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AMBER Alerts

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AMBER Alerts are usually resolved within hours. However, there are still some children who were featured in AMBER Alerts who are still missing. These children and their most up to date poster can be found below.

Name Missing State Missing Date Poster Link
Jhessye Shockley AZ 10/11/2011 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1181452
Joliet Cedano CA 9/11/2006 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1053317
Daphne Webb CA 7/10/2013 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1219197
Pearl Pinson CA 5/25/2016 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1269030
Vanessa Morales CT 11/29/2019 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1375968
Relisha Rudd DC 3/1/2014 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1229904
Trenton Duckett FL 8/27/2006 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1052224
Bryan Dossantos-Gomes FL 12/1/2006 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1058972
Haleigh Cummings FL 2/10/2009 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1115793
Andrew Caballeiro FL 1/28/2020 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1380649
Tangena Hussain MI 10/2/2008 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1107030
Alexander Skelton MI 11/26/2010 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1160897
Tanner Skelton MI 11/26/2010 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1160897
Andrew Skelton MI 11/26/2010 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1160897
Katherine Phillips MI 6/29/2011 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1174834
Bianca Jones MI 12/2/2011 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1185113
Christian Ferguson MO 6/11/2003 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/964942
Bianca Piper MO 3/10/2005 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1009521
Lisa Irwin MO 10/3/2011 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1180911
Myra Lewis MS 3/1/2014 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1229163
Dulce Alavez NJ 9/16/2019 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1369063
Keshawn Williams OH 6/24/2023 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1484139/1 
Zaylee Fryar TN 5/1/2011 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1171321
Chloie Leverette TN 9/23/2012 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1203253
Christopher Daniel TN 9/23/2012 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1203253
Summer Wells TN 6/15/2021 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1423522
Jesus Martinez TX 10/20/2004 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/999024
Kendrick Jackson TX 4/7/2006 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1041530
Elian Majano TX 6/21/2006 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1047169
Danielle Jimenez TX 7/31/2006 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1050042
Daisja Weaver TX 6/10/2009 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1124733
Armaidre Argumon TX 9/18/2020 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1401817
Lina Sardar Khil TX 12/20/2021 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1439053
Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez TX 3/25/23 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1476106/1
Acacia Bishop UT 5/25/2003 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/963601
Sofia Juarez WA 2/4/2003 https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/954908

Overview

AMBER Alerts are activated in the most serious child-abduction cases. The goal of an AMBER Alert is to instantly galvanize the community to assist in the search for and safe recovery of a missing child.  These alerts are broadcast through radio, TV, road signs, cellphones, and other data-enabled devices. The AMBER Alert system is being used in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Indian country, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 27 other countries.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs has tasked the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children with managing the AMBER Alert Secondary Distribution Program. When law enforcement issues an AMBER Alert, NCMEC is notified and re-distributes the alert to the appropriate secondary distributors.

As of December 31, 2023: at least 1,200 children have been recovered due to AMBER Alerts. 180 are due to WEA. 

How do I receive AMBER Alerts?

AMBER Alerts are broadcast through radio, television, road signs, and the network of secondary distributors, which include digital signage, hotel chains, internet service providers, apps, and other technology.  As of 2013, AMBER Alerts are also delivered to wireless phones through the Wireless Emergency Alerts program (WEA).

Most people will see AMBER Alerts directly from primary distribution and secondary distributors and do not require any additional steps. You may also be notified of an AMBER Alert in the following ways:

On Facebook: Visit www.facebook.com/AMBERAlert and “Like” the page to receive AMBER Alerts in your newsfeed. Facebook also automatically notifies users near the location of an AMBER Alert.

On Instagram:  If an AMBER Alert is activated by law enforcement and you are in the designated search area, the alert will appear in your Instagram feed.

On Twitter: Follow @AMBERAlert to receive rapid AMBER Alert notifications on your Twitter feed and share the alert with your followers.

International AMBER Alert Programs

Countries around the world followed the success of AMBER Alerts in the U.S. and created similar rapid alert systems. Each country adapted the system to fit its own needs and requirements but the goal remains the same — use the eyes and ears of the public to help law enforcement recover a child who is in immediate danger.

