Recognize Missing Persons Day

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 26-009

BY SENATOR(S) Danielson and Catlin, Marchman, Amabile, Baisley, Ball, Bright, Carson, Cutter, Exum, Frizell, Gonzales J., Hinrichsen, Jodeh, Kipp, Kirkmeyer, Kolker, Lindstedt, Liston, Michaelson Jenet, Mullica, Pelton B., Pelton R., Rich, Roberts, Rodriguez, Simpson, Snyder, Sullivan, Wallace, Weissman, Zamora Wilson, Coleman; also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Johnson and Espenoza, Caldwell, Bacon, Barron, Boesenecker, Bottoms, Bradfield, Bradley, Brooks, Brown, Camacho, Carter, Clifford, DeGraaf, Duran, English, Flanell, Froelich, Garcia Sander, Gilchrist, Goldstein, Gonzalez R., Hamrick, Hartsook, Jackson, Joseph, Keltie, Luck, Lukens, Mabrey, Marshall, Martinez, Mauro, McCormick, Nguyen, Paschal, Phillips, Richardson, Rutinel, Rydin, Sirota, Slaugh, Smith, StewartK., Stewart R., Story, Suckla, Taggart, Titone, Velasco, Weinberg, Willford, Winter T., Woodrow, W oog, Zokaie, McCluskie.

CONCERNING THE RECOGNITION OF MISSING PERSONS DAY.

WHEREAS, Each year, hundreds of thousands of families are faced with what former President Ronald Reagan called "the stark terror of a unique tragedy": A missing family member; and WHEREAS, Every 40 seconds, someone goes missing in the United States. Approximately 2,300 Americans are reported missing every day, and there are as many as 90,000 active missing persons cases in the United States at any given time; and WHEREAS, As of January 1, 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported 93,741 active missing persons cases in the United States, with a large percentage being juveniles under the age of 21. Of those, 1,196 were reported missing from Colorado; and WHEREAS, Children and adults go missing from their families for a

number of reasons: They run away or wander and become lost; they disappear under circumstances indicating that their disappearance may not have been voluntary; or they go missing under suspicious circumstances, indicating that they may be in physical danger or the victims of foul play; and WHEREAS, In 2002, then Colorado Governor Bill Owens signed House Bill 02-1083, establishing the AMBER (America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) Alert program in Colorado.Named after nine-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was abducted and killed in Texas in 1996, the program ensures that local law enforcement agencies can use Colorado's Emergency Alert System to broadcast information to alert citizens of missing children; and WHEREAS, Since 1996, AMBER Alerts have successfully recovered 1,221 children; and WHEREAS, For all the important work done to recover missing children, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reported that more than 32,000 missing child reports were made in 2025, and the organization lists 42 missing Coloradan children who are from every area of the state. Though all 42 disappeared from their families when they were children, some have been missing for decades; and WHEREAS, While too many families grieve and hope for their missing children, others are in search of their missing family members of all ages; and WHEREAS, The awareness of citizens, media, and law enforcement, as well as their support, their efforts, and their search for missing persons, must continue; and WHEREAS, The public plays a critical role in the success of the AMBER and all other Alert programs, as they become the eyes and ears oflaw enforcement and can be on the lookout for the missing person; and WHEREAS, The common misconception that a person must be absent for at least 24 hours before being legally classified as missing is dangerous; when there is evidence of violence or of an unusual absence, it is critical that an investigation begin promptly; and

WHEREAS, New advances in technology must be used and made available to locate the missing; and WHEREAS, The state of Colorado is committed to the safety and well-being of its citizens, both children and adults; and WHEREAS, The recognition of Missing Persons Day in Colorado firmly embeds in our state calendar the importance of missing persons and their families and friends and raises a level of awareness with other cities and states that have also designated a Missing Persons Day; and WHEREAS, The recognition of Missing Persons Day in Colorado offers a platform to plan events that will connect families with the resources they need to help identify and find their long-term missing loved ones; and WHEREAS, The recognition of Missing Persons Day in Colorado ensures that the families and friends of the missing know that they are not alone in this tragedy of uncertainties and lack of closure, which leads to extreme suffering and long-lasting effects on the health, finances, and relationships of those left behind; and WHEREAS, Every missing person is someone's son or daughter, father or mother, brother or sister, partner or friend, and every missing person deserves to be searched for and found; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate ofthe Sevent;y-fifih General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House ofRepresentatives concurring herein:

