Why I Built CaseTrace

Missing-person cases should not have to depend on luck, algorithms, or one viral post to stay visible.

I built CaseTrace because I believe there should be a better way for the public to discover, share, and keep attention on missing-person cases responsibly.

CaseTrace is a new missing-person awareness platform designed to make cases easier to browse, search, and share. The homepage uses a swipe-style feed so people can discover cases they may have never seen before. The Explore page allows people to search for specific cases or areas of interest. Case pages include tools like official source links, flyer access, and sharing options designed to help people spread awareness without having to create everything from scratch.

The goal is simple: visibility.

CaseTrace is not a true-crime entertainment app. It is not built for speculation, theories, or public investigation. It is not a replacement for law enforcement, NamUs, NCMEC, NCIC, or any official source. Official records remain with the agencies and organizations responsible for them.

This platform is meant to support responsible awareness.

Many missing-person cases receive attention early on, but over time that attention can fade. Flyers get buried. Social posts stop circulating. Search results become scattered. Families and advocates are often left trying to keep visibility alive on their own.

CaseTrace is my attempt to help in some small way.

The platform is still early. It is not perfect. There will be bugs, broken links, missing cases, rough edges, and things that need improvement. Right now, this has been a one-person build, and I am treating the launch as a public pilot. Feedback from families, advocates, agencies, and community members will help shape what it becomes.

A separate agency side of the application is also being developed for law enforcement and approved organizations. The long-term goal is to give verified agencies tools to manage case visibility, review updates, and share case information more efficiently. Access to those tools will require review and verification.

CaseTrace will also continue to focus on trust and safety. Tips should not be posted publicly. Corrections and removal requests should be taken seriously. Case information should be tied back to official or verified sources whenever possible.

If you use CaseTrace and notice something wrong, missing, outdated, or broken, I want to hear about it. If there is a case you care deeply about and cannot find, let me know. If something feels confusing or disrespectful, tell me.

This project exists because missing people deserve to remain seen.

And if CaseTrace can help even one more person discover, share, or remember a case that might otherwise fade from attention, then it is worth building.