'We are so proud': Internet rejoices as ‘Help Find the Missing Act’ passed a year after Gabby Petito's murder

MOAB, UTAH: Back In October, Gabby Petito's parents were pushing for a bill that would help find missing people in a more streamlined fashion. The legislation inspired by Gabby Petito's murder is heading to the President's desk. Billy's Law, now officially known as 'Help Find the Missing Act', wouldn’t have passed without the support of Joseph Petito, the father of 22-year-old Gabby Petito who was reported missing on September 11, 2021. Gabby's body was found on September 19 just outside Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. On the other hand, B Billy Smolinski, 31, went missing from Waterbury, Connecticut, in August 2004, and his mother, Janice Smolinski, has been on the search ever since.

After almost a year of pushing the bill further, it was sponsored by Senator Chris Murphy. Under the Act, as explained, the Attorney General maintains public databases, known as the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System or NamUs, to contain missing person records and unidentified remains cases to assist in identifying missing people and solve cases of unidentified human remains. The bill will also create an incentives grants program to help officials report missing persons to NCIC and NamUs. It will further require the Justice Department to issue guidelines and best practices on handling missing persons and unidentified remains. Gabby was traveling cross-country with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie. Homicide was ruled out and it was established that Gabby died of strangulation. Brian too was later found dead.