Families Hold Onto Hope DNA Evidence Will Find Loved Ones

As DNA technology improves, the likelihood of using it to identify someone is also increasing.

Family members of those who have gone missing, came out to make sure law enforcement have the most current biological data to hopefully make a match.

"Doug went missing 17 years ago," said Novella Kirk.

For almost two decades the Kirk family have been in the dark about what happened to their middle son Doug.

So many questions left unanswered.

"Who done it, where he is at," said Novella. "That's what we'd like to have solved, what really happened to him."

With a picture and yellow ribbon on their lapels Doug's parents came to the "Never Forgotten" event looking for the closure they so desperately need and they aren't the only ones.

"It's hard not knowing what really happened," said Evelyn Pace.

Another of the dozens who came out hoping for a fresh look at the case of their missing loved ones.

"I never want to say it's their last hope, but it's a process to get them actively involved and I think that''s very important," said Kermit Channell with the Arkansas Crime Laboratory.

Gladly offering cheek swabs, biological information is then documented and entered into the national missing and unidentified person or NAM-US system.

"Dental x-rays, a DNA sample, we want to make sure their information is captured into our system," said Channell.

All to be used as reference for law enforcement when or if there is a break in the case.

"This is an important step to get families and law enforcement actively involved in the search of people's loved ones," said Channell.

Loved ones who wait patiently for any help they can get.

Dozens of families were helped Saturday, organizers said if even a few families turned up they'd have considered it a success and they hope this isn't the first and only even of it's kind here in Arkansas.