AMBER

Your cell phone blares. The emergency alert system scares you. You almost freak out. Then, a text message appears. It's an "AMBER Alert!"

Unfortunately, twenty-five years ago, there wasn't an AMBER Alert  Emergency Program or System. On January 13, 1996. on a warm winter's day, a brother and his older sister rode their bicycles a very short distance from their grandmother's home. At the empty Winn-Dixie grocery store in Arlington, Texas, the brother and sister rode their bicycles on a cool ramp. Since his older sister wanted to continue riding her bicycle a little bit longer, the younger brother rode home without her. Besides, at that moment, it was a perfect Saturday afternoon. No doubt, she was delighted and enjoyed riding her prized pink and white bicycle. In fact, the girl's bicycle was super special to her as it was a recent Christmas present.

In a flash, the perfect Saturday turned into terror.

In less than nine minutes, the 9 year old Girl Scout was abducted. Her screams went unanswered. In fact, she kicked, but she wasn't able to stop the male who easily overpowered her as he threw her into his truck.

 In broad daylight, the girl's abduction took place with only one reported witness. The observer was seventy-eight year old retired machinist, Jimmie Kevil, who witnessed the egregious sight through a chain-link fence that separates his backyard from the strip mall.

Immediately, Kevil called the police. Informing the Arlington police as to what he had witnessed, Kevil described the abductor as a young white or Hispanic man under 6 feet tall with a medium build and in his 20s or 30s who threw the little girl into his black colored truck without chrome.

On a side note, a laundromat was close to the abduction scene. There was speculation that other witnesses didn't come forward, fearful of their immigration status and fearful of deportation.

Tragically, there are thousands of unsolved crimes and unsolved mysteries around the country. Remembering in 1996, the crime story touched my heart. The unsolved case is dreadful and heartbreaking. Unbelievably, this case has dragged on and has gone unsolved for decades. In addition, the crime took place within a short drive from my residence, making this unsolved crime stand out in my memory as something so close to my home and my heart.

Probably, you know her name. If not, the little girl was Amber Hagerman. Do you remember hearing about Amber's abduction and murder on the news? Or, did you watched the movie that was made ten years after the abduction and murder? In case you don't recall, the movie "Amber's Alert" was released in 2006 and was about Amber Hagerman's tragic story.

Of course, women, mothers, parents, grandparents were incensed and outraged over the abduction and murder. A Ft Worth mother, Diana Simone, called a radio station. She knew that the broadcasters issued an Emergency Alert weather warning. Simone asked, "Why didn't they issue a public warning when a child is abducted?"

If only the public had known about the child's abduction along with the details of the suspect and vehicle description, perhaps Amber could have been located and saved. Understandably, the interest in a warning alert program increased and intensified. In time, Simone's idea and request would be known as the AMBER Alert Program.

In 2017, an 18 years old girl started college and entered the University of Austin. That girl was only eight weeks old in 1998 when a babysitter kidnapped her. Because of the AMBER alert, the baby was rescued ninety minutes after the alert went out. She was the first child rescued as a result of the alert program. In the aftermath, countless numbers of children have been located and rescued because of the AMBER Alert.

For the first time, there is a glimmer of hope. Amazingly, 7000 or more tips have been received by the Arlington Police Department. The detectives are hopeful that DNA evidence along with the new technology will solve the case as it has for other high-profile cold cases.

Besides, there is someone out there that knows who and what happened to Amber. Where are the other witnesses? Who was close to this criminal? Why hasn't a friend or relative of the criminal come forward? When will there be a match? What tip will eventually solve this case?

Your cell phone blares. You receive an AMBER Alert on your phone. When the alert blares, the next time, please think about Amber Hagerman's story.

As a sister, aunt, mother, and grandmother, this case needs to be solved. It is my sincere wish that the perpetrator of this horrific crime is brought to justice for Amber and Amber's family.

MORE INFORMATION

Arlington police have set up a new tip line for Amber Hagerman’s case. Tips can be shared by calling 817-575-8823.

Oak Farms Dairy is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case, police said.

Writer's notes: The gory and gruesome details were purposely left out. A kidnapping, abduction, and murder are enough for young people to read and comprehend.

From the writer, a personal thank you for reading!