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Dear Editor:
Thank you for your recent coverage of Hailey Buzbee and the discussion surrounding legislative leadership and the Amber Alert system. Continued attention to this issue is incredibly important.
In 1996, I led the task force in Texas that created the Amber Alert. At that time, the criteria were developed in a very different world. The technology that exists today was not part of that conversation. Children were not being groomed inside their own homes through smartphones, tablets, social media platforms, and online gaming systems.
Indiana’s current law remains largely rooted in a traditional definition of abduction, meaning the forcible taking of a child who is believed to be in imminent danger. Today, many teenagers are not taken in that way. Instead, they are groomed, manipulated, and coerced through technology to leave their homes voluntarily, often under the direction of someone who poses a real and credible threat to their safety.
In these situations, law enforcement may strongly believe a teen is in danger, yet the statute does not give officers the flexibility needed to issue an Amber Alert because no forcible kidnapping has occurred. This can leave law enforcement unable to act at the moment when time matters most.
The question we continue to ask is whether legislative leaders will acknowledge that older children and teenagers are being targeted every day through modern technology, and whether they will act during this legislative session to revise the statute so another family does not experience a similar loss.
Education is also a critical part of prevention. It has been encouraging to see Hamilton Southeastern School District already had internet and social media safety education on its calendar prior to this tragedy. In recognition of Safer Internet Day, the district is hosting a parent and community presentation titled Protecting Kids in the Digital Age: Internet and Social Media Safety on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 6 p.m. at Hamilton Southeastern High School in the Leonard Auditorium. The session will be led by Tiffany Preston, a former Assistant United States Attorney with extensive experience investigating internet crimes against children. Parents and members of the community are encouraged to attend in person, where support resources will be available, and a recording will also be made available following the event.
Suzanne Thomas, a community leader in Fishers, has been working closely with local and state officials to advocate for a thoughtful review and amendment of Indiana’s Amber Alert criteria. Our primary focus is on updating Indiana law to better reflect today’s realities and give law enforcement the flexibility needed to act when a child is at risk. While Indiana is our immediate priority, this issue extends beyond one state, and ultimately all states should be evaluating and modernizing their Amber Alert criteria to address evolving threats.
Our goal is not to replace the Amber Alert, but to strengthen it by modernizing its parameters to reflect how children are being harmed and targeted today. We appreciate your continued coverage of this issue and welcome any questions as the conversation moves forward.
Thank you again for your time and commitment to public safety.
Carolyn Alvey
Murphy, Texas