Even though I often watch and enjoy this show, one question always bugs me.
Why are the FBI involved in a missing person case within a matter of 2 hours?!?
Especially in a case that does not necessarily involve kidnapping. There has been no ransom demands, no interstate flight or transfers of funds (that they know of) and not even immediately any signs of foul play.
Yet right away an elite unit comprising of anywhere from 3 to 6 agents is rushed to the scene.

Aren't the police the first one's to deal with (in many cases) ordinary disappearances? And even then, don't you have to wait a certain amount of time before any authorities are officially involved?

You mean to tell me that if a friend or relative of mine is two hours late coming home from some event I'll have four FBI agents in my home immediately handling the investigation?

Fine with me, as long as one of them looked like Poppy Montgomery.

I always wondered about that aspect of the show, they seem to get called in almost before the police get there, I think it's a bat signal.

but then like the say the 1st few hours are the most crucial in a case like this

I think that it is mysterious dissappearances, such as people supposed to be back in 5 minutes, etc. But who knows.

I'm just imagining that let's say my wife and I are out for dinner. She gets up to use the restroom and does not return.

Am I really gonna have a special team of FBI agents on the case within an hour or two?
I'll take it a step further...am I *ever* gonna have the FBI on this case, or will the local PD simply be the one's to handle it?

Planning something Phil?

IRL? The FBI comes into the case if she's taken across state lines. Otherwise, it will generally be handled by local authorities.

Gotta keep my options open.

That's even another one of my points. In WAT, the FBI is involved even when there is no kidnapping and no ransom demands.

In the words of Joel Hodgson
Just repeat to yourself, "It's just a show, I should really just relax"
I don't think the show would be as interesting if they only came in when the case was half over