hannibal nearly two years ago. Her mother believes she was kidnapped.
"My daughter's a very pretty girl. They saw her and knew they could make money off her and that's exactly what they did."
Cindy made the one hundred mile drive to Jefferson City to raise awareness and offer and receive support.
It means the world to me because I can come and talk to other people who've been through what I've been through. Last year was the first time I'd ever met anyone with a missing person.
For the few dozen families represented under the rotunda Friday there are hundreds more throughout the state missing loved ones. Twelve hundred people are officially considered missing across the state with more than 750 in the St. Louis area alone.
Missouri Missing believes the numbers are actually much higher because adults are under reported.
And people here say not only are the numbers high but the resources are low especially for those missing adult family members.
"You might see a headline on TV, many children might get some headlines or an amber alert, so many adults are missing under supicious circumstances that no one ever hears about."
"Don't matter if they're two or 21. Look at their faces. When you go in to Wal-Mart look at those people's faces. Because they could be living next to you."
Missouri Missing and other groups around the country are working to pass legislation that would require adults to be tracked the same way children are. In Jefferson City, Casey Nolen, Newschannel 5
KSDK