Corporate Investigations · Empire Investigation · Pittsburgh, PA
Missing Persons Investigations
When a loved one disappears, every hour matters. Empire Investigation LLC has been locating missing persons for Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania families since 1982 — 44 years of investigative experience in cases that local police often cannot fully resource, including adult disappearances that don't meet law-enforcement priority thresholds, biological relatives separated by adoption, runaways, estranged family members, and individuals whose disappearance is unexplained.
How to locate a missing person depends entirely on the circumstances. A runaway teenager, an estranged adult sibling, an aging parent with cognitive decline, a biological mother sought by an adopted child, and a person who has gone silent during a mental-health crisis all require fundamentally different investigative strategies. Our licensed investigators begin with a structured intake to understand the timeline, the subject's known patterns and contacts, and the most recent confirmed location. From there, we deploy database research, social-network analysis, interviews with known associates, and field surveillance to build a picture of where the person is and whether they are safe.
Empire Investigation works with police, hospitals, shelters, and social-service agencies when appropriate, and we know how to find lost family members in scenarios police cannot pursue. We have located biological parents, missing siblings, runaways across multiple states, and adults who simply chose to disappear. We coordinate sensitively with families, recognizing that the goal is not always reunification — sometimes a client simply needs to confirm a loved one is alive and safe.
All cases are handled with discretion and compassion. Call (800) 860-6068 for a confidential consultation.
What This Investigation Covers
- Locating runaway minors and missing teenagers
- Finding estranged adult family members — siblings, parents, children
- Adoption-related searches for biological relatives
- Locating elderly family members with dementia or cognitive impairment
- Investigations of unexplained adult disappearances
- Welfare checks on family members who have stopped responding
- Documenting findings for law enforcement, courts, or family reconciliation
When This Service Is Needed
- A family member has stopped responding and cannot be reached at known addresses
- Police have closed or de-prioritized a case the family believes is still active
- An adopted person wants to locate their biological parents
- A runaway teenager is believed to be in another city or state
- An elderly relative has wandered or disappeared during a confused episode
- An adult has voluntarily disappeared and the family needs to confirm welfare
Our Approach
We conduct structured, confidential investigations using proven methodologies and professional-grade tools. Every case is scoped carefully, executed with discretion, and focused on delivering actionable, documented results. We coordinate directly with legal counsel and executive leadership when required.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find a missing family member?
Begin by documenting the last confirmed contact, the subject's recent communication patterns, vehicle, and known associates. File a report with local police if appropriate. For cases police cannot or will not actively investigate — adult disappearances, runaways across state lines, estranged relatives — a licensed private investigator can run database searches, conduct interviews, and perform field work that police cannot prioritize. Empire Investigation has located thousands of missing persons since 1982.
Can a private investigator find someone the police can't?
Often yes — particularly in adult disappearance cases that don't meet law-enforcement urgency criteria. Police prioritize cases involving immediate danger, minors, or suspected crime. Empire Investigation has access to investigative databases and the time to follow leads — interviewing prior addresses, former coworkers, social-network contacts — that police cannot pursue at scale.
How do I find lost family members from years ago?
Long-separated families and adoption searches are among our most common case types. We use licensed databases, vital records research, surname mapping, social-media analysis, and interview work to reconstruct family trees and locate biological relatives. Many of these cases are resolved in two to four weeks.
What if my missing person doesn't want to be found?
We respect that. Our standard practice is to confirm welfare and location, then ask the subject through a neutral intermediary whether they consent to contact. If they decline, we report only that they are alive and safe — we never share location against a competent adult's wishes.
How long does a missing persons investigation take?
Many cases resolve within 7 to 14 days. Adoption searches and decades-old disappearances may take longer. Cases involving subjects actively hiding or using assumed identities can extend into multi-week field investigations.
How much does a missing persons investigation cost in Pittsburgh?
Most cases are billed at a flat-rate locate fee or hourly investigation rate. Empire Investigation provides a fixed quote after an initial intake call. Call (800) 860-6068 for confidential pricing.
Confidential Inquiry
Request a Confidential Consultation
All inquiries are handled with complete discretion. We work directly with executives, legal counsel, and HR leadership to scope engagements appropriately.
All inquiries handled with complete discretion.