5 days ago
Critics call for change after first use of Kentucky's Ian Alert ends in tragedy
CUB RUN, Ky. (FOX 56) — A heartbreaking loss in Hart County is prompting urgent questions about Kentucky's new Ian Alert system, designed to help locate missing children with autism.
The alert was used for the first time this week after 5-year-old Silas Shearer wandered away from his home Tuesday morning. Tragically, he was later found dead in a nearby pond. The coroner determined he drowned, but the full circumstances of his disappearance remain under investigation.
The Ian Alert was created to fill a critical gap for cases involving children on the autism spectrum who may not meet the criteria for a traditional Amber Alert. It's named after 9-year-old Ian Sousis, who drowned in the Ohio River in 2022 after wandering away from home.
However, after this first real-world test of the system, some advocates argue that it didn't go far enough.
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Jo Grayson, with the Autism Society of the Bluegrass, said the alert lacked key information—such as the child's age, gender, or ethnicity—which made it harder for the public to identify who they were supposed to be looking for. She also criticized the alert's instruction not to intervene, saying that in a case involving a child with a disability, immediate help can be critical.
Other advocates noted confusion over the alert itself. Wendy Wheeler-Mullins, also with the Autism Society, said even though she was familiar with the Ian Alert, she momentarily confused it with an Amber Alert. Because the Ian Alert is unique to Kentucky while Amber Alerts are nationwide, she believes the similarity in names could lead to misunderstandings about how to respond.
For Rhonda O'Brien, this is more than just policy—it's personal. She helped create the alert system after losing her grandson Ian. She recalls the helplessness of realizing he was missing and not knowing where to begin looking. She hoped that the system would save lives, but she now believes it needs improvements to do that more effectively.
O'Brien said Kentucky lacks services for children with special needs and that better support is badly needed. She had hoped her grandson would be here to witness the changes they're working toward, but, in a way, she feels he still is.
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Ian wanted to be a superhero, and through this alert system, she believes he's becoming one.
Amid the grief, O'Brien also urged compassion. Raising a child with special needs is not easy, and in moments like this, she said, families need grace, not judgment.
The Autism Society of the Bluegrass said it plans to work with lawmakers on strengthening the alert by making it faster, more descriptive, and easier to understand. They're also calling for more public education to help Kentuckians recognize and respond to these alerts quickly when every second counts.
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