SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - During this recession, when the going gets tough, some Utahns are running away, leaving behind their lives and their families. The Sheriff says it's happening more and more. What may seem a mystery to the family, police are now finding is no mystery at all. Instead, it's a heartbreaking trend. A way to escape debt, job loss, and perhaps the most disturbing emotion of all: guilt.
Lt. Don Hutson of the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office says, “It's something that we address literally on a daily basis.” Family and Therapy Psychologist J. Kent Griffiths says, “It's something I've never seen in my 35 year career...never! Until now.”
Police and psychologists alike, are overwhelmed at the growing number of runaway parents. Lt Hutson says, “Went to work, has done this over the last 10-15 years, gone to work and come home, and then suddenly, they are not coming home...and there's no explanation as to why.” No explanation...except they chose to leave, and that's not against the law.
The family, however, is not willing to let the runaway parent off quite so easily. Griffiths says, “The most common symptom that I see is anger: Why would dad just pick up in the middle of the night and leave?” The answer is guilt, according to Griffiths. While sometimes they need just a few days to soul search, sometimes they never come home.
Although Lt Hutson says it's normal for the family to first want to call Search and Rescue, he says there isn't enough money or manpower to go looking for these adult runaways when there is no evidence of a crime. But, when days pass and there is still no word, police find what they call the money path leads to answer why. Lt Hutson says, “We are going to make contact with the employer, see if there's some issue with their job, perhaps they've lost job, there's been a layoff, significant demotion.”
The family psychologist we spoke with says he's also seen an increase in domestic violence since the economy worsened. If you want to report or inquire about a missing person, you can visit the website linked here or call the hotline at 1-888-770-6477.