(1) That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly, recognize the epidemic of the missing in America as "The Silent Mass Disaster" and. empathize with the ongoing suffering of the families and friends of those who are missing; (2) That we recognize the importance of raising awareness of the number of people who go missing in Colorado each year; (3) That we applaud the committed efforts of families, law enforcement agencies, and concerned citizens who work to locate missing persons;

(4) That we encourage the continued support ofworthy initiatives and private and public programs to increase efforts to locate missing persons; (5) That we hereby designate February 4 of each year as Missing Persons Day and support the goals and ideals of the day; and (6) That we acknowledge the names and the families of the Coloradans who·are currently missing: Christopher Enoch Abeyta, Victor Abeyta, Rohimah Khatu Bin Abul-Boshor, Ethan Edilia Matias G. Achicue, Luis Acosta, Patricia A. Adams, Erika Patris Aguilar-Bargales, Katherine Allen, Coty James Allison, Jepsi Amaga-Kallungi, Daniela Jasmin Amaro, Bryan D Ambrose; Uvalda Anaya, Keith R. Anderson, Matthew Eugene Anderson, Robert Wayne Andrews, Isabella Annibal, Tiannah Marie Annibal, Pauline Aragon, Nada Aswad, Cynthia L. Atterberry, Lane Aurelius Springer, John Austin, Joaquin David Aviles-Silva, Hunter Obert Axtell, Amil car Ba Sub, Jamie Melissa Baca, Joseph "Baca, Gayle Katrina Baird, Aniya Banks, Lizmar Barcenas-Beraza, Linda J. Barker, Gayla Jean Barnes, Dawn Rhojean Barnes, Katherine Sue Barnum, Mario Barraza-Murillo, Colleen Kay Barrett, Tracy Jay Bastion, Lauri Lynn Bath, Barbara Jean Bauman, Richard Beebe, Nancy Begg-Shoupp, Louis Michael Behlmann, Jose Yamil Belardo Ortiz, Alexis Bello, Mariah Benitez, Rakeem Dajohn Bennett, Pamela Sue Bera, Devid Gerard Berger, Damias Matthew Bernal, Gloria Berreth, Casey Berry, Dahlia Bishop, Sara Renee Black, Abby Blagg, Michael Blair, Dulce Prise Blanco Castellanos, Alexus Blasingime, Marie Ann Blee, Robert Bockmann, Joshua Todd Banis, Richard Eugene Boldman, Mark Allen Bonner, Olivia Borrego, Brandon Lane Bowles, Robert James Bowling, Rebecca Bramhall, Arthur Brandes, William W. Brennan, Nicolle Valen Briceno-Jimenez, Dominic Briggs-Chumoi, Brandon Scott Britton, Derek M. Brock, Deborah Brockway, Tayyab Brooks, Alexis Layla Brown Otter, Gaynial Brown, Mitchell James -Bruch, Austin Bryant, Edward D. Bryant, David William Buck, Charles Burge, Colleen K. Burgess, Melody Burns, Sherry D. Bynum, Omar Caballero Regal do, Fred Cain, Wilson Alexander Torres Calez, Mercedes Calipo-Jaramillo, Bryan Carroll Campbell, Dena Angelique Candelario, Aletha Capps, Rocky Charles Carpenter, Leonel Carrillo-Olivas, Jaimie Lynn Carroll, Gregory John Carter, Tatiana Casali, Jesse Casanova, Joseph Pery Casanova, Reyes Ismael Casanova-Molina, Timothy Case, David Michael Castro, Jennifer- C. Castro-Perdomo, Anela Caswell-Rhoney, Ester Caustrita, Autumn Starr

