Jake's Law Enacted

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Jake’s Law enacted in Missouri

Missouri Governor signs bill at Glendale Elementary
By Jacob DiPietre, The Examiner — Daily Newspaper of Eastern Jackson County Missouri

Posted June 1, 2001

(Editor's Note: Kansas enacted a version of Jake's Law soon after Jake Robel's tragic death.)

Almost a year and a half after Jake Robel was killed in a gruesome carjacking incident, Gov. Bob Holden signed a bill today that could have saved the boy's life. "I could not be more happy about signing this bill," Holden said. "But I could not be more saddened about how it occurred. But I want you to know your tragedy saved others from the same tragedy happening in the state of Missouri. I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart." Holden signed "Jake's Law" this morning during a ceremony at Glendale Elementary School in Independence. Jake, 6, was a first grader at Glendale. The law, which takes effect Aug. 28, will require warrant checks on all individuals being released from jail. Robel's suspected killer, Kim Davis of Kansas City, was released from a Carroll County, Mo., jail the day of the crime. There were other warrants out for his arrest in other jurisdictions.

State Rep. Dennis Bonner, D-Independence, sponsored the bill in the Missouri House. "I'm glad to see us finally reach this point," Bonner said. "I definitely think it raises awareness. "This is a bittersweet day for a lot of us, but it's a day I'm proud of." Jake was killed Feb. 22, 2000, when he was dragged to death on a nearly five-mile stretch starting at Hidden Valley Road and Missouri 291 and ending at Noland Road north of Interstate 70.

Jake's dad, Greg Robel, was presented with a copy of the bill and pens Holden used to sign the bill. Jake's mother, Christy Robel, did not attend the ceremony. "It means a lot to me because of all the work put into it," Greg Robel said. "It's a good feeling to know hopefully things like this won't happen again.

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