TRENTON – After much debate and emotion, “Caylee’s Law” has finally become law.
Gov. Chris Christie signed the legislation, with the Assembly bill sponsored by Assemblyman John Wisniewski. The law upgrades the penalty from a disorderly person’s offense to a fourth degree crime, which carries a prison term of up to 18 months, and/or a fine of up to $10,000.
The law is named after Caylee Anthony, a 2-year-old girl from Orlando, Fla., who was missing for 31 days before her grandmother reported her missing. She was found dead months later.
Her mother, Casey Anthony, was found not guilty of her murder
“The entire country has mourned the loss of Caylee Anthony, whose little body laid in the woods for months before police were notified she was missing. Had they been notified sooner, they could have determined the cause of her death and justice may have been served for this little girl,” Wisniewski said in a statement. “We know the first hours are crucial in finding a missing child. Prompt notification would help police with their search, and in the awful case that tragedy strikes, help them determine the cause of death, get a guilty conviction and bring justice to the victim.”
Another bill sponsor, Assemblyman Angel Fuentes, said, “Sadly, Caylee’s story is just one of many. Thousands of children are reported missing every year. The first few hours are crucial in not only finding a child who is missing, but finding them safe,” said Fuentes (D-Camden/Gloucester). “This measure will not bring Caylee back, but it can help give new meaning to her short life by aiding the search for missing children.”
The Assembly unanimously passed the bill on Dec. 15.
