National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Thrownaway Children
National Estimates of Missing Children: An Overview (2002)
In considering these estimates, it is important to recognize that nearly all of the caretaker missing children (1,312,800 or 99.8 percent) were returned home alive or located by the time the study data were collected. Only a fraction of a percent (0.2 percent or 2,500) of all caretaker missing children had not returned home or been located, and the vast majority of these were runaways from institutions who had been identified through the Juvenile Facilities Study.
If this study is any indication of the truth, there is a really good chance they end up back home. Who knows?
I imagine that study is closer to the truth, which is a good thing. The children used in sex trafficking are likely never reported missing in the first place and are from other countries.
I tend to think that the 2500 number is close to the number that were murdered in the process of trafficking. Epstein returned most of the girls he kidnapped from the US after taking them to his island, I'm sure that any who were released after some time, or became adult prostitutes are not included in this low number.
Something to consider :
https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/196465.pdf
National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Thrownaway Children
National Estimates of Missing Children: An Overview (2002)
If this study is any indication of the truth, there is a really good chance they end up back home. Who knows?
I imagine that study is closer to the truth, which is a good thing. The children used in sex trafficking are likely never reported missing in the first place and are from other countries.
I tend to align with this train of thought however we must also consider this study is just shy of 20 years old.
I tend to think that the 2500 number is close to the number that were murdered in the process of trafficking. Epstein returned most of the girls he kidnapped from the US after taking them to his island, I'm sure that any who were released after some time, or became adult prostitutes are not included in this low number.