30 years after Amber Hagerman’s abduction police are committed to finding killer
Jan. 13, 2026, marks three decades since Amber Hagerman was abducted and killed in North Texas, and the case that initiated the Amber Alert system remains unsolved.
At the time of her kidnapping, Hagerman was 9 years old, riding her bike near East Abram Street and Browning Drive on Jan. 13, 1996, in a laundromat parking lot blocks away from her Arlington home.
An eyewitness told investigators that they saw a man walk up behind Amber and lift her from underneath her arms, throwing the child into his black pickup truck as she kicked and screamed, police have said.
The little girl’s body was found four days later in a creek approximately four miles from where she was abducted.
“Amber’s case later led to the creation of the AMBER Alert, a nationwide alert system that has led to the safe recovery of hundreds of missing children,” Arlington police said in a statement on Tuesday about the 30-year anniversary of the case.
“While we take great pride in that legacy, we want to remind the public that Amber’s case remains unsolved and we are committed to delivering justice for her and her family,” police said.
Detectives are reviewing tips from the public and consulting with crime labs to determine whether newer forensic tools could help identify Hagerman’s killer, police said.
“Our hearts and our prayers are with Amber’s loved ones today,” police said.
Anyone with information about Amber’s case is asked to call 817-459-5935. Tipsters can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County at 817-469-8477.