Iowa AMBER Alert Criteria Broadened After String of Kidnappings

The criteria to issue an AMBER Alert, the rapid response system that informs the public when a child is kidnapped, has been broadened in Iowa by a review group made up of law enforcement representatives from around the state.

The AMBER Alert Criteria Group met in response to a series of kidnappings in Iowa. Two of those cases saw AMBER Alerts issued and ended with the safe recovery of the children.

Two other cases ended in tragedy; the abduction and murders of 15-year-old Kathlynn Shepard earlier this year and Evansdale cousins Elizabeth Collins, 8, and Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 10, in 2012. An AMBER Alert was not issued in either of those cases.

As a result of the group's review, a minor change has been made in language for Iowa's AMBER Alert Criteria #4.  It previously read, "There is enough descriptive information about the child, abductor, and/or suspect's vehicle to believe an immediate broadcast alert will help."

The recommendation would remove the word "and". Additionally, the group suggested law enforcement and Department of Public Safety (DPS) officials interpret the criteria more broadly. 

In the Evansdale cousins case, there is still no information on a suspect's vehicle or abductor, with the search for their killer ongoing. In Kathlynn Shepard's case, her abductor Michael Klunder committed suicide and was located before an alert could be issued, though Shepard's body was not found for several days.

The goal is to ensure the safe recovery of all of Iowa’s abducted children, the review said.

The group also identified an increased need for training of all Iowa law enforcement on the AMBER Alert criteria. It is critical that local agencies notify the Department of Public Safety quickly to increase the chances of successfully recovering Iowa’s abducted children, the review said. Training opportunities will be identified in the near future.

With the changed language, the four criteria to issue an AMBER Alert now are:

1. Law enforcement confirms a child has been abducted and entry has been made into the IOWA/NCIC Systems identifying the child as missing.
2. The child is under the age of 18.
3. Law enforcement believes the circumstances surrounding the abduction indicate that the child is in danger of serious bodily harm or death.
4. There is enough descriptive information about the child, abductor, or suspect's vehicle to believe an immediate broadcast alert will help.

The AMBER Alert Criteria Group is made up of representatives from the Iowa Sheriff’s & Deputies Association, Iowa Police Chief’s Association, Iowa State Police Association, County Attorney’s Association, Iowa Attorney General’s Office, U.S. Attorney’s Office – Northern District, U.S. Attorney’s Office – Southern District, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Transportation, and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.