INDIANA — Following the tragic death of 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee, Indiana leaders are fast-tracking a legislative push to close gaps in the state’s emergency notification system.
Buzbee, a Fishers teenager who was allegedly lured and groomed by an older man through a video game platform, was found dead in Ohio yesterday after being missing since January 5. Because her disappearance lacked evidence of a physical abduction, it did not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert, leaving her family without a statewide emergency broadcast during the critical early hours of her disappearance.
The “Pink Alert” System
Proposed as “Hailey’s Law,” the legislation seeks to create a new “Pink Alert” specifically designed for missing minors in “dangerous situations” that don’t fit current protocols. The alert would be triggered by:
- Evidence of online grooming or predator contact.
- Suspicious or coercive digital communications.
- Unexplained disappearances involving exploitation or trafficking risks.
“Hailey’s Law fills a gap between the Amber Alert and the Silver Alert,” said Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith. “Unless you see somebody physically being abducted, you can’t really call for an Amber Alert. We need this now because time is of the essence.”
In addition to the alert system, the law would mandate online grooming education in Indiana schools to help students and parents identify predatory behavior on platforms like Discord and gaming lobbies.
While the deadline for new bill introductions has passed for the current session, Lt. Governor Beckwith and Governor Mike Braun are urging state senators to attach the “Hailey’s Law” language to existing legislation. Supporters remain hopeful the “Pink Alert” will be active in Indiana within the next year.
