Family looks back 10 years after first Allen County Amber Alert

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE)  - In 2002, Allen County installed an Amber Alert system.  Within a few weeks of going online, the system was put to the test, when a 17-year-old girl was abducted.  The alert was issued for Cheri Sue Hartman of Fort Wayne.

Hartman's story did not end with a happy ending.  She was abducted and murdered.  Five people, three men and two women, were found responsible for her death.  They were all considered to be Hartman's friends.

On Sunday, Hartman's mother, Connie Hartman said one of the men involved was like a son to her.

"When it first all happened, it was very confusing," Hartman said.  "I didn't understand.  I didn't want to understand.  As time went on, I know my girl was taken.  I feel like she is in heaven.  I need to remember that.  She watches over us now, and I feel pretty good about that."

Hartman is still able to recall what took place in August of 2002.

"She was abducted on the 18th, around 10:30," Hartman said.  "The Amber Alert didn't go out until the next day."

Hartman said the delay made sense, but it probably would not have changed the story's end.

"She was 17-years-old, I can understand why it went out the next day," Hartman said.  "I think that is something they are going to look into before an Amber Alert was going to go out.  But she was murdered a lot earlier than that.  They didn't have her for very long before they murdered her."

When the alert was issued, the community responded.

"A truck driver, out on [Interstate 69], saw their plate number," Hartman recalled, "and had heard the amber alert, and called it in."

All five people involved were captured.  Hartman credits the capture to the Amber Alert.

"The Amber Alert was successful," Hartman said.  "Or they would have never been caught.  I believe they would have never been caught."

Hartman said all five people involved received prison time.

"The Amber Alert did not save my daughter's life," Hartman said.  "But it captured the people who took her life.  I feel fine with the Amber Alert, I really do."

The Indiana General Assembly approved a statewide Amber Alert system, called Indiana Amber Alert Plan,  during the 2002 legislative session.  The alert system was planned to begin in January of 2003, but Gov. Frank O'Bannon, who held the position from 1997 to 2003, had the launch date moved to October of 2002.  Six weeks after Hartman's death.

The Indiana Amber Alert Plan has four Alert criteria:

1. The child must be under 18 years of age
2. The child must be believed to be abducted, and in danger of serious bodily harm or death.
3. There must be enough descriptive information to believe the broadcast will help.
4. Request must be recommended by the law enforcement agency of jurisdiction.

The Indiana State Police Sunday, as of July 15, 2011, the state had issued 34 Amber Alerts, some included multiple child abductions.  Of those cases, 43 children were recovered.