MURDERED: Amber Hagerman — The Cold Case Behind the AMBER Alert
In January 1996, nine-year-old Amber Hagerman was abducted in broad daylight while riding her bike near her grandparents' home in Arlington, Texas. A witness saw a man force her into a pickup truck. The vehicle was distinctive. The description was clear.
What didn’t exist was a way to alert the public—fast enough, wide enough, or urgently enough to make a difference.
Amber was held for two days before her body was discovered, and her murder remains unsolved.
In the aftermath, her family and community were left grappling with a devastating question: what if the information had reached the public in time? That question exposed deep failures in how the country handled child abductions—and became the catalyst for change, revealing the need for a coordinated, immediate response when a child is taken.
Amber’s name became the foundation of the AMBER Alert system—a nationwide tool designed to mobilize communities in real time.
But before the alert, there was Amber.
And this is her story...
TW: This episode includes discussion of crimes against children and potentially distressing circumstances. Listener discretion is advised.
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According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, as of December 2025, 1,292 children have been safely recovered as a direct result of AMBER Alerts and the public response they trigger.
But not every alert ends with a resolution. While many cases are resolved within hours, some children featured in AMBER Alerts are still missing, and their families continue searching for answers.
To learn about active alerts and view the full list of children who remain missing after an AMBER Alert, visit:
Episode Source Material
Official Reports & Government Sources
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. “Still Searching for Amber’s Killer.” By Patricia Davis. Accessed January 2026. https://www.missingkids.org/home
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. “Key Facts.” Accessed January 2026. https://www.missingkids.org
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. AMBER Alert 2019 Annual Report. 2019. Accessed January 2026.
United States Department of Justice. “AMBER Alert.” Office of Justice Programs. Accessed January 2026. https://amberalert.ojp.gov
Newspaper Archives & Print Journalism
Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Tharp, Robert. “Girl, 9, on Bike Seized by Man.” 1996.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Boyd, Deanna. “Parents Plead for Amber’s Return.” 1996.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Austin, John, and Mary Doclar. “Volunteers Gave It All They Had, Including Tears.” 1996.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Michaud, Stephen G. “Killer Likely Lives in Area, Analyst Says.” 1996.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Eiserer, Tanya. “Case Haunts Community.” 1996.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Austin, John. “Abduction Broadcast Plan Unveiled.” 1996.
Dallas Morning News. Scudder, Charles, and Dana Branham. “25 Years After Amber Hagerman’s Kidnapping, Here’s Why Detectives Stay Hopeful for a Breakthrough in Her Case.” Accessed January 2026.
Toronto Sun. Hunter, Brad. “Sleep Interrupted? Think About Amber Hagerman.” Accessed January 2026.
Broadcast Journalism & Television
WFAA. After Amber: A WFAA Documentary. 1997.
KIRO 7. Bonvillian, Crystal. “Police Release New Photos, Seek New Info in Unsolved 1996 Murder of Amber Hagerman.” Cox Media Group. Accessed January 2026.
Crime Watch Daily. “‘I Want Her to Have Justice’: The Story That Inspired the AMBER Alert System.”
Inside Edition. “Police Vow To Find Killer Of Child Whose 1996 Murder Inspired Amber Alerts.”
Crime + Investigation. “The Tragic Case That Inspired America’s AMBER Alerts.”
Documentaries & Longform Media
Amber: The Girl Behind the Alert. Peacock. Accessed January 2026. https://www.peacocktv.com
Digital Articles & Online Publications
Front Page Detectives. East, Michael. “Eight Minutes That Changed the World.” Accessed January 2026.
DBM True Crime Chronicles. “Amber Hagerman – The History Behind the AMBER Alert.”
