Maranhão sees second-highest rise in missing persons cases, says security report
Maranhão, Brazil, experienced the second-largest increase in missing persons cases nationwide in 2025, according to the Brazilian Public Security Yearbook released by the Brazilian Public Security Forum. The state recorded 244 disappearances, a 29.8% rise from 198 cases in 2024. Minas Gerais reported the highest increase at 30.5%, followed by Piauí with a 20.5% rise. Nationally, 84,269 disappearances were registered in 2025, a 3.6% increase from the previous year, with a rate of 39.5 missing individuals per 100,000 inhabitants. The yearbook compiles data from state Public Security Secretariats and is a key national reference on crime and violence. The report acknowledges that multiple factors contribute to the rise in disappearances, as defined by Law No. 13.812/2019, which considers any person whose whereabouts are unknown a missing person until confirmed otherwise. The issue is highlighted by the case of siblings Ágatha Isabelly, 6, and Allan Michael, 4, who have been missing since January 4, 2026, from the quilombola community of São Sebastião dos Pretos in Bacabal. Six months later, their whereabouts remain unknown, causing immense distress to their mother, Clarice Cardoso, and the community, despite extensive search efforts involving police, firefighters, and drones. The Civil Police of Maranhão stated that the investigation is ongoing and no definitive conclusions can be drawn yet. Despite the rise in missing persons, Maranhão saw a 2.2% decrease in intentional violent deaths in 2025, with 2,082 recorded cases compared to 2,126 in 2024, aligning with a national trend of declining violent crime.
The significant increase in missing persons cases in Maranhão, as detailed by the Brazilian Public Security Yearbook, warrants a systemic examination beyond immediate causes. While the report correctly notes that multiple factors contribute, understanding the underlying socio-economic and governance dynamics is crucial. The prolonged distress of families, exemplified by the case of the missing siblings, underscores the critical need for enhanced investigative resources and transparent communication protocols. Future policy considerations should focus on strengthening national missing persons registries, improving inter-agency coordination, and addressing potential societal vulnerabilities that may exacerbate disappearances, particularly in marginalized communities. The concurrent decrease in violent deaths suggests that while specific crime reduction strategies may be effective, the challenge of locating missing individuals requires a distinct, multifaceted approach within the broader public security framework.
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