Exclusive: An experienced private investigator discusses the cases of missing children

• Seven-year-old Joslin Smith disappeared from her home in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape, in February 2024
• Her mother, Kelly, her boyfriend, Jacquin Appollis and two others were arrested in connection with her disappearance.
• In short, the News spoke with seasoned private investigator Brad Nathanson, who shared insights into the dynamics behind missing child cases

With nine years of experience, Tebogo Mokwena, current affairs writer for News in briefprovided insights into the criminal justice system and important cases in South Africa at Daily Sun.

JOHANNESBURG — The one the disappearance of seven-year-old Joslin Smith from her home in Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape shed light on the plight of missing children and the difficulties of dealing with such a case. News in brief spoke with veteran private investigator Brad Nathanson about the dynamics of handling a missing child.

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The Power of Social Media in Missing Cases

Nathanson, who was a private investigator for 44 years with his company, Brad Nathanson Investigationshighlighted the advantages and disadvantages of social media in finding a missing person.

“People disappear for so many reasons and since the mobile phone ping platform was taken down after this software was found to be instrumental in the killing of Colonel Charl Kinnear, we have nowhere to start a search. Therefore, we must rely on the eyes and ears of citizens through social media.

“I have a FB following of almost 90,000 people so my page has been of tremendous value in tracing the missing, but without social media we would be lost. The downside of posting missing persons on social media is dealing with trolls. who will tell the missing person’s family that they either have that person in their custody or they know where their loved one is and it’s always money in exchange for information, which is mostly bullshit.”

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What to do when someone is missing

Nathanson said News in brief there are steps a loved one can take when someone is missing.

“You should start by going on social media, but get someone like me (a private investigator) to handle the calls so you as a family member or friend don’t have to deal with the trolls which can be cruel and quite compelling,” he said.

He noted the importance of the first two days after a child goes missing.

“The first 48 hours are the golden and most important hours to find a missing person. Therefore, it is important during this time to reach out to as many people as you can, but consider not crying wolf, as this can negatively affect perception and availability. of your eyes and ears through social media to help you in the future,” he added.

Missing child found

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In a related article, News in brief reported that a A missing 12-year-old girl in Limpopo it was found in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

The pre-teen was last seen with a Pakistani national when she left her home in Lekhureng in Ga-Matlala. She called her mother two days later and said she was in America. However, she was found in DurbanKwaZulu-Natal.

Source: News in brief