Why was there no AMBER alert for missing 9-year-old?
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Many people have expressed concern that an AMBER Alert was never issued in the case of missing 9-year-old Michelle Reneau, who was found safe and sound Tuesday evening.
Colorado Springs police tweeted out Tuesday around 6 p.m. saying Michelle was found safe and sound -- but have not said exactly where, as of Wednesday.
CSPD asked for the public’s assistance Tuesday afternoon, saying Michelle ran away from the 200 block of Byron Drive Monday afternoon.
Officials wouldn’t release an exact location at the time, but a woman who claims to be Michelle’s aunt says she ran away from the Roosevelt Charter Academy around 3 p.m.
The story gained traction on social media with thousands of people sharing Michelle’s picture.
Many people commented, asking why an AMBER alert hadn’t been issued.
The reason? Because of protocol.
What is an AMBER alert?
The AMBER alert is a system that uses various media outlets, including television and radio, to inform the general public about abductions.
AMBER alert stands for “America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response,” and is also named after Amber Hagerman, a 9-year-old girl abducted and murdered in Arlington, Texas in 1996.
Hagerman’s parents worked with Texas lawmakers to create the AMBER alert. President George W. Bush made it a national standard in 2003. Now all 50 states use the system.
What criteria is necessary to issue an AMBER alert?
In order to avoid false alarms, the U.S. Department of Justice has developed a set of criteria for states to follow before issuing an AMBER alert:
- Law enforcement must confirm that an abduction has occurred
- The child is a minor (under 18)
- The child is at risk of serious injury or death
- There's descriptive information about the captor and/or the captor's vehicle.
In the case of Michelle Reneau, only the second bullet point was confirmed by police.
