TX TX - Amber Hagerman, 9, Arlington, 17 Jan 1996

[SAMS]

Happy angel birthday, Amber! 27 years is too long to not know who took your life from you when you were just really truly beginning yours. This birthday wish for you and to you is that this is the year 2024 that they catch the and throw away the key. Alternatively, that he is rotting in hell as we speak. Thank you….we love you.

 

[SAMS]

Bump!

 

[OddOneOut]

Is @othram doing the DNA analysis?

 

[SAMS]

Case that sparked AMBER Alert system remains unsolved 28 years later


“This week marks 28 years since the disappearance of nine-year-old Amber Hagerman. On Jan. 13, 1996, she was kidnapped off her pink bicycle by a stranger in a black truck.
The bike was found abandoned in a parking lot. Amber's body was found four days later in a nearby creek. To this day, who killed her remains a mystery.”


Rest Amber. Your peace & justice are coming.

 

[SAMS]

Killer of Amber Alert namesake evades police 28 years after case inspired warning system

Killer of Amber Alert namesake evades police 28 years after case inspired warning system​

At least 1,161 abducted children have been successfully rescued through the Amber Alert system – but Amber Hagerman's murder remains unsolved​

 

[SolVic]

@othram please

 

[Same Old Stella]

Is it the killer's DNA that is being tested and wasn't this 3 years ago? Where are the results? All the news articles are so vague. Will LE automatically test the killer's DNA (if they have it) against all convicted child molesters and those who have been convicted of possessing child in Texas?

 

[roiana]

I grew up in Arlington and I was 13 when Amber was abducted. About a year before she was abducted, a man stalked and attempted to abduct me on several occasions when I would go out to a nearby park. He was driving a light blue car and Caucasian, could not be mistaken for Hispanic. I was always able to evade him but thankfully he never attempted to leave the car to grab me but he was escalating in his efforts to the point that my parents had to call the police, who did nothing, and I couldn't go alone outside for awhile. One of my teachers told me I was the third girl at my school who had survived an abduction attempt that year.

The cars don't match but I've always wondered if Arlington was just a magnet for monsters who commit these crimes. Lately I've started to wonder if there was a connection. People can get new cars or have multiple vehicles. I came here today because the question was really bothering me and I saw an earlier post about Jenna Robbins, who was abducted by a man driving a gray or silver car in Killeen. I could see how the car could be thought of as gray or silver. I'm not a car person and I can't remember whether or not it was a four or two door car, but it was small. What freaked me out was the composite sketch of her abductor. It could have been the person who stalked me.

Granted, it's hard to say with a composite sketch and the descriptions of the car is not a perfect match so I could be trying too hard to make the pieces fit especially as this was 30 years ago. And for what it's worth I'm not a brunette. So it's still very possible and probably more likely that it was different perpetrators. But I do know I am not the only girl in Arlington who survived an abduction attempt in the months prior to Amber's kidnapping and if there is a connection with Jenna and Amber, the perp most likely lived in Arlington. I saw him on around 4-5 occasions before he terrorized me into staying indoors.

I have looked at pictures of as many of the other suspects that I could find and none of them resembled the person I saw though there were several I have not been able to find pictures of (Bill Fry is one I would like to see a picture of if anyone has one). That said I also think I would recognize his voice ordering me to get into the car more because I was focused more on escaping then looking at and remembering the details of how he and his car looked.

It's tragic that the person responsible has not been found. I'm hoping there is a breakthrough soon with the DNA evidence especially since it blows my mind that this hasn't been solved.

 

[Earth]

Has James francis McNichols (Julie Fuller's killer) been ruled out?

 

[Becca17]

I grew up in Arlington and I was 13 when Amber was abducted. About a year before she was abducted, a man stalked and attempted to abduct me on several occasions when I would go out to a nearby park. He was driving a light blue car and Caucasian, could not be mistaken for Hispanic. I was always able to evade him but thankfully he never attempted to leave the car to grab me but he was escalating in his efforts to the point that my parents had to call the police, who did nothing, and I couldn't go alone outside for awhile. One of my teachers told me I was the third girl at my school who had survived an abduction attempt that year.

