Families Seek Closure at Missing Persons Day Event

Cook County medical examiner's office hosts annual event to assist families searching for missing loved ones.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 9:41pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a small, numbered police evidence marker, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the investigative process of searching for missing persons.The annual Missing Persons Day event aims to provide families with resources and support in their search for loved ones, but also highlights the complex and often flawed process of missing persons investigations.Chicago Today

The Cook County medical examiner's office hosted its sixth annual Missing Persons Day event, where families could file missing persons reports, provide DNA samples, and speak with law enforcement to aid in their search for loved ones. Ernestine Newell, who hasn't seen her partner Freddie Webster in a decade, was one of 12 families to participate, hoping to finally get answers about his whereabouts. While the event aimed to provide closure, it was also met with protests from families alleging mishandling of missing persons cases by the medical examiner's office.

Why it matters

The event highlights the ongoing challenges and emotional toll faced by families searching for missing loved ones, as well as the systemic issues that can arise in the missing persons investigation process. It also demonstrates the importance of providing resources and support to these families, who often struggle to navigate the complex system on their own.

The details

The Missing Persons Day event was hosted by the Cook County medical examiner's office, in conjunction with the Cook County sheriff's office, Chicago police, Illinois State Police, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Families were able to file missing persons reports, provide DNA samples, and speak directly with law enforcement representatives to aid in their search. While the event aimed to provide closure, it was also met with protests from families alleging mishandling of missing persons cases by the medical examiner's office.

  • The sixth annual Missing Persons Day event was held on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
  • Ernestine Newell last saw her partner, Freddie Webster, 10 years ago.

The players

Ernestine Newell

A 79-year-old woman who has not seen her partner of 16 years, Freddie Webster, in a decade.

Freddie Webster

Ernestine Newell's 79-year-old partner who went missing 10 years ago after telling Newell he was going away for a while.

Ponni Arunkumar

The Chief Medical Examiner of Cook County, who explained the importance of the Missing Persons Day event in providing resources and support to families searching for their loved ones.

Angela Sanders

The sister of Anthony Sanders, who has been missing for more than a year.

Carolyn Brown

The sister of Anthony Sanders, who has been missing for more than a year.

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What they’re saying

“I just need to know. It just hurts me because I miss him. And I don't know where he's at. I don't know if he's still alive.”

— Ernestine Newell

“All these families have done everything that they can to find their loved one, and that is what the goal of this is.”

— Ponni Arunkumar, Chief Medical Examiner of Cook County

“I had a dream that he was coming up on my back porch. And then I wake up and go out there, and there's no one there.”

— Angela Sanders

What’s next

The medical examiner's office plans to continue hosting the annual Missing Persons Day event to provide resources and support to families searching for their loved ones. Lawmakers in the Illinois House are also working on legislation to reform and increase accountability in the process for identifying bodies.

The takeaway

The Missing Persons Day event highlights the ongoing challenges and emotional toll faced by families searching for missing loved ones, as well as the importance of providing resources and support to aid in these difficult investigations. It also underscores the need for systemic improvements to ensure families receive the answers and closure they deserve.