1987 : New York Police announce a man has been arrested in the disappearance of Etan Smith . The case was the first of several high - profile missing children cases . Etan 's photo was found on milk cartons , a new idea at the time . The cases received increasing news coverage in a fast-changing landscape that saw a proliferation of media outlets with growing interest in compelling visual images -- such as a heart-rending photo of a smiling child or video of parents pleading for their child 's safe return . Abductions by strangers are rare ; runaways are much more numerous .
1987 : New York Police announce a man has been arrested in the disappearance of Etan Smith . The case was the first of several high - profile missing children cases . Etan 's photo was found on milk cartons , a new idea at the time . Abductions by strangers are rare ; runaways are much more numerous .