Abducted and Slayed: Amber Hagerman, 9-Years Old
Amber Rene Hagerman
Photo Credit: Family Handout
Amber's Story
Amber Rene Hagerman (Born: November 25th, 1986), a 9-Year Old Girl together with her Mother, Donna Hagerman, and her 5-Year Old Brother, Ricky, were visiting her Grandparents, Jimmy and Glenda Whitson, in the Town of Arlington, Texas.
On the afternoon of Saturday 13th January, 1996 Amber and her Brother sought permission to go Outdoors and ride their Bicycles, and of course their Grandparents granted without hesitation, but on the condition that they were not to go beyond one (1) Block from their Home, despite it being a safe Residential Area.
And, of course, as Children often do, the Siblings rode two (2) Blocks away to a popular Site for Local Kids, an abandoned Winn-Dixie Grocery Store Parking Lot on Abrams Street (in Arlington), defying their Grandparents. The Entrance to the Loading Dock on the Compound doubled as a pretty decent Bike Ramp for the Young Riders. Most of us can admit that had it been us, the attraction and temptation to venture there wasn't going to be ignored either.
After riding for a bit, Ricky reportedly grew nervous, of course for defying his Grandparents, and told Amber that he was going Home. She opted to stay back however, and ride her Bike in the Parking Lot a bit longer.
Upon arriving Home, her Brother was questioned as to where Amber was by his Mother and Grandparents. He told them and was sent to get her, but, she was not there, no where within the Location they were at just minutes earlier.
Knowing something was wrong he made those little feet pedaled as speedily as they could to make his way back to the House. When told that Amber was not where Ricky left her, the Family flew into panic and their Grandfather immediately got into his car and sped to the abandoned Compound to find already on the Scene, a Police Patrol Officer (Ben Lopez). That could not have been a good sign he knew instantly, his heart sank and he was nothing short of startled and confused.
The (Police) Officer explained that they had received a Call from Jim Kevil (78-Year Old Retiree), an old man that was in his Backyard when he witnessed a you man forcing Amber into a black Truck at 3:15 p.m. and drove West of Arlington.
“I saw [Amber] riding up and down,” Kevil recalled. “She was by herself. I saw this black pickup. He pulled up, jumped out and grabbed her. When she screamed, I figured the police ought to know about it, so I called them.” Source: CBSN Dallas - Ft. Worth
After eight (8) minutes from when her Brother first rode Home, the only sign of Amber was the her abandoned Bicycle lying in the Parking Lot.
Searches were actively conducted by Law Enforcement (both On and Off Duty Officers), and numerous Volunteers for the Little Girl throughout the City, but unfortunately and distraughtly to no avail...
Amber's Abandoned Bicycle
Photo Credit: troab.com
Photograph of the Police Flyer posted for the Abduction of Amber Hagerman of Arlington in January of 1996.
Photo Credit: The Portal to Texas History
The Case gained National Attention and widespread Media Coverage, but despite all efforts by those involved in her Search, it was on Wednesday 17th January, 1996, just four days (4) after Amber had vanished, a man was casually walking his dog behind Forest Hills Apartments, a complex less than five (5) miles from the abandoned Winn-Dixie Compound, when he stumbled upon the Body of a deceased Child, which was later identified as Amber Hagerman.
Based on the Autopsy, it was likely that Amber had been kept alive for two (2) days which lead to her Death being recorded as Monday 15th January, 1996. The 9-Year Old had been sexually assaulted, repeatedly (just once was too much!). She was beaten about her little tender Body (how much Physical Abuse could a 9-Year Old Physique really stand up to?). The Report's Findings did not stop there, it went on, she had her throat slit.
At this point, subsequently to the Monster in Human Form having finished with his poor Victim, he tossed the Body of the Little Girl, like Trash, into a Creek and fled.
Unfortunately, and Heartbreakingly, the Investigation went Cold
There was one (1) Theory and one (1) Theory only in the Case: Amber Hagerman was Abducted and Killed by a Stranger
There was a lack of Suspects
There was a lack of Forensic Evidence
Her Body was found stripped naked, but for a single Sock
The Creek's Current washed away any existing DNA Evidence - initially Reported