Ohio Lawmakers Push ‘Joshua Alert’ Bill After Death of Missing 6-Year-Old Boy With Autism
Ohio lawmakers are advancing legislation to strengthen protections for vulnerable children who go missing, following the death of a six-year-old boy with autism who wandered away from home and was later found dead.
House Bill 359, known as the proposed “Joshua Alert,” would create a statewide alert system for missing children with developmental disabilities or other vulnerabilities who are not abducted. The measure aims to close a gap in the current emergency alert framework, which activates an Amber Alert only when authorities confirm a child has been abducted.
Lawmakers say the bill was inspired by the case of six-year-old Joshua Al-Lateef, who left his West Chester home without his family’s knowledge on Nov. 21, 2024. When his mother, Jonisa Cook, reported him missing, she was told there was no alert system available to immediately notify the community. Hours later, Joshua was found dead in a nearby pond.
Cook testified before the Ohio Senate Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee this week, urging lawmakers to pass the legislation. She said a rapid alert system could help mobilize communities and first responders during the critical early hours when a missing child is most likely to be found.
Experts note that wandering, or “elopement,” is common among children with autism and can pose serious safety risks. Many children may lack awareness of danger, may be nonverbal, or may not understand that first responders are trying to help them.
State Rep. Jennifer Gross and Rep. Cecil Thomas, a former police officer, are sponsoring the bill and say the alert would allow authorities to quickly notify nearby residents once a case is verified.
While supporters say the system could operate using the same infrastructure as Amber Alerts without additional cost, child protection advocates stress that effective implementation and awareness will be essential to ensure the system works when children’s lives are at stake.
