Amber Alert. It's much more than a missing child.

We invite you to find out about the 'Chip Alert.' The Chip Alert expanded the Amber alert to add some necessary protections not covered in the original law.

A tragedy occurred in Virginia in May 2006. Chip Ellis went missing on May 22, 2006. His mother Sheri Ellis knew her son was wrong when her son didn't return home from an errand that should only last 30 minutes. She called the police. They advised her that she would have to wait 24 hours before they would be allowed to file a missing persons report. The problem with the law is that Chip had already turned eighteen.

It didn't matter that he was still attending High School and still lived at home. The mere fact that he was eighteen kept the detectives from being able to start an investigation. The investigation was opened after the legally imposed 24 hour delay.

In the mean time family, friends and the community mobilized in the search to find Chip and make others aware of the serious situation.

Chip remained missing until, the police found his body on May 25, 2006. He had been murdered. The state of Virginia needed the Chip Alert a few days earlier but it was too late.

Please do your part to make the Chip Alert part of your states law. Don't let yourself become a mother, father or friend who cannot get the help of their detectives because a shortcoming in your states law prevents them.

Each tragedy tears real lives apart don't allow a similar tragedy and sense of helplessness strike you a friend or a neighbor. Learn more about the Chip Alert and promote it in your state or province.