A St. Clair Shores Woman Is Fighting To Create An Online Child Abuser Registry

ST. CLAIR SHORES, MI — Erica Hammel is leading the charge to develop Wyatt's Law, an online, statewide child-abuse registry, in the vein of the sex offender registry, so you can learn in a matter of seconds if someone has ever been convicted of abusing a child, the Detroit Free Press reports.

The idea behind Wyatt's Law is that the online database will be a potentially lifesaving tool to vet anyone parents entrust their children to - say, a babysitter, friend, or romantic partner.

Tragically, Hammel was sparked to take action when her now 4-year-old son, Wyatt Rewoldt, was shaken by her ex-husband's girlfriend, Rachel Edwards. Wyatt's injuries were atrocious, and he suffered brain damage, broken ribs and was left blind in one eye. Prior to the horrific attack on Wyatt, Edwards was twice convicted for abusing the child of a different boyfriend - yet only sentenced to probation. Hammell had no clue that her son was in the company of a convicted child abuser until after Wyatt was attacked.

Edwards is currently serving 33 months to 10 years for second-degree child abuse in Wyatt's case.

The next step for Wyatt's Law? Getting it passed through the House of Representatives. Incoming Rep. Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores, told the Detroit Free Press, "It's my intention to introduce the main bill as soon as I possibly can after taking office Jan. 1."

Patch will keep you posted on Wyatt's Law. In the meantime, if you suspect a child or an adult is being abused, call 855-444-3911 to get help from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

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