My 14-year-old son, Chel’mar A. Townsend, was shot in the city of Millville, New Jersey at Waltman City Park. Tragically, he passed away on July 10, 2023. Despite numerous requests, my family and I have been denied access to his autopsy reports. It has been a distressing 20 months of knocking on closure's door, but it remains tightly shut due to New Jersey's lax regulations on autopsy reports-release.

The current system in New Jersey allows for excessive delays in releasing autopsy reports. This ineffectiveness causes extraordinary and unnecessary agony for grieving families, adding insult to an already profound injury. We, the undersigned, urge the New Jersey State Registrar and Governor to pass legislation ensuring timely access to autopsy reports for the families of the deceased.

We propose amendments to existing laws to mandate the release of autopsy reports to next of kin within 30 to 60 days, a timeframe that's reasonable considering the advances of our current forensic sciences. Along with this, we call for the establishment of clear guidelines for request procedures to ensure transparency throughout the process, leaving no room for the further suffering of the bereaved.

Our plea is not just for our son’s but for all families in New Jersey enduring similar predicaments. The experience of losing a loved one is devastating enough. Denying families timely access to autopsy reports only prolongs their suffering and delays the healing process. 

Help us rewrite this law, help us bring about a change to a system that has, for far too long, been cloaked in opacity and inefficiency. We trust that with your support, justice and transparency will prevail for Chel’mar and countless others. Please sign this petition.  "I URGE you to take action and lets demand change. Families deserves timely and transparent access to information about their loved ones. No one should have to endure the agony of waiting on answers."