Cerenil, Kenneth Anthony Chacon, David Chambers, Michael Chastain, Carol Jean Chavez, Christiana Lynn Childers, Lorenzo Deshawn Chivers, Jose Chona-Rivera, Jordon Zachary Christian, Aldo Cid-Perez, John Cizek, Earl Tex Clark, Randall Sirrine Clark, Michael John Coe, Derek Colburn, Tammy June Cole, Eric Camacho Colin, Josue Collardo Peleaz, Ray Collins, Christopher M. Collyer, Jaquae Emilio Colon, Luis Antonio Colon, Martin Conley, Miranda Andrea Conner, Gerardo Contreras, Thomas Randal Cook, Timothy Lee Copley, Patricia Ann Cordova, Shaun Wayne Cordova, Jeffrey Kyle Charles Cornu, Shelby Costante, Zadiyah County, Zariyah County, April Cox, Sonja Coyle, Charlene M. Cramer, Julie L. Cunningham, Patricia Mae Cunningham, Maurice Gordon Dametz, Cortney Joy Daniels, Lanre Israel Daniels, David Jason Daughetee, Aldo De La Puente, James Earl Dean, Julia R. Dearemt, Robert Edward Decker, Louis Deherrera, Holly Delgado, Fabion Delrosario, Darick James Dercole, Dallas Dickerson, Hailee Dileonardo, John Richard Dillenger, Shawn Dixon, Jahad Dixon, Tatianna Dominique, Nonnie Ann Dotson, Jennifer Anne Douglas, Rex L. Douglas, Cassie Dreyer, Jenifer Driver, StephanieAnnDmovsek, Charles Duke, Addison Wayne Dunn, Alanish Duran, Lorne Pernell Edwards, Patrick Edwards, Steve Robert Einspahr, Roger John Ellison, Bekime Elshani, Cheryle Encinias, Cheryl Englesman, Ofelia EscobarHernandez, Paola Espinosa Rodriguez, Emiliano Jesus Esquivel, Nicholas Evans, Jalynna Feegle, Gary Felton, Eric Todd Ewing, Daniel Faust, J. D. Ferguson, Shawtae Fernandez, Max Ervin Fessler, Nicholas Kenneth Filmer, Eugene Francis Fish, Stephanie Kay Fladgard, Kai Alexander Lee Ford, Jeffrey Lee Fossum, Stephen Anthony Foster, Paul Ben Franco, Christopher Frazier, Elwood G. Friesen, Lylianah Fritzlan, Christopher James Fromm, Julia Gamber, Connie Garcia, Xavier Zeven Garcia, Victor Garcia, Melanie Garcia-Madrid, Justice Louisa Garey, Bevonnle Ruth Garuti, Robert Irwin Gautsche, Gregory Gavin, Shaida Ghaemi, Joshua Kane Glasser, Makenna Caitlin Goad, Phillip Gomez, Daniel Gomez-Vasquez, Alonzo Gonzales, Monserrat Gonzalez, Alex Gonzalez, Carlos Mario Gonzalez-Madrid, Suzanne K. Gookins, Jack M. Gordon, Lucas Whyte Gordon, Tyler Gorrell, Blanca Estella Govea-Ibarra, Loyalty Graham, Benjamin Franklin Gray, Barrett Perry Vaughn Greek, Maddox Greenwood, Sean Ryan Gribble, Joshua Dean Griffin, Matthew Wayne Griggs, Angelo Leo Grubb, John S. Gruber, Elizabeth Guajardo, Raymond Joseph Guerrero, Jose Gullen-Beltran, Vanesa Gurrero, Miriam Gutierez, Patricia Ann Gutierrez, Chantel Gutierrez, Debra Hageman, Norma Jean Halford, Prestile Dean Hall, Joseph Lawrence Halpern,