The cars don't match but I've always wondered if Arlington was just a magnet for monsters who commit these crimes. Lately I've started to wonder if there was a connection. People can get new cars or have multiple vehicles. I came here today because the question was really bothering me and I saw an earlier post about Jenna Robbins, who was abducted by a man driving a gray or silver car in Killeen. I could see how the car could be thought of as gray or silver. I'm not a car person and I can't remember whether or not it was a four or two door car, but it was small. What freaked me out was the composite sketch of her abductor. It could have been the person who stalked me.

Granted, it's hard to say with a composite sketch and the descriptions of the car is not a perfect match so I could be trying too hard to make the pieces fit especially as this was 30 years ago. And for what it's worth I'm not a brunette. So it's still very possible and probably more likely that it was different perpetrators. But I do know I am not the only girl in Arlington who survived an abduction attempt in the months prior to Amber's kidnapping and if there is a connection with Jenna and Amber, the perp most likely lived in Arlington. I saw him on around 4-5 occasions before he terrorized me into staying indoors.

I have looked at pictures of as many of the other suspects that I could find and none of them resembled the person I saw though there were several I have not been able to find pictures of (Bill Fry is one I would like to see a picture of if anyone has one). That said I also think I would recognize his voice ordering me to get into the car more because I was focused more on escaping then looking at and remembering the details of how he and his car looked.

It's tragic that the person responsible has not been found. I'm hoping there is a breakthrough soon with the DNA evidence especially since it blows my mind that this hasn't been solved.

Hi, I’m also from the Arlington area. Hate to hear what you went through! Where did your attempted abductions happen?

 

[roiana]

Hi, I’m also from the Arlington area. Hate to hear what you went through! Where did your attempted abductions happen?

I was nearly abducted in the parking lot of Atherton Elementary. We lived several blocks away and I often went to the playground there. Sometimes he'd be in other streets close to Atherton Elementary. At the time I was going to Workman Junior High where I'd heard from a teacher that a few other girls had nearly been snatched but I don't know a lot about where those attempts happened. As near as I can tell it's all within 15 minutes from where Amber was abducted.

 

[Kell1]

Sadly there were many missed opportunities in Amber's case, one of which was a laundromat right near the abandoned Winn Dixie store that was full of potential witnesses that were never questioned.

Retired Sgt. Mark Simpson said when speaking about the Hagerman case in 2010, "we lost that case in the first 15 minutes"

3 years later however from what they learned in the mistakes of Amber's case they were able to quickly resolve the abduction murder of Opal Jennings just 30 minutes west of Arlington.

I'm convinced however this case will be solved eventually.

 

[Truthseeker1974]

Michael Blair - Innocence Project

Blair was exonerated for the murder of Ashley Estell in 2008 thru DNA testing.
"Additionally, DNA testing conducted by the state on clothing from the victim pointed to the possible involvement of a man, now deceased, who was a suspect at the time of crime."
Wonder who the deceased is/was? IMO the case against the alleged killer of Opal was definitely shakey, as you stated. Rickey Lee Franks received a life sentence without forensic evidence. A deceptive lie detector and an off-the-wall confession coupled with an inmates testimony and a suspicious probation officer, sealed his fate.
Opal's COD was determined to be a blow to the head, while Ashley's fate was strangulation. Amber's COD was multiple stab wounds to the neck area.
MOO

You are not wrong about the murders of these girls being connected. Opal’s murder and rape was committed by several grown men. One of which murdered another man who was involved in 2001. The others have roamed free since the murder of Opal. A suspect in the murder of Amber can be traced all the way down to the truck in which she was abducted in having red carpet inside of the truck and red fibers being found on Ambers sock. The truck is long gone however. The man who is assumed to have done this crime is alive and well.

 

[Truthseeker1974]

There was a gentleman by the name of Jimmy Reed allegedly who at the time had just purchased and custom painted a single cab Chevrolet truck all black, solid back window , red interior carpet was inside of the truck. Amber was found with a sock on that had red fibers attached. The truck was sold after this incident, the truck may or may not of been transferred into his name since it was only owned for a very short period of time. His build has been reported as 5’10” stocky at the time and quite tan skin toned when the abduction occurred although he is a Caucasian male. His tan was so dark that he could pass for Hispanic origin at that time.