More information can be found at https://www.icmec.org/global-missing-childrens-center/child-alerts/

 

Additional Information

State Contact
Alabama Alabama State Bureau of Investigations
1-800-228-7688
 
Alaska Lt. Benjamin Endres
Fairbanks Dispatch Center
907-451-5100 
Arizona Arizona Department of Public Safety
602-223-2212
Arkansas Captain Stacie Rhoads
Arkansas State Police
501-618-8100
 
California Captain Melissa Kittell
California Highway Patrol
1-800-TELL-CHP (1-800-835-5247)
Colorado Kirby Lewis
Colorado Bureau of Investigation
303-239-4211
Connecticut Sgt. Chris Meier and Sgt. Sean Mahar
Connecticut State Police
860-685-8190
Delaware Sgt. India Sturgis
Delaware State Police Communications
302-739-5901
District of Columbia Lt. Andrew Dawidowicz
Metropolitan Police Department
202-727-9099
Florida Rachel Salus
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Missing Children Information Clearinghouse
1-888-356-4774
Georgia ASAC Lisa Vorrasi
Georgia Bureau of Investigation
404-244-2600
Hawaii Missing Child Center-Hawaii
Department of the Attorney General
808-753-9797
hawaiimissingkids@hawaii.gov
Idaho Tanea Parmenter
Idaho State Police
208-884-7000
Illinois Craig Burge
Illinois State Police
1-800-843-5763
missing@isp.state.il.us
Indiana Dir. Angela Meacham
Indiana State Police
1-800-831-8953
MissingChildren@isp.IN.gov
Iowa Captain Richard Pierce
Iowa State Patrol Communications
515-323-4360
Kansas Ryan Boyer
Kansas Bureau of Investigation
785-296-8262
1-800-KS CRIME
Kentucky Lt. Kenneth Sandusky
Kentucky State Police
502-564-0838
Louisiana Lt. Michelle King
Louisiana Clearinghouse for Missing & Exploited Children
225-925-6536 or 6636
Maine Lt. Randall Keaton
Maine State Police
207-624-7076
Maryland Sgt. Debbie Flory
Maryland State Police
410-653-4200
Massachusetts Detective Mark Cyr
Massachusetts State Police
508-820-2121
Michigan Michigan State Police
1-800-525-5555
517-241-8000
Minnesota Janelle Twardowski
Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
651-793-7000
Mississippi Lt. Willard Holifield
Mississippi Highway Patrol
601-987-1212 or 1530
Missouri Captain Corey Schoenberg
Missouri State Highway Patrol, Troop F
573-751-1000
Montana Brian Frost
Montana Department of Justice
406-444-2800
Nebraska Lt. Tim Arnold
Nebraska State Patrol
308-385-6000
Nevada Nevada Highway Patrol
775-687-0400
New Hampshire Sgt. Kelly Healy
New Hampshire State Police
603-271-3636
New Jersey DSG Erin Micciulla
New Jersey State Police
Missing Persons Unit
609-963-6900
New Mexico Lt. Mark Soriano
New Mexico State Police
505-795-2793
New York Senior Investigator Henry Abeel
New York State Police
NYSP Special Victims Unit
(The NYS AMBER Alert Coordinator’s Office)
518-457-6811
NYSPSVU@troopers.ny.gov
North Carolina Morrisa Ahl-Waters
North Carolina Center for Missing Persons
1-800-522-5437
North Dakota Sgt. Wade Kadrmas
North Dakota State Police
701-328-9921
Ohio S/Lt. Ron Raines
Department of Public Safety
Emergency Operations Center
614-466-2660
Oklahoma Jason Matheson
Oklahoma Highway Patrol Communications Center
405-425-2231
Oregon Sean Joyce
Oregon State Police Communications Center
503-375-3555
 
Pennsylvania Cpl. Todd McCurdy
Pennsylvania State Police
717-346-5430
Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Police Department
787-782-9006
Rhode Island Sgt. Simon Liu
Rhode Island State Police
401-444-1000
South Carolina Alex Schelble
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED)
803-737-9000
South Dakota Bonnie Feller Hagen
Division of Criminal Intelligence Analyst
605-773-7281

