About Us
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
The Kari Hunt Foundation was created to raise awareness among the telecommunications industry and our elected officials about how dialing 911 from a Multiline Telephone system is not possible, in most cases, by dialing the three digits 9-1-1.
Our Story
On December 1, 2013, Kari Rene Hunt was murdered by her estranged husband, whom she intended to divorce. She agreed to meet him at a local hotel to leave their children with him for a short visitation while he was in town.
Her estranged husband convinced her to go into the restroom to talk in private. After a few minutes, he began attacking her; during the struggle and resulting death of Kari, her oldest daughter, age 9 (name held for privacy), attempted to dial 911 from the hotel room phone. She followed instructions as taught by her mother on the way to call for help, but she was never instructed that in some hotels and motels, you must first dial a "9" and then 911.
Kari's Law was written to ensure that any person needing police, EMS, or the Fire Department at any hotel or motel location or from any MLTS/PBX system can dial 911 and receive emergency response. In a panic, any underage child, or for that matter, anyone in an emergency situation, should be able to depend on dialing 911 from any phone in the United States and receiving assistance.
We ask that Wyndham Hotels, the parent company of Baymont Inns and Suites, where this incident occurred, lead the way in the industry by updating the antiquated phone systems still used in some of their hotels. Sadly though, 2 years and 11 months later, we have heard nothing from the Wyndham Corporation; however, the Marriott International Corporation has mandated all franchise hotels under the Marriott brand to update their systems to dial 911 directly. Can you guess what hotel we will be using from now on will be? That's right, MARRIOTT!
Seconds count, and when a 9-year-old little girl is mature enough and brave enough to attempt to dial for help, she should be answered. When that child dialed 911, she should have heard, "911, what is your emergency?" Instead, she heard static. We understand the cost implications (which in most cases is very minimal or free) and know that E911 has been a requirement for a few years, but only a handful of states require it. Why? Money is collected from every citizen who uses a phone, but it's the citizen who is NOT benefiting from the collection of these funds.
We ask the United States Congress to make it a requirement for all hotel and motels operating the United States.