Oklahoma Lawmakers Push Bill That Would Send Alerts For Missing Adults

An Okemah mother is concerned about the response to missing Indigenous people because of the McGirt ruling, but a new law could speed up the process regarding alerts.

Kelby Ray, a tribal member of Muscogee Creek Nation, went missing on March 17. His family went through Henryetta Police but then were moved to talk with Lighthorse Police.

"My dad gave him this bible, and he always carried this in his pocket," Kelby's mom, Jennifer Dye, said.

She said he was a good son. At 28 years old, he went missing.

"I begged and pleaded with Lighthorse to find my son," Dye said.

After trying to work with the Lighthorse Police Department, she spoke with Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs also stepped in. 

She said they found her son 15 minutes into their search after waiting ten days for the police department to start looking.

Her concerns are with the ability of tribal law enforcement to work on cases like hers.

"I kept following up to see what had been done or what was going on and couldn't get any answers," Dye said.

But there is hope for families. This week lawmakers pushed through House Bill 1077, or known as the Kacey Alert system.

State lawmakers said it closes the age gap between Amber and Silver Alerts.

"If an adult goes missing, an alert would be issued out with information, including information to include Native American heritage, if relevant," Oklahoma House Republican Daniel Pae said.

It would also require law enforcement agencies to coordinate with multiple agencies when a Native American adult goes missing.

For Jennifer, she wishes she could've had something like this.

"One of the hardest things for a mom for me is not knowing. We need answers, and we need our loved ones back home," Dye said.

News 9 contacted Lighthorse Police for comment and has yet to hear back.

Investigators will use this system if the governor signs the bill into law as soon as November.