Reps. Cockley, Ritter Introduce Bipartisan FIND Act to Strengthen Ohio's Efforts to Solve Missing Persons Cases
COLUMBUS — State Reps. Christine Cockley (D-Columbus) and Kevin Ritter (R-Marietta) introduced the bipartisan Finding and Identifying with NamUs Data (FIND) Act today. It’s a groundbreaking bill that would make Ohio the 17th state to mandate the use of the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) in missing persons investigations.
“We are at a pivotal moment when technology can help solve cases that have remained unsolved for years,” said Rep. Cockley. “The FIND Act will equip law enforcement and medical professionals across Ohio with the tools they need to support families of the missing, while also giving families and the public a greater voice in the process.”
NamUs is the nation’s only national database dedicated to missing, unidentified, and unclaimed persons, offering free forensic and investigative support to law enforcement, medical examiners, and families. Currently, however, NamUs is not required for use in Ohio. The FIND Act will change this, ensuring that Ohio’s law enforcement agencies consistently utilize the system to resolve cases involving missing and unidentified persons.
“I am pleased to work with Representative Cockley to propose legislation that will help bring comfort to the families and friends of missing and unidentified deceased persons,” said Rep. Ritter.
NamUs is a public-facing, free platform that helps bridge the communication gap between law enforcement, medical examiners, and families of the missing. While prioritizing privacy and security, the platform also ensures that only vetted professionals—such as law enforcement officers, medical examiners, and forensic specialists—have advanced access to sensitive data, further enhancing the effectiveness of investigations.
The FIND Act has garnered strong bipartisan support, with 17 co-sponsors from both parties. It is now awaiting assignment to a House committee.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A photo of Reps. Cockley and Ritter filing the FIND Act is attached to this press release.