Long Island Lawmakers Say Teal Alert In Gabby Petito's Name 'Could Save Others'

ALBANY, NY — State lawmakers are hoping a bill aimed to establish a Teal Alert for missing adults or those believed to be in domestic violence danger will be passed into law.

Port Jefferson Assemb. Ed Flood and New Suffolk Sen. Anthony Palumbo advocated for their proposed legislation, “Gabby’s Law,” which is named in honor of Gabby Petito, in Albany this week.

Ashanti’s Alert Act is used across the U.S. along with Amber Alerts for missing children and Silver Alerts for missing seniors and adults with mental health issues, but New York does not take part in the system, leaving out missing adults between the ages of 18 and 64.

The Teal Alert would make it possible for early public alerts for missing adults or those believed to be in danger, "providing a greater likelihood of the missing adult being found safe and unharmed," Flood's office said.

The 23-year-old Petito, a native Blue Pointer, went missing on a cross-country trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, prompting a massive multi-state search for her. Laundrie confessed to strangling her in a note he penned before killing himself in a Florida swamp. Before her slaying, she and Laundrie had been involved in a physical fight in Utah, which was documented in a highly-publicized police body cam footage.

After Petito's death, families, friends, and advocates wore teal ribbons and they decorated her home town to represent her bright blue eye color.

Had a Teal Alert system been in place due to Petito's concern for her well-being, it could have saved her life, Flood's office said.

The proposed legislation was held for consideration in the Assembly Governmental Operations Committee, meaning it will not reach the assembly floor for a vote during this legislative session, his office said.

Flood said he was sending "thoughts and prayers" to Petito's family "during their period of grieving."

"As a father of five children, it is unimaginable to think of losing one, which is why this legislation truly hits home for me and many of my colleagues," he said.

Flood said that if a Teal Alert had been enacted and used, "there is no guarantee that it would have saved Petito’s life, but it's his "hope is that it could save others."

He said that "unfortunately," the Democratic majority used its "one-party rule to their advantage and blocked a non-partisan bill that could help locate missing people."

"The fight does not stop here, my colleagues in the assembly and the senate will continue to push for common-sense legislation, and my hope is to honor Gabby in the way she deserves,” he said.

Palumbo said that the legislation would help vulnerable New Yorkers and those in danger "with coordinated law enforcement support," similar to Amber and Silver Alerts for seniors and children.

"I am pleased this legislation was advanced out to the Senate Codes Committee this year, and I look forward to working with Assemb. Flood, Sen. Murray, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this legislation signed into law,” he said.

Murray noted that Petito is not the first missing adult and victim of domestic violence, but her case "certainly brought it to the forefront of America."

"Her case highlighted the importance of having law enforcement officials on the same page and on alert early in the process when someone goes missing or is unaccounted for," he said. "That's why our state opting into the national alert network with 'Gabby's Law' will give those adults in New York who are missing, abducted, or in danger between the ages of 18 to 64 a chance of returning home to their loved ones safely."

A rep from Flood's office said if it is not raised this legislative session, it will have to be reintroduced in January.

Patch has reached out to the Gabby Petito Foundation for comment.

A rep for Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes' office could not be immediately reached for comment.

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