"We want Faces of the Missing to get underrepresented stories of the missing in front of as many people as possible. I understand what it takes, the heartaches and the anxiety and the hopelessness. We’ll include the people who have leverage in the true crime community as well as social media — because that's how Gabby's story got out there. When social media was going wildfire with the story, that's when the national media started to pick it up. By getting their stories out as far as we possibly can, it's going to help find those people. Hopefully that can work just the same way it did with Gabby."
- Joe Petito
Joe Petito, Host
In the Media
Faces of the Missing has been featured in
People Magazine and the Boston Globe!
It starts with Gabby Petito's story...
When 22-year-old Gabby Petito died in the summer of 2021 shockwaves reverberated through the entire world. What became an instant viral missing person story ended up in a shocking act of domestic violence. Gabby’s “4 parents” bravely turned their pain into purpose by stepping up to advocate for missing people, specifically underrepresented missing people through the loss and legacy Gabby left behind. Her father, Joe Petito is now on a mission to dispel what’s known as Missing White Woman Syndrome, a phrase coined by American journalist Gwen Ifill that the media has used to describe Gabby’s case after the nonstop national fascination it received - and continues to receive - in the aftermath of her tragic passing.
Social Media's Role
Gabby Petito’s story would not have been solved so quickly if her story had not spread like wildfire on social media. True crime sleuths on Tik Tok, YouTube, Reddit and other platforms helped police to solve the investigation. Now, we will give the same agency and resources to all underrepresented missing people through prime engagement on social media platforms to include holding online discussions, forums and citizen engagement. Gabby’s story received over 1.2 billion views on posts containing the tag #gabbypetito. FACES OF THE MISSING gives others the same opportunity to engage the digital detectives and spread social awareness.
Missing White Woman Syndrome
Missing White Woman Syndrome is a term that denotes the disproportionate media coverage of underrepresented missing people. The term specifically refers to white females as compared to males or females of color. Now, Joe Petito is advocating for all missing people who don’t get coverage to include those from black, brown and indigenous communities, males, the elderly and others from difficult socioeconomic backgrounds and circumstances who don’t receive the same attention.
Series and Episodes
FACES OF THE MISSING is a half-hour magazine format series hosted by Joe Petito and will feature two stories per episode. The series will spotlight all underrepresented missing people. The show aims to help families and loved ones find closure and justice.FACES OF THE MISSING takes the audience into the lives of underrepresented missing people’s lives by interspersing interviews and verité scenes with artistic reinactments. Each episode will feature segments that feature family members, friends, spouses, children, siblings, and colleagues…as well as law enforcement and officials who can shine light on the cases. The series will feature both new and cold cases and tips will remain anonymous. It follows the format of America’s Most Wanted, imparting an empathetic tone to amplify victims’ voices.
FACES OF THE MISSING will collaborate with multiple organizations to include local and national law enforcement and American foundations. Each week, FACES OF THE MISSING is set up to crack the cases that didn't receive appropriate or urgent attention.
In Association With:
FACES OF THE MISSING will be shot up close and personal, verité style combined with host Joe Petito’s narration throughout. Joe will spend time with the families on camera and their voices will be heard for the very first time. We hope to break down the Missing White Woman Syndrome phenonemon to help families bring their loved ones home and find closure.
- Dana Richie, Director/EP
Director's Statement
Meet the Award Winning Team
DANA RICHIE
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/DIRECTOR
Dana is a journalist-turned-filmmaker known for bringing heart and soul into every creative project.She doesn’t just tell stories—she brings them to life and finds continuously innovative, boundary-breaking ways to do it across short and long-form platforms. From “real people” documentaries to digital series, original branded content, commercials and beyond, Dana combines a visionary approach with her ability to cut straight to the beating heart of a story, leaning into humanity, and creating something entirely new, authentic, and ahead of the curve.
FRANCESCO LUCARELLI
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Francesco's impressive 25-year tenure in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries is defined by his commitment to embracing challenges and driving innovation. He has a proven track record in managing all facets of strategic and creative work production, from intricate product launches to developing results-driven strategies. His leadership extends beyond internal team management to fostering strong relationships with clients, ensuring their satisfaction and engagement. Francesco's approach is deeply rooted in story telling, particularly through video, where he excels in conveying compelling stories and perspectives. His unique ability to intertwine strategic insight with creative expression makes him an invaluable leader, capable of steering projects to success and leaving a lasting impact.
JOE PETITO
HOST & GABBY PETITO'S FATHER
Joseph Petito is a passionate advocate for missing people and a founding member of the Gabby Petito Foundation, an organization established in honor of his daughter who tragically lost her life in 2021. Joseph transformed his grief into action focusing on raising awareness for domestic violence and missing people. Joseph works tirelessly to collaborate with various organizations, law enforcement agencies, and community groups to enhance the search efforts for missing individuals and to foster conversations around safety and mental health.
ELAINE ARADILLAS
VETERAN CRIME JOURNALIST
Elaine Aradillas is a veteran crime journalist whose 20-year career has focused on in-depth crime reporting with an emphasis on highlighting survivors of tragedy. Having spent much of her career at PEOPLE magazine, Elaine reported on some of the most significant and harrowing national stories, from mass shootings to high-profile missing persons cases, and brought them to life on-screen for seven seasons of PEOPLE Magazine Investigates on Investigation Discovery. Her expertise has been featured on Dateline, Good Morning America, Nightline, and more. She is driven by a mission to bring balanced, inclusive storytelling to light and continues to advocate for marginalized voices.
Summary
FACES OF THE MISSING will collaborate with multiple organizations to include local and national law enforcement and American foundations. Each week, with the help of the Gabby Petito Foundation, Black and Missing, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, National Center for Missing & Explotied Children (NCMEC), National Domestic Violence Hotline, FBI, Amber Alert and more, FACES OF THE MISSING is set up to crack the cases that didn’t receive appropriate or urgent attention. Our series will provide key information, anonymous tip lines and new leads that could result in a national re-examination of these cases, and in some instances, a case review for the very first time.