Lyall among many missing loved ones being honored by cyclists

Early Friday morning, 100 cyclists will gear up at the Guilderland YMCA to ride 100 miles for missing children. One name they will be biking for is Suzanne Lyall.

For 24 years, the Capital Region has seen her picture on playing cards, coasters and posters.
Lyall was 19 years old, a student at UAlbany.

She was a computer whiz and worked at Babbage’s, which was a video game shop in Crossgates Mall.

On March 2, 1998 – she left Crossgates after finishing her shift. Witnesses say she got on a CDTA bus heading back to campus, got off the bus at Collins Circle around 9:45 at night – and disappeared.

Mary and her late husband, Doug, fought for change.

In 1999, they helped pass the “State Campus Safety Act” which requires all colleges to have plans in place to investigate missing students.

Then President George W. Bush signed a law creating a national Amber Alert system – which included “Suzanne’s Law” – requiring police to act immediately when anyone between 18 and 21 years old is reported missing.

The Lyalls also started the Center for Hope – a not-for-profit helping families all over the country, who are also searching.

Mary finds comfort in events like the Ride for Missing Children – joining with Capital Region families who share the same heartache. They all want the same thing – answers.

Hear Mary Lyall talk about the emotion she has every time a missing person’s case is resolved, by watching the video of Subrina Dhammi’s story.

DIGITAL EXTRA: Mary Lyall on photo she took of Suzanne