So many lives were forever changed when we lost Joshua Abood, a 22-year-old whose case I now fight for as an advocate. The devastation of his sudden death was made even worse by an incomplete and contradictory autopsy that left his family full of questions instead of answers. What happened to Joshua is not an isolated case. It is a reflection of a broken forensic system in New York that abandons grieving families in their darkest hour.

New York currently ranks 𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟒 in the entire nation for unresolved missing person cases and carries nearly 𝟐𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 unsolved homicides dating back to 1965. Behind every statistic is a family left searching, grieving, and waiting for answers that may never come. When autopsies are incomplete and investigations lack oversight, those cases join the growing list of cold files — and justice slips further away.

Kevin Gannon, a retired NYPD Sergeant Detective with over 20 years of service and co-author of Case Studies in Drowning Forensics, has spoken out about these failures. He warns that New York’s forensic system routinely misses or mislabels evidence. In drowning cases especially, critical details are often overlooked because there is no statewide standard and too many autopsies are conducted by doctors without being a board certified Forensic Pathologist. This negligence robs families of truth, justice, and closure.

Joshua’s story is proof that change cannot wait. We are urging the passage of 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐚’𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐰, legislation that requires board-certified forensic pathologists on every suspicious case, enforces standardized autopsy procedures, and guarantees families the full transparency they deserve.

We refuse to accept silence. We refuse to let more families suffer in the dark. By signing this petition, you are standing with us to hold New York accountable and to make sure no family is ever again denied the truth about their loved one’s death.