Cold case developments spark hope for other families

Cold case developments spark hope for other families

The Canberra Times, 19 October 2024

Loren O’Keeffe, founder of The Missed Foundation, recently joined Ruth Garciacelay in honouring Ruth’s daughter, Julie Garciacelay, who disappeared in 1975. Nearly five decades later, a memorial plaque was installed for Julie—a gesture of remembrance that underscores the enduring need for answers. Julie’s case exemplifies what’s known as ambiguous loss, a term coined by American therapist Dr. Pauline Boss to describe the unresolved grief faced by families of missing persons.

Missing persons researcher Dr. Sarah Wayland explains that this grief brings a complex mix of hope and sadness, especially when progress is made in other cases. Families, she notes, hold onto hope that similar breakthroughs might one day come for their own loved ones, even as they face the lasting pain of uncertainty.