Politicians Weigh In on Possible Aliahna's Law

12-31-2011 Indiana:

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Indiana's NewsCenter) - Could an Aliahna's Law be the silver lining in an otherwise devastating tragedy?

The details of any new, proposed legislation stemming from Aliahna's death could only be formulated following the release of further information regarding the 9-year-old's death. However, both federal and state officials say they are keeping a close eye on how the case unfolds.

Laws could be proposed at the local, state, or even federal level. Indiana State Senator Carlin Yoder [R] says the government's responsibilities include protecting children whenever possible, and he would certainly consider an Aliahna's Law if gaps in current legislation become apparent.

"It is our job to provide as much safety as we can for our children," says Yoder.

"So, if there is anything we can do from a legislative standpoint to prevent these things from happening in the future, I think we need to look at them and I am confident we will. I'm not saying there is anything we can do necessarily, but why not look at it?"

U.S. Representative Marlin Stutzman agrees. He points out that Michael Plumadore, the man who confessed to Aliahna's murder, has a criminal history in more than one state, including Indiana.

"We're definitely going to be following what happened here, and if there is a way for us to communicate better between states with criminals, that is possible. We can't always stop every horrible situation like this, but we need to do everything that we can to avoid them," says Stutzman.

If information is revealed that indicates sexual assault was involved in Aliahna's death, a completely different component could be added to possible legislation in the future. However, Michael Plumadore has not been previously convicted as a sex offender, and it is not yet clear if sexual assault was involved in Aliahna's death. ..Source.. by Megan Trent