Marking three decades since the tragic disappearance and murder of Amber Hagerman, the Arlington police are once again reaching out to the public for assistance in resolving this haunting case.

The tragic story of 9-year-old Amber, whose ordeal led to the establishment of the AMBER Alert system, is etched in the memory of many. On January 13, 1996, Amber vanished from a parking lot on Abrams Street in Arlington while she was enjoying a bike ride. Her younger brother, Ricky, who had been riding with her, returned home alone, just a few blocks away, without his sister.

The chilling events of that day were witnessed by a vigilant neighbor who, according to The Spokesman-Review, alerted the police after hearing distressing screams and observing a suspicious vehicle leaving the scene.

Despite the swift response, the search ended in heartbreak four days later when Amber’s lifeless body was discovered near a creek, six miles from where she was last seen. The brutal nature of her death, with her throat being slashed, left a permanent scar on the community and sparked the nationwide alert system that bears her name.

Four days later, police found Amber’s body near a creek, around six miles from the parking lot. Her throat had been slashed.

A man who lived near the area, Jimmie Kevil, said he saw a man in a black pickup truck forcing Amber into the vehicle before fleeing the area.

“I saw [Amber] riding up and down,” Kevil said in an interview with CBS Dallas-Fort Worth in January 2016.

“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.”

On January 27, 1996, radio caller Diane Simone wrote a letter to KDMX-F, pushing for an Emergency Alert System to help abducted children. The call prompted officials to later establish the AMBER Alert.

In January 2021, Arlington police held a news conference in the parking lot to honor the 25th anniversary of Amber’s abduction.

Arlington SGT. Ben Lopez urged all residents in the area, whether undocumented or not, to come forward and assist with any information.

Kevil, the only witness to come forward, has since passed away.

“I miss her voice. I miss her touch. I miss her hugs,” her mother, Donna Norris, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

“I remember everything about her. There’s nothing I’ve forgotten about her.”

Anyone with any information is urged to contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or call the Arlington Police Department at (817) 459-5700.

[Feature Photo: Amber Hagerman/Handout]