Kelsey Smith Act Signed Into Law

TOPEKA, Kan. – Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson signed a bill Thursday that will make it easier for law enforcement to get cell phone “ping” information from service providers.

Rep. Rob Olson (R-Olathe) introduced the measure after learning about the frustration Kelsey Smith’s family and law enforcement experienced when trying to get Kelsey’s wireless carrier to provide location information about her cell phone.

Kelsey, 18, was killed in May 2007 after she was abducted from an Overland Park Target store near her home. Authorities eventually used the ping information to determine where her cell phone had traveled in the hours after her disappearance and found her body in a wooded area of Longview Lake four days after her disappearance.

Edwin R. Hall, of Olathe, has since pleaded guilty to her abduction, rape and murder and is serving a life sentence in a Kansas penitentiary.

“It took four days to get the wireless provider to release Kelsey’s cell phone location information,” Olson said. “This act will ensure no other family will go through the agony of waiting that the Smiths did.”

The Kelsey Smith Act requires wireless telecommunications companies to release the location information of a missing person’s cell phone in a timely manner to law enforcement in emergency situations.

“When a loved one is abducted – time is of the essence,” Olson said. “Law enforcement officers respond quickly because they know the window of opportunity to find that missing person closes quickly. The Kelsey Smith Act gives investigators a tool that will help them in their response and that will save lives.”

The new law also directs the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to oversee the collection of the contact information for all wireless telecommunications carriers doing business in Kansas and then to disburse that information to public safety answering points (PSAPs or 911 call centers) on a quarterly basis or anytime a change in the information occurs.

Olson said he has been contacted by legislators from a number of other states who are considering similar legislation.

“It is gratifying that other states understand the importance the assistance the Kelsey Smith Act provides investigators in finding missing loved ones quickly and safely,” Olson said.

Missey and Greg Smith, Kelsey’s parents, testified before both the House Energy and Utilities and Senate Utilities Committee in support of the bill.

“I want to thank the Smiths for their unwavering support of the Kelsey Smith Act. Their willingness to share their heartbreaking story helped convince lawmakers to vote for the bill. They are a true inspiration,” Olson said. “I also want to thank the Kansas Legislature and Gov. Parkinson for their overwhelming support of this important legislation.”

The Smiths have said in the past that even if the new law would have been in place when Kelsey was murdered, it would not have saved her life.