Ohio bill hoping to help solve missing persons cases in the state
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A recently introduced Ohio bill inspired by a Columbus man's disappearance aims to help solve missing persons cases in the state.
The FIND Act, sponsored by Reps. Christine Cockley (D-Columbus) and Kevin Ritter (R-Marietta), would require law enforcement agencies in the state to enter missing people into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) within 30 days of a report being filed with police.
NamUs is a free national database of missing persons and unidentified remains. Dental records, fingerprints and DNA profiles can be uploaded to the platform, helping law enforcement, medical examiners and coroners identify remains as missing people. Since the database was launched in 2007, it has helped solve over 46,000 cases across the country.
'We are at a pivotal moment when technology can help solve cases that have remained unsolved for years,' Cockley said in a statement. 'The FIND Act will equip law enforcement and medical professionals across Ohio with the tools they need to support families of the missing, while also giving families and the public a greater voice in the process.'
At the bill's first hearing in April, Cockley said every day on her drive to work, she passes a billboard on West Broad Street featuring information about Andrew 'Andy' Chapman, who has been missing from her district since 2006. She said Andy's story inspired her to introduce the legislation.
'Andy's case is not an isolated one,' Cockley said. 'There are hundreds of families in Ohio still waiting for answers. What makes that wait even harder is knowing that we are not using all the tools we have available.'
While many police departments in the state do enter missing people into NamUs, it is currently not required by law. Andy Chapman's sister Aimee Chapman said when Cockley called and shared that the billboard inspired her to introduce a bill, her family was 'so happy.'
'If you are familiar with Andy's story, unfortunately he fell into opioid addiction, and I feel like we're changing his legacy,' Aimee Chapman said. 'We're changing it from a missing addict to somebody who's making a difference.'
While the bill likely will not make a difference in Andy Chapman's case, which was entered into NamUs by Columbus police in 2011, Aimee Chapman said she hopes it can help other missing people.
'If we can help another family not have to go through the mishaps that we went through by getting this bill passed, that would be a huge victory for our family,' Aimee Chapman said.
Currently, over 1,100 residents – including both adults and children – are missing, according to a database maintained by the state's attorney general's office. Recorded cases date to 1928, with the disappearance of 4-year-old Melvin Horst.
If the act is signed into law, Ohio would become the 17th state in the country to mandate the use of NamUs in missing persons investigations.
The bill has 17 cosponsors, consisting of both Democrats and Republicans. It was assigned to the House's Public Safety Committee, where residents will have the chance to testify in support and opposition of the bill.
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