Which element is NOT necessary for the charge of failure to report a child's disappearance?

The correct answer highlights that knowledge of the child’s whereabouts is not a necessary element for the charge of failure to report a child's disappearance. This means that even if a parent or caregiver does not know where the child is, they can still be charged if they fail to report the child missing to the proper authorities. The law focuses on the responsibility of the caregiver to make a report, regardless of their knowledge about the child’s location.

Intent to hide the child’s location is not a requirement for this specific charge; rather, it is about the act of failing to report. Similarly, a failure on the part of a parent or caregiver to report is central to the charge, as is the requirement for the failure to be done knowingly and wantonly. However, the prosecution does not need to prove that the caregiver had knowledge of the child's whereabouts at the time of the report's failure for the charge to be valid. This underscores that the emphasis is on the duty to report rather than on the caregiver's knowledge of the situation.