Photo of seated female artist (Lois Gibson) and some of her age-progressed portraits

Age-progressed photos have long been used to help spark new leads in unsolved missing child cases. Forensic artist Lois Gibson spent four decades working with the Houston Police Department, where she sketched age-progressed portraits of children, as well as the likenesses of kidnappers and other suspected criminals. The face behind the faces shared her story—and creative process—as part of a national news feature. Gibson holds the Guinness World Record for the most criminals identified through art: 1,313. But it’s the happy endings she treasures most, such as when her age-progressed portraits reunited three siblings 30 years after being separated at a young age. “If this is the only case I helped solve, it would make my life worthwhile,” Gibson said. 

Flyer for "Missing in Southeast Texas" Day

For 11 years, “Missing in Southeast Texas Day” has been bringing resources to families with missing loved ones. During this year’s event in Houston, dozens of families made connections with law enforcement, social services, and forensics experts dedicated to locating missing persons. Family members were able to provide DNA samples, enter information into the National Missing & Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), and file photos and other identifying documents. Texas Center for the Missing organizers say the goal is to reduce the number of individuals buried as unknowns due to lack of a missing person report and give families closure. The Houston Police Department and Harris County Sheriff’s Office were among the partners of the free event.

The Texas Center for the Missing has teamed up with Clear Channel Outdoor Americas to utilize digital billboards for providing information on missing children. The effort was started to help Robyn Bennett find her missing 16-year-old daughter. The messages will be broadcast about 1,250 times every day on each of the 10 billboards throughout the Houston area. “These cases can all be solved if we all work together and look for these missing children actively and report what you see if you see something,” said Beth Alberts, CEO of the Texas Center for the Missing.

The FBI honored Houston Regional AMBER Alert Coordinator Beth Alberts with the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award in May. Alberts is also the CEO of the Texas Center for the Missing. “Ms. Alberts is an invaluable partner to those of us in law enforcement, and to the families for whom she brings closure,” said Perrye K. Turner, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Houston Field Office.

A golf tournament raised $50,000 for the Texas Center for the Missing, Houston's AMBER Alert provider. More than 110 golfers and volunteers, including Houston Astro Larry Dierker and Tampa Bay Buccaneer Ellis Wyms, participated at the May 3 event in Houston. The funds will be used for child Internet Safety classes, AMBER Alert training, and Child ID Kits for local families.

More than 100 golfers raised $44,205 for the Texas Center for the Missing and the Houston Regional AMBER Alert System. The May 5 tournament was sponsored by the Wildcat Golf Club and emceed by a local television personality. The Texas Center for the Missing receives no government funding and is supported by private donations.