On Sunday, April 21, 2024, Zayden Jay left his house around 6 PM. He was  assumed to have runaway. On Wednesday, April 24 It was discovered that Zayden took his life in the woods. Law enforcement was not able to assist because runaways are not considered missing persons.

This tragic event highlights a critical gap in our current Amber Alert system - the exclusion of situations involving runaways from its criteria. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reports that one in six reported runaways were likely sex trafficking victims in 2016 (source: NCMEC). In addition to this, thirty percent of the runaways reported having attempted suicide in the past. This statistic underscores the urgency and necessity of expanding the definition of an Amber Alert.

In memory of Zayden Jay, and countless others who might have been saved if they had been considered missing rather than runaways, we urge lawmakers to change this policy immediately. By including runaways within the scope of an Amber alert, we can ensure that all children are protected equally under this system.

Please sign this petition to demand a change in our legislation so no other child falls through these cracks again.