Pierre State Radio
605-773-3536
Tennessee Shelly Smitherman
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
615-744-4000
Texas Ben Patterson
Texas Department of Public Safety
Missing Persons Toll-Free Line:  (800) 346-3243
Utah Ofa Vaisima and Alex Martinez
Utah Department of Public Safety
801-652-6287
Vermont Lt. Shawn Loan
Vermont State Police
802-875-6110
Virginia First Sgt. Mike Debois
Virginia State Police – Missing Children’s Clearinghouse
804-674 2026
U.S.Virgin Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department 
340-772-9111
Washington Carri Gordon
Washington State Patrol
360-704-2404
 
West Virginia Sgt. James Kozik
West Virginia State Police
304-746-2158
Wisconsin Melissa Marchant
Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Missing & Exploited Children
608-266-1671
Wyoming Crystal McGuire
Wyoming Highway Patrol
307-777-4237

What happens when an AMBER Alert is received?

o   AMBER Alert broadcasts have a unique audible signal and vibration. It is intended to indicate the urgency of the message and make the alert accessible to people with hearing or vision-related disabilities. The message will contain a limited number of characters and provide basic information.

o   In the case of an AMBER Alert, the message would indicate that an AMBER Alert has been issued for your area and, relevant information about the missing child, and if possible, the abductor and/or vehicle used in the abduction.

 

How do AMBER Alerts work?

o   Once law enforcement has been notified about an abducted child, they will decide whether or not to issue an AMBER Alert based on their AMBER Alert program's criteria. They will provide the geographic area where the alert should be issued as well as any available information about the child, abductor, or suspected vehicle used in the abduction.

o   Once issued, the alerts are distributed by broadcasters and transportation agencies. They are also sent to NCMEC which redistribute the alerts to a network of secondary distributors that includes internet service providers, digital billboards, truckers, and others.

 

How are AMBER Alerts distributed to cell phones?

o   AMBER Alerts are distributed to cell phones as part of the AMBER Alert program's secondary distribution through the Wireless Emergency Alert program (WEA).

 

What is the Wireless Emergency Alert program?

o   The Wireless Emergency Alert program is operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It distributes notifications from authorized federal, state, local, and tribal government agencies that alert customers with capable devices of imminent threats to safety or an emergency situation. The messages are intended as a supplement to the existing Emergency Alert System, which broadcasts alerts over radio and television.

o   In addition to AMBER Alerts, the program includes National Weather Service, Presidential, and imminent threat alerts. If you own a capable mobile device, you will automatically receive these alerts when you are in the geographic area where an alert has been issued.

o   Because the alerts are sent on a special wireless carrier channel called Cell Broadcast they are not affected by congestion on the voice or SMS text channels. The alerts are transmitted simultaneously to all mobile devices within range of the cellular carrier towers in the affected area. The system does not need to know your mobile number and it does not track your whereabouts; it simply broadcasts the alert, and any mobile devices that can "hear" the alert will display it to the user.

 

Will wireless customers be charged for Wireless Emergency Alert messages?

o   No. Wireless customers will not be charged for the receipt of these messages.

 

How do I know if my device is Wireless Emergency Alert capable?

o   To determine if your mobile device is capable of receiving the alerts, visit www.ctia.org/wea and look for a link for your wireless service provider where you will find a list of mobile devices that will receive the alerts on their network. Also, be sure to ask for a capable device the next time you acquire a new mobile device.

o   Look for this symbol on the box

 

Is it possible to adjust the volume of the Wireless Emergency Alert audible signal?

o   If a wireless device is set to vibrate only, users will not hear the audible signal from a Wireless Emergency Alert message. For additional information about adjusting the volume of a specific device or opting out of receiving the alerts, wireless customers should contact their individual wireless service providers.

 

Where can I go to receive more information if I receive an AMBER Alert on my cell phone?

o   If you are notified through a Wireless Emergency Alert message that there is an AMBER Alert in your area, you can consult local media or visit www.missingkids.org/AMBER or www.amberalert.gov for more detail about the AMBER Alert.