Brandon D’Annunzio’s law, or Senate Bill 726, originally was proposed in her son’s name to change the statute of limitations for crimes such as manslaughter, kidnapping or attempted murder from 10 to 20 years. But after some deliberation, lawmakers agreed this change would not fix the problem.

During the meeting, the bill was amended to state the statute of limitations of 10 years would only begin once the suspect of the crime was identified.

Brandon D’Annunzio, who was 24 and engaged at the time, was assaulted and killed by another male when visiting East Lansing on Oct. 1 2000. Alcohol was a factor in the assault. Police didn’t identify Brandon D’Annunzio’s killer until about 10 and a half years later, after the statute of limitations had expired.

Because of this, police and Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III were not able to prosecute Brandon D’Annunzio’s assailant.

But Shawn D’Annunzio has not given up all hope and has been in full-hearted support of the bill, requesting it be named in honor of her son.

The bill passed through the full Senate on Feb. 7 and was presented to the House Judiciary Committee in October where it passed without dissent Thursday morning.

When she first heard the bill was passed, Shawn D’Annunzio was elated.

“We tried and did it,” Shawn D’Annunzio said. “And I’m sure he’s up in heaven saying, ‘Thank you, Mom.’ He would have done the same for me.”

State Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, who wrote the bill, said there is no reason a suspect should not be tried after 10 years with today’s DNA advances in investigations.

This law will help investigators who hit dead ends in the future, Jones said.

“What we’re doing is changing the law to read: Once the suspect is known, then the statute of limitations will start,” Jones said. “(This) is of huge importance in cold cases.”

Although this bill cannot help the D’Annunzio family, state Rep. Mark Meadows, D-East Lansing, who contributed to the bill, said the bill will ensure this type of injustice does not happen to another family ever again.

“We can’t make it better for the D’Annunzio family, but we can make sure this never happens again,” Meadows said. “That’s the objective.”

The bill is projected to “fly” through the full House of Representatives, be concurred by the Senate and on Gov. Rick Snyder’s desk in a few weeks, Jones said.

Shawn D’Annunzio said this step in the bill’s progress has provided her with some closure and it is proof that her son did not die in vain.

“The most wonderful thing about it is it’s going to be called the Brandon D’Annunzio law … It’s going to be all in his name,” Shawn D’Annunzio said. “And it’s going to be absolutely wonderful to know (his death) made that much of a difference.”