NamUs and the National Missing Unidentified Persons System
What NamUs Is
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System — NamUs — is a federally funded database operated by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). It serves one purpose: matching missing persons with unidentified remains found anywhere in the United States.
Unlike NCIC (the FBI's National Crime Information Center), which is restricted to law enforcement, NamUs is publicly searchable. Family members, medical examiners, coroners, and law enforcement can all create and access cases. There's no cost to use it, and the forensic services it provides — DNA analysis, dental comparisons, fingerprint examination, and forensic anthropology — are free.
How It Works
NamUs operates two parallel databases. The Missing Persons database contains cases reported by families or law enforcement. The Unidentified Persons database contains records of unidentified remains entered by medical examiners and coroners. The system runs automated cross-referencing between the two, flagging potential matches based on physical descriptors, geographic proximity, and timeline overlap.
When a potential match surfaces, NamUs forensic staff coordinate with local law enforcement and medical examiners to confirm or rule out the match through DNA comparison, dental record analysis, or other forensic methods.
What to Submit
To create a NamUs case, you'll need as much of the following as possible:
- Full legal name, date of birth, and physical description (height, weight, hair color, eye color)
- Identifying marks: tattoos, scars, birthmarks, surgical implants, or dental anomalies
- Recent high-resolution photographs
- Dental records, including X-rays, treatment notes, and orthodontic records
- Available DNA reference material, such as a toothbrush or hairbrush, or relatives who may be asked for a reference sample; coordinate collection with law enforcement or a NamUs specialist
- The law enforcement agency handling the case and the case file number
- Circumstances of the disappearance, including last known location and date
The more identifying detail available, the more information investigators have to compare. Dental records and a DNA reference profile can provide additional identifiers beyond a physical description.
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Free Forensic Services
NamUs provides forensic services at no cost to families or agencies. These include DNA analysis through the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification, forensic odontology (dental comparison), forensic anthropology for skeletal remains analysis, fingerprint examination, and forensic imaging for facial reconstruction.
For families who can't afford private forensic work — and given that private DNA analysis alone can cost hundreds of dollars — this is a significant resource. The services are also available to medical examiners and coroners working on unidentified remains cases, which means the system works from both directions simultaneously.
How to Access NamUs
The database is accessible online at namus.nij.ojp.gov. You can search existing cases without creating an account. To submit a new case, you'll need to register and provide documentation. The NamUs regional program specialists can also be reached by phone at (817) 735-2300 for guidance on case submission.
Before submitting, check whether your loved one's case is already in the system — law enforcement may have entered it during the initial investigation. If it's there, review the case details for accuracy. If it's incomplete, contact the regional specialist to update it with dental records, DNA samples, or additional identifying information.
Complementary Databases
NamUs isn't the only system. Depending on the circumstances, you may also want to ensure your loved one's information is in NCIC (entered by law enforcement during the initial report), the FBI's CODIS DNA database (for DNA cross-matching), and state-level missing persons clearinghouses, which vary by state.
In the UK, similar coordination happens through the Missing People charity and the UK Missing Persons Unit. In Canada, the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) serves the equivalent function.
Using NamUs as Part of a Larger System
Database registration is one piece of a broader evidence-preservation and search-coordination process. The When Someone Goes Missing — Presumed Dead toolkit covers the complete sequence: what to preserve in the first 48 hours, how to collect DNA reference samples, which databases to register with, and how to coordinate with law enforcement so nothing falls through jurisdictional cracks.
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Download the When Someone Goes Missing — Presumed Dead — First Steps — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.