New Humanitarian Forensics Hub Aims to Improve Identification of Missing People
Arizona State University (ASU) has established a Humanitarian Forensics Hub to advance efforts to locate missing people, identify unidentified human remains and help return loved ones to their families and communities.
The initiative, developed by ASU faculty members Sherry Fox and Tricia Redeker Hepner, brings together forensic science, anthropology, social sciences and community collaboration. Its approach also considers the ethical, cultural and legal responsibilities involved in investigating missing-person cases.
The hub is intended to address gaps between researchers, forensic practitioners, advocates, families and community organizations. By providing a shared platform for collaboration, it aims to strengthen methods for investigating disappearances and resolving cases involving unidentified remains.
According to ASU, Arizona faces a substantial identification challenge. The June 2026 National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) report listed 1,101 unresolved missing-person cases and 2,151 unidentified-person cases in the state. Geographic conditions, migration routes and complex jurisdictional responsibilities can make investigations particularly difficult.
Humanitarian forensics extends beyond conventional criminal investigations. It can involve forensic archaeology, identification methods, survivor and family interviews, and culturally appropriate recovery and reburial practices. The central objective is to establish the fate of missing people while preserving their dignity and respecting affected communities.
The hub's inaugural conference, “Humanitarian Forensics: Advocating for the Living, the Dead, and the Missing in Arizona and Beyond,” is scheduled for 16–17 October 2026 at ASU's West Valley campus and online. The event brings together international researchers, practitioners, advocates and families to discuss identification methods, migration, armed conflict, Indigenous communities and ethical challenges.
The initiative highlights the role of interdisciplinary forensic work in addressing unidentified-person cases and supporting families who have waited years for answers.