Man Indicted in Case that Led to “Kari’s Law” Push

MARSHALL � An East Texas man who’s accused of killing his wife and then kidnapping his four-year-old daughter has been indicted for murder in a case that’s prompted a push for a new law. KETK reports Brad Dunn, 35, was arrested December 1 after an Amber Alert was issued for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of his daughter, Kylie Dunn, and the slaying of the mother of the child, Kari Dunn. He was indicted by a Harrison County Grand Jury Wednesday.

After allegedly killing Kari, Brad reportedly took his daughter. Upon a tip from a driver in Cass County, he was arrested on U.S. Highway 59 south of Linden. Officials say the child is now safe with her family. A bond of $5.1 million was set for the suspect, $5 million for the murder charge and an additional $100,000 for evading arrest, according to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Department of Public Safety.

A movement to honor Kari Dunn’s memory has now taken on worldwide significance. Last Friday marked one month since the petition for Kari’s Law started. According to police, Kari Dunn was murdered at the Baymont Suites in Marshall. Police say Kari’s children were in the room as their father stabbed their mother to death. Kari’s 9-year-old daughter hopelessly tried to dial 911, but as her grandfather, Hank Hunt, explains, she didn’t get through. It wouldn’t work because as at many hotels and businesses across the country, an additional 9 was needed to place an outgoing call. That prompted Hank Hunt to start an online petition so hotels and motels would upgrade to enhanced 911 systems that would allow guests to dial 911 by just dialing 911 with no additional numbers needed.

Now the petition has over 420,000 signatures and is being supported by U.S Representative Louie Gohmert, Dog The Bounty Hunter and his wife, and “Pretty Little Liars” actress Lindsey Shaw. Hunt says he was only hoping for 100 signatures. Along with that, the FCC joined the cause by sending letters to the nation’s 10 largest hotel chains asking them why guests can’t dial 911 directly.