 

[SAMS]

There was a gentleman by the name of Jimmy Reed allegedly who at the time had just purchased and custom painted a single cab Chevrolet truck all black, solid back window , red interior carpet was inside of the truck. Amber was found with a sock on that had red fibers attached. The truck was sold after this incident, the truck may or may not of been transferred into his name since it was only owned for a very short period of time. His build has been reported as 5’10” stocky at the time and quite tan skin toned when the abduction occurred although he is a Caucasian male. His tan was so dark that he could pass for Hispanic origin at that time.

Hi Truthseeker, have you reported this to APD by chance?

 

[seemsfishy_]

I just watched Amber's doc on Peacock. I had also watched Web of Death on Hulu and that led me here. (So if there is another site or forum with a good discussion about this case, I am unaware of it and would appreciate guidance!)

I have a lot of questions regarding this case, I recognize the need for holdback information. It is a double-edged sword in that there just isn't a lot of evidence out there at all. Forensic or circumstantial.

I question-
•The only eyewitness to come forward– the accuracy of the vehicle description, what was actually heard/seen that alerted him and the sequence of events that followed.

• While there is undoubtedly a lack of DNA evidence, are there other details provided by the medical examiner that would help solidify the timeline? Has a weather expert ever had any commentary about the storm, like how it affected the filling and flowing of the "creek"? Are there solid theories as to where she was found vs where she was dumped? (I have seen it stated that she did not have injuries that would imply being pulled along with the current.)

• If it can be assumed that the perp was interviewed, inserted themselves in the investigation or memorial services, etc.– has any footage been reviewed? There was a lot of filmed, especially for the time.

I have theories but I don't fully know the rules around here yet. I have reviewed this whole thread though!

I would love to see some discussion on this, Amber and her family deserve justice and peace. And even if people like us aren't the ones to do something directly, we can at least be squeaky wheels. ☮

 

[Kell1]

I saw somewhere on this thread someone was asking why such a high concentration of offenders in the area at that time had anything to do with victim availability.

Since most sexually motivated abduction killers of children are impulse driven, the majority of them do not move to areas where child victims are plentiful simply for that reason, these child victims in these type of cases are overwhelmingly victims by happenstance

Now , preferential offenders will often seek out occupations and situations that expose them to potential victims, which we see this in cases of scout leaders, coaches, teachers etc.. that molest children, but they are not drawn to specific areas simply because theres potential victims there.

But because abduction killers are largely unplanned impulsive, there are victims anywhere there are no adults at the time they give into that impulse.

Industry (legal or Illegal) is what usually draws these types to a certain area, as the majority of those who abduct and kill child victims for sexual purposes, are usually unskilled or semiskilled laborors most often within the construction industry, the abduction and susequent murder are usually a spur of the moment decision.

 

[SAMS]

I saw somewhere on this thread someone was asking why such a high concentration of offenders in the area at that time had anything to do with victim availability.

Since most sexually motivated abduction killers of children are impulse driven, the majority of them do not move to areas where child victims are plentiful simply for that reason, these child victims in these type of cases are overwhelmingly victims by happenstance

Now , preferential offenders will often seek out occupations and situations that expose them to potential victims, which we see this in cases of scout leaders, coaches, teachers etc.. that molest children, but they are not drawn to specific areas simply because theres potential victims there.

But because abduction killers are largely unplanned impulsive, there are victims anywhere there are no adults at the time they give into that impulse.

Industry (legal or Illegal) is what usually draws these types to a certain area, as the majority of those who abduct and kill child victims for sexual purposes, are usually unskilled or semiskilled laborors most often within the construction industry, the abduction and susequent murder are usually a spur of the moment decision.

And this takes us right back to the abduction site being in a “commercial area” (during that time, anyway. Haven’t been there in many years)

 

[Kell1]

And this takes us right back to the abduction site being in a “commercial area” (during that time, anyway. Haven’t been there in many years)

With both the abduction site and the body recovery site being withing a few miles of each other its most likely someone who lived or worked in that area.

If I recall the only eyewitness stated that the pickup truck was initially parked at the landromat across the street before he saw the driver of that same pickup truck out Amber into his vehicle before leaving

Its more than likely he has used that lanudromat before especially if all other indications are that he is most likely from that area.