LANSING (WWJ) -- A series of bills that would set up a public chid abuse registry in Michigan has been signed into law by Governor Gretchen Whitmer -- and for a Metro Detroit mom, this marks the end of a long battle for justice for her little boy.
The package of legislation was named "Wyatt's Law" for Wyatt Rewoldt.
Rewoldt was abused by his father's girlfriend who had a previous history of child abuse. Wyatt's mother, Erica Hammel, has been working to get this law passed for more than seven years.
"You know, I kinda feel like I've won a World Series or a Stanley Cup," Hammel told WWJ Newsradio 950's Greg Bowman. "It's here -- it's gonna save lives and I'm just so happy. All the hard work that has been done over the years has paid off."
Wyatt is still suffering from the abuse he faced, according to Hammel, who said he was almost shaken to death. Wyatt suffered from major brain bleeds, a fractured skull, broken ribs, torn gums and bleeding behind the eyes that has left him permanently blind in the left eye.
"She just brutally beat him almost to death," she said. "After the police got involved I had found out that she had been convicted twice before of child abuse."
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The child abuse registry would include basic information about those convicted of child abuse crimes, including their name, birthday, city and county.
Hammel said countless children’s lives in Michigan will be saved because child abuse information will now be easily accessible.
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