New DNA initiative announced on Missing Children’s Day

BOSTON — There are 80 Massachusetts children reported as missing on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children website.

At the State House Wednesday, all of them were honored for Missing Children’s Day.

Jennifer Nowak, the sister of Westfield’s Jamie Lusher, was at the State House as her brother’s name was called.

“It’s very important to keep speaking these kid’s names, because, again, nobody knows he’s missing unless I say it,” Nowak said.

Jamie Lusher disappeared in 1992 and is presumed murdered. Thirty-one years later, the pain over not knowing, remains strong.

“My brother has not been found at this point, and it breaks my father’s heart,” Nowak said.

Over the last four decades, DNA technology has revolutionized forensic science.

Middlesex County DA Marian Ryan is launching a new initiative to use DNA to help identify the missing.

On June 17th, the DA is hosting a DNA drive day at Newton City Hall.

Anyone can take a free DNA test and receive a genetic ancestry report.

“The more people that we can put in that database, the more possibility there will be that if we find some remains, or exhume some remains, we’ll be able to make that connection and bring somebody home to their family,” DA Ryan said

In April, teams searched the marshes of Revere looking for Harmony Montgomery, who has been missing since 2019.

For all families of missing children, the hope for answers never goes away.

“Do you think you’ll ever find your brother?” I asked Jennifer Nowak.

“I hope so, in my lifetime. Anything. Any, any piece of anything,” she said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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