When a Child is Missing, Every Second Counts

The Amber Alert concept originated in Texas after 9-year-old Amber Hagerman was kidnapped from her Arlington home in 1996 and murdered. A neighbor was able to provide some details of a car believed to be involved in the abduction; however, no system was in place to get that information to the public quickly. After Amber’s death, local residents worked with area radio stations to develop the Amber Alert.

Since that time, Amber Alert plans have been credited with helping to safely recover numerous children across the nation, according the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.