Executive Summary
- Wynter Wagoner, 13, was found safe in Maryland two months after disappearing from Kentucky.
- Suspect Christian Delgado faces kidnapping and rape charges connected to the case.
- Current Amber Alert criteria prevented a broadcast during the teen’s disappearance.
- Senate Bill 159 proposes a "Wynter Alert" to mandate national database reporting for missing children.
Authorities in Kentucky are reviewing current missing child protocols following the safe recovery of a 13-year-old girl found in Maryland, prompting calls for new legislation to address specific gaps in the Amber Alert system. The teenager, Wynter Wagoner, disappeared from her home in Rockcastle County on October 14, sparking a multi-state investigation that concluded with her safe recovery over two months later.
Investigators located the teen on December 26 in Maryland, more than 500 miles from her residence. Following the recovery, law enforcement arrested 37-year-old Christian Delgado. He faces charges including second-degree rape, second-degree unlawful transaction with a minor, and two counts of kidnapping a minor. Throughout the search, an Amber Alert was not issued because the circumstances of the disappearance did not meet the system’s strict federal criteria, which require a confirmed abduction and specific descriptive data regarding a suspect or vehicle.
Advocates, led by family friend Dovie Kirkland, are now rallying behind Senate Bill 159, dubbed the "Wynter Alert." Sponsored by State Senator Brandon Storm, the proposed legislation aims to mandate that local police departments immediately share information about missing and unidentified persons with a national database. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for preventive education programs designed to inform parents and children about the dangers of luring, grooming, and coercion tactics used by online predators.
Legislative Impact on Public Safety
The introduction of Senate Bill 159 highlights a critical dialogue regarding the limitations of the existing Amber Alert infrastructure, which is designed to prevent public desensitization by strictly limiting alerts to high-probability abduction cases. By proposing a supplementary layer of notification and mandatory data sharing, lawmakers are attempting to create a safety net for at-risk minors who fall outside federal alert guidelines. If passed, this measure could establish a new procedural standard for state-level responses to missing persons cases involving potential online solicitation. It is important to note that all individuals, including Christian Delgado, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
