Mississippi State University’s anthropology program is leading efforts to assist law enforcement and families by developing a public database of missing persons in Mississippi.

The project is run by the Mississippi Repository team, led by Jesse Goliath, an assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures and research associate at the Cobb Institute of Archaeology. 

The team is composed of graduate and undergraduate students, focused on the task of locating missing people in Mississippi. 

“The ultimate goal for the team is that we help the state of Mississippi,” Goliath said. 

The team works closely with the MSU Police Department, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to gather records. Much of the database can be accessed through MSU’s Mississippi Repository website, though some law enforcement information remains restricted.

Rachel Coppock, a graduate researcher for the Mississippi Repository, said the database is available to the community for research purposes. 

“Our data is accessible to download, to do your own research,” said Coppock. “It’s not just a community tool, but it’s also an academic tool.” 

Over 2,000 missing people are logged in the database, with most of the information given to the Mississippi team by the FBI or other law enforcement agencies. 

The database is made up of multiple parts. For each missing person, a dedicated page provides details such as their demographic, age, the clothes they were last seen in, vehicle information and any notable traits. 

The team not only works on the database, but they also are called to work in the field, as a recovery team. 

The group has been called to assist and recover remains when called to help by law enforcement. 

“Within the last five years I’ve been doing this, we’ve been called on about four or five recoveries,” Goliath said. “I actually go to the site and find those remains or identify a burial with someone in it.” 

The unit not only works with law enforcement but also helps teach workshops on how to discover human remains and burial sites, led by the forensic team. 

Sarajane Smith-Escudero, a former graduate researcher for the Mississippi Repository, now at the University of South Florida, says that the team and law enforcement learn a lot from each other when working together. 

“It’s really cool that we are learning so much from law enforcement, but they’re also learning from us,” Smith-Escudero said. 

The repository team aims to expand its efforts to support law enforcement in obtaining the necessary training for field work. 

Goliath spoke about the new demand for law enforcement training following a new state law. 

“There is now a state law that requires law enforcement to get training,” Goliath said. “That’s part of why we’re trying to meet that demand.”

The team not only focuses on helping the state of Mississippi, but students are also able to further their careers with the training and the opportunities given to them by the Mississippi Repository team. 

Smith-Escudero explains that working in the field and being a part of the repository team while she was getting her graduate degree set her up for success with her PhD.

“During my master’s, working on the recovery team and having that field experience that’s unique to Mississippi State prepared me for my PhD,” Smith-Escudero said. “Now that I’m familiar with recovery techniques and communication with law enforcement, it really set me up well for my PhD program.”

The team gives students experience in what working with forensics could be like. They offer students the opportunity to research, gain experience with data entry through their database and even work on a few possible recovery sites in the field.

The repository team is continuing to work on finishing their database and working hands-on with law enforcement in the field, while keeping the community connected. 

“I like the way that it’s respectful, but also fulfilling,” said Coppock. “We’re providing the service to connect the community.” 

They have given the community the opportunity to reach out to them if their loved ones have gone missing, so the repository team can search alongside the community. 

The team is creating a space for people to research and get involved in the search for missing people, since MSU is the only university in the state with this kind of team. 

Coppock says that the team is aware of the significance of their work.

“It’s real people and it can have a real impact,” Coppock said.