New Sweden, Maine — Nearly a year has passed since 13-year-old Stefanie Damron stepped out of her home and vanished into the woods near her quiet town. On the morning of September 23, 2024, Stefanie left her New Sweden residence—and was never seen again.
Her disappearance sparked an immediate and intensive investigation. The following day, Stefanie’s parents filed a missing persons report, prompting the FBI and Maine State Police to launch a collaborative search. The FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment (CARD) team, a specialized unit skilled in high-risk abduction cases, was swiftly deployed to assist.
Since that fateful day, investigators have combed miles of wilderness, reviewed surveillance footage, conducted dozens of interviews, and followed leads as far as Canada. Despite exhaustive efforts, Stefanie remains missing.
National Spotlight on Missing Children
Stefanie’s case is just one of many still active nationwide. As the country observes National Missing Children’s Day on May 25, the FBI is once again highlighting its commitment to finding missing kids and bringing hope to families still waiting for answers.
National Missing Children’s Day began in memory of Etan Patz, a six-year-old who disappeared from a New York City street in 1979, igniting a nationwide call to action. That movement led to the establishment of the FBI’s Missing Persons Program, now housed within the Bureau’s Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Unit.
Over the years, the program has grown stronger through cutting-edge technology, national coordination, and public awareness campaigns. At the heart of that effort is the CARD team.
CARD: The FBI’s Frontline Response
Established in 2005, the Child Abduction Rapid Deployment team is composed of agents trained in behavioral analysis, abduction strategy, and emergency operations. They are activated quickly to aid local authorities in critical early hours of a child’s disappearance.
Their duties include canvassing neighborhoods, coordinating public communication, mapping digital trails, and interviewing witnesses. The CARD team responded immediately in Stefanie’s case, as they do for any suspected abduction where time is of the essence.
Missing Children in Texas: A Sobering Reality
The heartbreak of missing children hits especially hard here in Texas. According to the Texas Center for the Missing, the numbers in 2024 were staggering:
- 533,936 total missing persons reported to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
- 330,957 of those were children under 18
- In Texas alone, 44,783 people were reported missing—31,864 were children
- In Harris County, 6,945 new missing child cases were filed
- The broader Houston-Galveston region accounted for 9,109 cases
- Southeast Texas represented 29% of all missing children statewide
These numbers are not just statistics—they are children with names, faces, and families who wait each day for their return.
How the Public Can Help
The FBI is urging everyone to stay alert and take action. You can help bring children home by:
- Submitting tips online at tips.fbi.gov
- Contacting your local FBI office or law enforcement
- Reviewing current cases at fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap
- Following and sharing updates from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at missingkids.org
Social media can be a powerful tool—your share could be the one that makes the difference.
A Family’s Message: “Please Come Forward”
Back in New Sweden, the Damron family continues to hope. Stefanie’s photos line the walls of their home—a joyful reminder of a bright, adventurous teen with a love for nature. Their plea to the public is simple yet urgent:
“Someone knows something. Please come forward.”
As we honor National Missing Children’s Day, we are reminded of the work still to be done and the lives still hanging in the balance. For Stefanie and thousands of others, the mission continues—because every child matters.
