Search underway for missing child last seen on July 4, police seek more info

Trevor Myers
·2 min read

UPDATE July 5, 2024: Sandy City Police confirmed with ABC4.com that Valdez had been found in the Kearns area.

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Sandy City Police Department has asked the public for information regarding the whereabouts of a missing 11-year-old.

Taddy Michael Valdez, 11, is said to be about 4’9″ and weigh about 80 pounds. Taddy was last seen on Thursday, July 4, around 1300 East 8200 South in Sandy, according to police.

LEARN MORE: What should you do if someone goes missing?

Anyone with information on Taddy’s whereabouts has been asked to call the Sandy City Police Department at 801-568-7200.

What to do when speaking to law enforcement about a missing person

More than 600,000 people go missing each year in the United States, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.

Here are some suggestions to keep in mind if someone you know goes missing.

Utah officials suggest taking notes on interactions with law enforcement to keep track of details such as officer names, dates and times of interactions, the case number, and what the officers say.

When working with local law enforcement to report a missing person, it is recommended one shares as much information as possible about the missing person, including but not limited to:

  • Full name or nicknames.

  • Recent photos.

  • Date of birth and age at the time they disappeared.

  • Gender/sex.

  • Detailed physical description (including unique scars or tattoos).

  • Date of disappearance.

  • Medical conditions.

  • Last known location.

  • Social media accounts.

Additional resources

For more information, the Department of Public Safety has a page on its website dedicated to resources for missing persons, as well as pages to view missing persons from Utah.

Additional hotlines and resources originally compiled in a 2021 guidebook are available below:

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233

National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888

National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs): 833-872-5176

National Runaway Safeline: 800-786-2929

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255

StrongHearts Native Helpline: 844-762-8483

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