Quinn signs law inspired by Casey Anthony case

SPRINGFIELD — A new Illinois law will make it a felony for a parent to not report a child missing for more than 24 hours, a plan inspired by the 2011 Casey Anthony trial.

In that case, Anthony didn’t report her daughter, Caylee, missing for more than 30 days. The Illinois law, signed by Gov. Pat Quinn Friday, is known as “Caylee’s Law.”

State Rep. Jack Franks, a Marengo Democrat, sponsored the plan in the Illinois House earlier this year.

“Unfortunately, it appears we need a criminal law to require it,” Franks said in a statement. “I believe this law will serve as a model for the rest of the nation.

Parents have to report missing children under age 13 to police within 24 hours, and children age 2 and younger must be reported within two hours.

Anthony was eventually found innocent in her daughter’s death.