Texas law enforcement can now issue a regional missing-child alert the moment a child is reported missing, under a new statewide system that takes effect immediately.
The “Athena Alert” allows police to send out rapid notifications even before confirming whether an abduction has occurred, a key change aimed at speeding the first critical hours of a search.
State leaders created the alert in response to the 2022 disappearance and death of 7-year-old Athena Strand in Wise County. In that case, authorities could not activate an AMBER Alert right away because investigators had not yet determined she’d been abducted, a delay that highlighted a gap in the state’s alert system.
Under the new law, agencies can issue a regional alert with fewer restrictions, expanding visibility and public awareness during the earliest stages of an investigation. The system is designed to work alongside existing alerts, not replace them, and aims to give officers another tool when time is most critical.
The Athena Alert is now active statewide and available for immediate use by law enforcement.
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