In the case of a missing child, I think that would be important. I haven't had a child go missing, but I think I can say that you always hold out hope that the child will be found alive.
I think two different things go on here. Yes, you're traumatized, but you're holding on to the hope that the child will be found. Then when the child is found, but it's obviously a homicide, there's another whole trauma that you go through.
In terms of stacking of periods of time with a leave of absence, if that can be extended, I think it would certainly be helpful in the case of a missing child.