The tragic, unsolved mystery that led to AMBER warnings

In 1996, a kidnapping occurred in Arlington, Texas that would change the state of Texas forever.

9-year-old Amber Hagerman took a ride on her pink bike on January 13, 1996 – nothing out of the ordinary. However, their innocent bike ride ended tragically.

What happened to Amber?

She and her five-year-old brother went along. They were supposed to just walk around the block, but according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, they veered off the path to the parking lot of an abandoned Winn-Dixie with a cool ramp.

After her brother left and returned to her grandparents, Amber’s kidnapper took the young girl with him. The man was reportedly either white or Hispanic and was in a black truck. A witness said he got Amber off the bike “kicking and screaming.”

When Amber was found, she was tragically no longer alive. Her body had been dumped in a stream at a nearby apartment complex.

Police believed Amber was kept alive for at least a few days, leading them to believe someone must have seen something during that time. However, back then there was no convenient way to alert people to kidnappings and report sightings.

Amber was kidnapped far too young, but with her death things improved

After all these years, Amber’s killer has not been found. Her death remains a tragic mystery in Texas that will hopefully one day be solved.

But after the tragedy, Texas was able to help save more children in these situations.

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, a woman named Diane Simone felt that something needed to be done to inform the community and get their help with kidnappings. Her idea gained attention and became what is now known as AMBER Alerts – which has helped bring thousands of children home.

It makes me incredibly sad to hear about cases like Amber’s. But I have also seen many new regulations put in place as a result of a tragic loss to help those who hold the same positions in the future. I just wish that we as humans could realize what is needed before it is too late.

The killers behind these 5 cold cases in Texas are still walking free