Melissa Ann Hamm, Lawrence Hammett, James Joseph Hampton, Jason Hannan, Travis Hansen, Ari L. Harms, Brad R. Harrington, Lynae Marie Harris, Zahara Harris, David Wayne Harrison, Jennifer Harter, Christopher James Harvey, Christopher Tre Haynes, Jon Truscott Haynes, Mitchell Todd Hein, Joseph Heinrich, Debra Ann Heriford, Samantha Hernandez, Victor Hernandez, Kaleb Hernandez, Sara Luciana Hernandez-Moreno, James Edmund Herring, Carlyle Thomas Hickman, Kevin Rodriguez Hidalgo, Brooklynn Jade Hill Brown, Martin H. Hobson, Paul Richard Hodgden, Beth Holderness, Daniel Robert Holloway, Nathaniel James Holmes, Paul Holmes, Daphne Ronette Hope, Leesa Horner, Francis Houle, Layla Marie Howard, Theresa Lynn Hubbard, Rusty Lane Hubbard, Deborah Lea Hudler, Michael B. Hunter, Devon Hunter, William Scott Hurtado, Sandraibeth-Oliveres, Carl Leroy Jackson, Lisa M. Jackson, Mackendy Jacques, Ashley Lee James, Brian James, Chloe Elizabeth Janes, Sean Alexander Jenkins, Clinton Jeter, Pascual Jimeniz Alonzo, Sipriano J. Jiminez, Jayla Johnson, Cheryl Diane Jones, Olivia Lorraine Jones-Johnson, Katherine Juarez Castillo, Brian A. Juarez-Martinez, Javier Jurado-Jurado, Benjamin Clemens Kalina, Layla Keams, Brian Kegseth, Jasmine Eileen Keller, Rebecca Ann Kellison, Samantha Adrian Kent, Damian Kent, Robert Kielpinski, Seth Lyon Utiger Kienzle, Sandra Lee Killian, Walter Iwao Kimoto, Jolee Kirby, Tereasa Sue Knuth, David Kramer, Jc Krieg, Ronald Kuetemeier, Frank Landeros, Leila Naniloa Lanni, Lori Lee Layman, Jamie Legoretta, Edith Bernice Lehnerz, John Francis Lenihan, Dava Leonard, Andy Joe Lepley, Matthew Charles Lerch, Kim Lertjuntharangool, Alivia Lewis, Jerri Dale Lesser, Ann Marie Lewis, Patricia Ann Lilly, Jorge Llorens, Jason Locke, Jennifer Lynn Lockwood, Jeffery Loeber, Cesar Lopez, Hector Marcelo Lopez, Miguel Lopez, Jaime Lopez-Arenas, Jose Samuel Lopez-Cortez, Flor De Maria Lopez-Laprios, Ashley Lopez-Loya, Latisha Lovato, John Richard Lowery, Laurie Renee Lucas, Jason Justin Lynch, Maya Sophia Lynch, Nathaniel Joseph Lyon, David Madrill, Rubina Iftiknar Malik, Brandi Malonson, Ruth Elizabeth Marcia Almendares, Christopher Marcos-Osario, Jennifer Lynn Marcum, Madai Soccoro Marentes, Lisa Denise Marino-Dorsey, Juan Marquez-Rivas, Cecil Marske, Juan Martin, Andrew Paul Martin, Sean Martin, Steven Martinez, Rafael Martinez, Daniel Martinez, Fabian Santos Martinez, Felicia Comzeulo Martinez, Franklyn Maez Martinez, Vanessa Martinez, Akayla Martinez-Gooden, Joel Martinez-Lozado, Julio Miguel Mateo, Melmy Matos, Victoria E. Mcallister, TayvonMarques Mccalister, Penny Lynn Mcclees, Donnell Eugene Mcclendon, Michael Jerry Mcclure, Beverly Jean Mccool, Darrin

