Bloomsburg, Pa. — State Rep. Robert Leadbeter (R-Columbia) announced he intends to introduce legislation — dubbed Aiden’s Law — to establish a “Purple Alert” system in Pennsylvania to ensure the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable citizens who go missing are brought home.
The move comes after 7-year-old Aiden Ha drowned after going missing in Bloomsburg on Saturday. Emergency crews and the public searched for two days for the nonverbal autistic boy before his body was discovered in the Susquehanna River.
Similar to Amber Alert for abducted children, Silver Alert for missing older adults and Green Alert for missing at-risk veterans, the Purple Alert system would rapidly notify the public and law enforcement when an individual with certain cognitive, intellectual or developmental disabilities goes missing.
Following Aiden's disappearance, Bloomsburg resident Candace Hinchcliffe posted on Facebook on Sunday, asking others to join her in contacting Leadbeter about enacting a "Purple Alert" system in Pennsylvania.
Included in the post was her email to Leadbeter, which garnered over 500 shares in less than 24 hours.
Despite a thorough, multi-agency effort to find him, Leadbeter said he believes a Purple Alert system could have immediately distributed his photo, description, and last known location statewide — potentially saving a life.
“When a loved one with disability goes missing, every minute becomes critical,” said Leadbeter. “Even when all hands are on deck, these individuals are let down by the current system. Life is precious, and families should never feel helpless when a situation like this happens. My proposal would give law enforcement more tools to save lives and give families more peace of mind.”
Once introduced, it will be assigned to a House committee for consideration.
A family member set up a GoFundMe "In loving memory of Aiden Ha" to help with funeral expenses.
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