Oklahoma Lawmaker to Introduce Caylee’s Law

Oklahoma lawmaker Republican Sen. Paul Wesselhoft on Wednesday said he will introduce Caylee's Law in his state, The Associated Press reports.

If Caylee's law is passed, it will not only be the first piece of legislation resulting from the death of 2-year-old Caylee Anthony, but would require parents quickly report the death or disappearance of a child.

Caylee Anthony died in 2008. Her mother Casey Anthony, 25, is acquitted of murdering the toddler but is convicted and sentenced to four years in prison for lying to police who were the toddler's death.

A Reuters article states that Casey Anthony had initially said Caylee Anthony had been kidnapped by a nanny, and that triggered a nationwide search before the toddler's remains were found six months later. As a result of time served since 2008 and good behavior, Casey Anthony may be released soon, according to reports.

It is unconscionable for a parent to delay notifying the authorities of the death of their child. Most parents would immediately notify authorities if their child had gone missing, Rep. Paul Wesselhoft told The Associated Press, adding he planned to introduce the law in Oklahoma's 2012 legislative session.

He also told the news agency: Any delay could endanger the life of the child and, in the case of a child's death, make it that much harder to collect evidence. I think the actions of Caylee's mother were reprehensible.

Wesselhoft also told The Associated Press that most people he met felt that Casey Anthony escaped true justice.

An Oklahoman woman, Michelle Crowder, took to the website Change.org, a form of social action site, after hearing the verdict earlier this week to garner signature for a petition to Create Caylee's Law. This petition is targeted at lawmakers such as U.S. President Barack Obama, the Senate and the House of Representatives, according to website.

More than 370,000 signatures have already been received on the Change.org page and some 20,000 people have been showing support on the Create Caylee's Law Facebook page.

Crowder has asked people to contact senators and representatives on the matter and has provided a letter stating the outcome of the Casey Anthony trial and the charges the Florida mom now faces.

The letter states that a new federal law, 'Caylee's Law, should be created to make it a federal offence for a parent or guardian to not notify law enforcement of a child going missing in a timely manner.

The letter asks that lawmakers make it a felony if those individuals don't tell the authorities of a child's disappearance within 24 hours, and notify the authorities of a child's death within an hour of the discovery.

Prosecutors have said Casey Anthony killed the toddler by drugging and suffocating her with duct tape on in June 2008 and drove for several days with the 2-year-old's body in the truck of her car before dumping the remains in the woods near the family home.

But the defense has said Caylee Anthony died in an accidental drowning in the family's backyard pool and the family tried to cover it up.

Learn about Caylee's Law at:

http://www.change.org/petitions/create-caylees-law

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Create-Caylees-Law/239305669422074