Amber Hagerman Child Victim Of Kidnap Murder

The tale of deep agony of abduction, rape and brutal murder of a 9 year old Amber Hagerman, which engulfed her family, has really changed their lives Born as Amber Renee Hagerman on 25th November, 1986, in Texas, she was a young, lively and bubbly girl with auburn hair and who adored Burger King, Barbie dolls and America the Beautiful for the line that mentioned her name: Amber waves of grain, became the victim of abduction and murder on 12th January 1996.

Amber Hagerman and her brother Ricky went to visit their Grandparents Glenda and Jimmie Whitson with mother Donna on Saturday, afternoon of 12th January 1996, when the incident took place. Jimmie had arranged for two bicycles for the kids to ride. The two kids were very happy as they rode the bicycles around the parking lot and on the ramp of Winn-Dixie grocery store. As the family had been staying there for last 10 years and was quite known in the area, they never gave a second thought about the kids security.

After a couple of rides Ricky the 5 year old went back home, while Amber Hagerman stayed for more rides. He was sent back by his grand parents to fetch his sister. He could not find amber, so Jimmy went out in his truck to lookout for her. When Jimmy reached the parking lot, he saw a police car there. He was told by the police officer that a man living nearby, who was the prime witness, had called 911 to report about a man carrying a young girl into a pickup truck. Jimmys heart sank as he saw his granddaughters bicycle at the site.

Arlington police and the FBI initiated an extensive search for the suspect. The body of Amber Hagerman was found four days later at a creek bed with her throat slit. She was found to be brutally raped and murdered. The police could not solve the case and no arrests were made. After ten years, the police has announced that a resident of Tacoma, Washington have been charged with Ambers slaying. He is also being charged with kidnapping, raping, and murder of several other girls.

This incident caused a huge uproar in America. The U.S. House of Representatives adopted H.R. 605 to implement the AMBER Plan for missing children. President Bush made the AMBER Alert system a national program in the year 2003. The implementation of this program is being assisted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tragic story of Amber Hagerman formed the base of the 2006 TV movie Ambers Story. The movie was broadcasted on Lifetime and starred Elisabeth Rohm and Sophie Hough.Crimelibrary