BINGHAMTON, NY - On Monday, Randi Robbins-Patterson, step-mother of slain Johnson City teenager David Patterson, will mail New York government officials over 1500 signatures she has gathered via the internet and community petition drives in the hopes of passing "David's Law". "David's Law" would require mandatory reporting laws that extend to crime victims in a medical emergency. David was killed in February 2003 when a loaded gun was introduced into an underage drinking party by and at the home of Ronald Zudofsky. Zudofsky is now serving 1-3 years in state prison after pleading guilty to criminally negligent homicide in February.

And that's not all she's doing.

National Parents of Murdered Children (POMC) have approved Mrs. Patterson as Broome County's first Chapter Leader of a local POMC organization. POMC provides support and assistance to all survivors of homicide victims while working to create a world free of murder. Membership is open to those who have been cruelly bereaved by the murder of a loved one. Professionals who are in frequent contact with grieving families are also welcome to join.

"As a chapter we would offer emotional support and friendship in a self-help organization. We would be a separate non-profit organization that would have monthly meetings, attend a yearly national convention, and attend mandatory teaching to continue our education so that we can offer the best support possible to our community," says Mrs. Patterson.

Crime Victims Assistance Center will provide space for the Tri-Cities POMC group to hold their meetings, and Tracy Ligouri, Victim Advocate Coordinator with CVAC will serve on their board of directors for at least the first year. "With the number of homicides in the last few years as well as the upcoming trials for the murders of Valerie and Devin Spears, who have a large family planning to attend the trial, there is a great need for a support group for survivors. They often feel very alone and isolated on a lot of different levels, as well as ignorant of how the legal system works. I can only imagine that having a chapter of POMC would be beneficial to those we serve. Right now the closest chapter is in Albany, which is unmanageable for people."

For more information, call Randi Robbins-Patterson, Chapter Leader, Tri-Cities Parents of Murdered Children and Other Homicide Survivors, at 607.797.2051 or Tracy Ligouri, Victim Advocate Coordinator at Crime Victims Assistance Center at 607.778.2423. On the web visit the National POMC website at www.pomc.org, davids_law.tripod.com where the petition will continue to circulate and CVAC's website at www.cvac.us.