~60%
of All AMBER Alerts
59% to 61% of U.S. AMBER Alerts involve family abductions where a child is in imminent danger.
Thousands
Reported Annually
One of the largest categories of non-runaway missing child cases handled by NCMEC each year.
Extended
Separation Duration
Cases often last months or years due to cross-state or international concealment.
24 / 7
National Hotline
Toll-free 24-hour support (1-800-843-5678) dedicated to recovery and law enforcement coordination.
The most dangerous myth surrounding family abduction is the assumption that because a child is with a biological parent, they are safe and happy.
NCMEC and child welfare experts emphasize that parental abduction is a severe form of child abuse. Children are frequently:
- Forced into sudden isolation from their home, friends, and trusted family members.
- Kept out of school or enrolled under falsified identities to evade detection.
- Deprived of routine medical, dental, and psychological healthcare.
- Subjected to intense parental alienation and false stories about the other parent.
Children taken in parental abductions experience abrupt trauma, confusion, and fear. They often live in constant anxiety that they will be "discovered" or forced to pack up and move again overnight.
Long-term studies show that abducted children can suffer from chronic anxiety, post-traumatic stress, difficulties forming trusting relationships, and profound guilt over missing the parent who was left behind.
Every child has a fundamental right to be safe, to know the truth, and to feel the love of both parents without being weaponized.
Emergency & Support Resources
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
If you have information regarding an abducted child, or if you need assistance with a family abduction case, NCMEC provides 24/7 dedicated support and coordination with law enforcement.
📞 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)
Visit the official resource center at missingkids.org · Confidential and free 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Official NCMEC Missing Poster
Skye Alexandria Mitchell
NCMEC Case Number: 2065710
Please view, share, and help bring Skye home. If you have any information or believe you have seen Skye, please contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children or local law enforcement immediately.
View Skye’s Official NCMEC Poster ↗