OKLAHOMA CITY, (Okla.) — “This bill will break your heart,” said Governor Kevin Stitt.
Governor Stitt’s description of a bill he signed into law spoke to its bittersweet nature.
“It means now that we’re going to have a voice but it’s also going to be my 22nd anniversary without Britttany,” said Dr. Maggie Zingman. She has been relentlessly pursuing leads in the unsolved murder of her daughter Brittany Phillips. And over the years, she says, she’s been rebuffed by law enforcement when she’s asked for outside assistance.
“And in the past they’ve said to me, we’ve done everything right. There’s no problems with this case,” she said.
“Sometimes law enforcement can stiff arm or say we’ve got it under control,” said Governor Stitt.
This new law gives families the ability to ask for a review of their case by new eyes.
“When someone loses a loved one, I take it personal for them,” said Rep. Ross Ford. He was the House author of the bill.
“We may be able to solve some of these cases by just having someone else look at it,” he said.
“This bill allows them to resurrect cold case files, go back and push a fresh set of eyes on investigations,” said Stitt.
A new law that could heat up cold cases, with family members of the victims celebrating the end of being stonewalled.
“Hopefully this is going to help other families not have to go through what I went through,” said Zingman.
