the buzz log

Long after the cast of characters fade away, unsolved missing person cases still stick in our consciousness. The kidnapping of aviator Charles Lindbergh's baby still resonates today. A dig every so often fails to uncover the body of Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa. Expeditions make a ritual of looking for pilot Amelia Earhart's remains.

In the present day, however, the tragic aspect of such mysteries remain keen. Searchers have followed the unknown fate of adventurer Steve Fossett, placing him in the top 150 terms this past week. Online searches have taken on a new dimension, as spectators can now pore over satellite imagery for a trace of the Tennessee-born pilot. The buzz over "tracking steve fossett" has accelerated nearly 3,000%, with states Colorado, Missouri, Washington, and Kansas leading.

In a British missing persons case, fears of kidnapping may turn into accusations of infanticide. A judge is sifting through evidence before deciding on whether to charge the parents of Madeleine McCann. Their publicity efforts since the 4-year-old's disappearance netted celebrity assistance, international attention, and $2 million. The McCanns may have to raise funds again, this time for their legal defense.

The coast-to-coast attention from the U.S. has shifted from "find madeleine mccann" to "kate and gerry mccann" and "kate mccann suspect." People have also sought out "gerry mccann blog" to hear the parents' side.

Regretfully, these aren't the only missing that people (mostly women) look for in Search. While motivations may arise from bystander curiosity, the desire to help is also there, as constant "amber alert" monitorings on the Buzz might indicate. In the cases of Fossett and McCann, the ending may hold our attention for some time.