Michael Pheoni Mcginnis, Oscar J. Mcnear, Rosemarie Shakila Mcnish, Abner Josue Mechado Alvarado, Alejandro Medina, Kimberly Diane Medina-Greene, Arrnani Medina Zuniga, Javier Rodolfo Medina-Aguilar, Albaro Medino, Amairani Medrano, Douglas Edward Meer, Kylee Mejia, Barbara Mendenhall, Marcos Mendez-Ruiz, Yvonne Mestas, Michael E. Meteer, Richard Stanley Meyer, Paul Michals, Roger Boyd Mikkelsen, Deborah Marie Miland, Elizabeth Ann Miller, Rachelle Miller, Kyo Miller, Kilie J. Miller, Daniel H. Miranda, Judith A. Missey, Justin Moder, Amyah Montour, Phillip Montoya, Yaretzi Morales-Quintenilla, Erika Bibiana Moreira Carri do, Richard Kenneth Morgan, Gionella Jovia Morgan, Kaylenn Morley-Abeyta, Catherine Morris, Heather Lynn Morris, Lekiesha Morris, Shanti Mountain Sage Motry, Anthony Steven Michael Moya, Jane Aurelia Mudder, Irma Rosario Muneton-Cueto, Ahkeim Murphy, Forest Murray, Robert Myer, Jesus Manuel Nava, Daniela Navarro Diaz, Karen Navarro Diaz, Renata Isabellea Navarro Diaz, Pamela L. Neal, Liara Neff, Diana Neilsen, Nanci Terese Nelson, Coty Joel Nelson, Karla Rolio Nevarez, Carl Wilber Newcomb, Jason Newell, Albert Newman, Mary Niemi, Alfred Nieves Jr, Margaret Renee Niles, John Northup, William Norwood, Michael Christian Obermeyer, Geraldine Ann Obregon-Gingles; Lee Ochs, Matthew Oconnor, Richard Oden, Richard L. Olbeda, Maria Rosario Olea, Brian Michael Olp, Brenda Orellana-Vides, Gerardo E. Originales-Guajardo, Angel Orozco, Emiliano Ortega, Ev ayah Ortega, Ezerius Ortega, Jessica Eileen Ortiz, Mia Ortiz, Jacob Paddock-Weeks, Fabian Padilla, Chad William Pallansch, Jorge Manuel Palomo-Rosas, Michael Parks, Aarshiya Patil, Jiaa Patil, Sandra Kay Patterson, Edmundo Josue Paz, Shirley Peever, Gilberto Perez-Cervantes, Justin Perez-Juarez, Tom Phifer, Christine Rosy Pierce, Robert T. Pillsen, Gary Pino, Marilyn Joyce Pittwood, Gerri Polk, Dustin Shane Poole, Bryan Clifton Pope, Lea Porter, Chloe Powell, Samantha Powell, Kenneth Andrew Presley, Jacqueline Prieto, James Hunter Pruitt, Dama Quadir, David Quinlan-Aguilar, Alejandro Quinones-Zapaico, Marcus Quintana-Perea, Jenniefer Michelle Ramirez, Merlin Ramirez-Perez, Erendida Reza Ramos, Jose Luis Rascon-Avila, Sean Rathert, Dolores Susan Raygoza, Jacinto Raymundo-Bernal, Angelina Marie Rea, Terrance Redfearn, Stephen Reedy, Kristal Anne Reisinger, Kim Remmel, Ivan Renteria, Kali Resseguie, Victoria Josefina Reyes, Kenia Guadalupe Reyes Molina, Mia Rose Reyes Monroe, Maurice Reynolds, Peggy Ann Reynolds, John Rice, Ian Ashley Richardson, Lance Riedl, Greer Burgess Rivera, Richard Dean Roberts, Tyler Rodrick, Aliya Rodriguez, Nazlhy Amar Rodriguez-Mogollon,

