AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF) – A bill that will allow law enforcement to issue a regional alert when a child is missing, without confirmation of an abduction, is on its way to Governor Abbott’s desk for his signature
The “Athena ALERT” was named after 7 year old Athena Strand who was killed in Wise County in December 2022. Athena’s mother, Maitlyn Gandy testified before the Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee in Austin before the bill was passed and said “she begged for an Amber Alert to be issued when she got to the property of Athena’s father, and unfortunately she was told she did not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert to be issued.”
Following the passage of the bill Gandy said it means so much to know her daughter’s life will have a meaningful impact.
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