Despite concerns following Mollie Tibbetts disappearance, missing juvenile numbers remain steady, state says

Stephen Gruber-Miller | The Des Moines Register

Show Caption Hide Caption Brother of missing Mollie Tibbetts: 'Our hope is she comes home safe' Jake Tibbetts, brother of missing University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts, is hopeful for her safe return.

Iowa officials say the number of missing juveniles is in line with historical trends, despite concerns spurred by the high-profile disappearance of Mollie Tibbetts.

In a news release Friday, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation acknowledged it has heard concerns raised about the number of missing juveniles reported in Iowa in recent weeks.

Tibbetts, a 20-year-old University of Iowa student from Brooklyn, Iowa, was last seen July 19. Her case has drawn national attention. The FBI is assisting Iowa law enforcement agencies in their investigation.

She was seen running the night she disappeared, while dog-sitting at the home of her boyfriend and her boyfriend’s brother in Brooklyn.

Investigators have ruled out Tibbetts' boyfriend and brothers as suspects.

More: Mollie Tibbetts case: 'We follow through on everything,' investigators say of search

The DCI news release about missing persons said 4,311 juveniles were reported missing to the Missing Person Information Clearinghouse website in fiscal year 2017, an average of about 12 juveniles per day.

"Typically these cases are runaway situations," the release states, and the "vast majority" are found or returned home within 24 hours.

"The number of missing juveniles reported in recent weeks is in line with historical numbers," the release states.

The Missing Person Information Clearinghouses lists 66 people reported missing so far in July. Of those, 48 are juveniles.

More: Why the FBI thinks Mollie Tibbetts' Fitbit could help find her