The name for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) Facebook page says it all: Help ID Me. Utilizing the power of social media, this page is a new step toward identifying some of the hundreds of nameless deceased children that crowd the center’s databases.
Through a combination of anthropology and sculpture, forensic artists recreate these images based on recovered skulls in the hopes that someone might recognize the face. Even a single detail could spark recognition. While facial reconstructions like this typically involve hand sculpting, artists at the NCMEC use Geomagic Freeform 3D modeling software to more quickly create digital busts, so facial reconstructions can be publicized faster and more easily. When a new lead might be a matter of getting the right person to see the right face, that speed is vital. We’re proud to play a small part in getting those images into the public eye and supporting this valuable work.