Georgia Lee Rohner, Kimberly Rojo, Knyah Kae Rolle, Nasir Romero Peay, Raniro Romo, Mayra Romo-Hernandez, Martha Rye Rooks, Gary J ermoe Rose, James B. Rowe, Calistaq Russell, Aubrey Caroline Sacco, Lilly Marie Salzer, Macy Grace Salzer, Aaliya Samuel, Mario Fernando Sanchez, Victoria Sanchez, Georgina Sanchez-Cruz, Brittany Emily Sanchez, Adam Sanchez, Katelynn Sanchez, Angelica Esperanza Sandoval, Gage Duke Sandoval, Jessy Savage, Olivia Addae Schaefer, Kelsie Schelling, Linda Schermerhorn, Douglass Schliske, Teresa Schmidt, Robert Dwaine Scott, Tiana Scott, Jose Segura, James Shadid, Xavier Blaise Shea, Andrew Lee Shelton, Brian Sheridan, David George Shier, Bernard Michael Shillingburg, Jessica G. Shoemake, Charles Mark Shoffner, Nicole Evelyn Silvers, Dwain Simmons, Gene Arnold Simmons, John Michael Simons, Lincoln Thomas Sims, Xavier Graeme Sims, Janica Marie Sims, Jennie Sinclair, Kenneth Edward Singleton, Ronald David Sisneros, Paul Carroll Skiba, Sarah Skiba, Alexander Skinner, Edward Todd Sloan, Heather Smith, Shay Smith, Asanee Soithong, Guy Lee Solano, Aylin Solis, Gerald Kenneth Sollenbarger, Jared Alejandro Sotelo, Issac Josue Soto-Garduno, NarinH Soudara, Christopher Patrick St John, Aaron Standing Bear, Augustus Stanford, Julie Shawn Stefanek, Monte Dean Stephenson, Angela Stevens, Daniel Coog Stevenson, Ismael Stewart, Roger Stewart, Joy Denise Stewart, Lashaya N. Stine, Larry Stines, Daryl A. Stockert, Leval Dijon Storey, Raymond Stubblefield, Carla Suarez, Doily Javier Suazo-Ortez, Clinton John Anthony Sutton, Jasmine Swaim, Steven Talley, Ctormy Braaden Taylor, Jeff Taylor, Kevin Richard Taylor, Carlos Antonio Taylor, Jeff Walter Terzian, Ti Kawl Thang, Lori Ann Thiel, Aarone Thompson, Ann Thompson, Dempsey Neal Thompson, Terah Maria Thornhill, Elizabeth Renee Thornton, Ivy Thorta, Naomi Leah Tibaldo, Anna Winifred Tomicich, Alberto Torres, Trevin Torres, Henry Torres, Martin Torres-Hernandez, Nicholle Torrez, Julian Trevino, Jeremy John Trujillo, Mary Ann Trujillo, Valerie Trujillo, Shane Kelly Turner, John Tyner, Walter Tyner, Ligia Miranda Uribe-Ramos, Michelle Ileana Uribe-Ramos, Migdali Urbina Cruz, Johnathan Uribe-Perez, Alma Vernice Valadez, Ava Valdivia, Ignacio Antonio Valencia-Perez, Alice Marie Valentine, Dayana Valera, Brandi Marie Vardas, Jance Wesly Varela, Jesse Varela-Broska, Aliyah Vasquez, Alexis Velasquez, Santiago Velasquez-Martinez, Thomas Velasquez-Tomas, Odell Vest, Amadeo Vigil, Chris W. Vigil, Robert Gilbert Vigil, Charlene Roxanne Voight, Steven Christopher Volquardsen, Michael Walczak, Janelle Wales, Sylvester Harold Walker, Jerena Naomi Renee Walker, Darlene Ann

Wallace, Swade Ryan Watts, Eric Wester, Jonathan M. Wheby, James Raymond Whitaker, Gregory Edwin Whitney, Kathy Wilkerson, Ian Kirk Wilxoxon, Wahl Michael William, Dale Duane Wiliams, James Williams, Renell Williams-Robinson, Barbara Wilson, Mary Agnes Wimberly, Wendy Renee Wisner, Timothy Dale Witt, Ronald Lee Wood Jr, Robert William Wright, Eric Maurilio Xooc Puc, Kaysey Yoder, Derrek Y oshum, Harold Young, Rafael Zapata, Walter Alan Zebelman, Bryson Zembsch, Leland Zook, Amariah Zuniga-Sanchez, and Devon Allen Zwahr. Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to Voices of Victims; Families of Homicide Victims and Missing Persons, Inc. (FOHVAMP); Colorado Victims for Justice; the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA); and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

James Rashad Coleman Sr. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

Julie McCluskie SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Esther van Mourik SECRETARY OF THE SENATE

Vanessa Reilly CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES