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Body of Missing Woman, 28, Found in Ohio River Two Months after Her Disappearance
On January 28, a community activist went missing after having a dispute with her boyfriend. Now, two months after her disappearance, her body has been recovered from an Ohio River.
Her body was pulled out from the Scioto River in Columbus on Saturday
Police officers searched for Amber Evans, 28, for nearly two months until the recent tragic discovery. Before the police found her body, they’d found her abandoned car.
Down in Scioto Audubon Park, where @ColumbusPolice confirmed this afternoon they found a body in the river. No details shared on identity, gender, etc
— Geoff Redick (@GeoffWSYX6) March 23, 2019
This is just down stream from the location where missing activist Amber Evans’ car was found in February, along the Scioto Mile. pic.twitter.com/NKUmbICtWK
Her vehicle was found a mile upstream from where her body was pulled out. On Sunday, the Columbus Division of Police released a statement.
They said:
“While this is not the outcome we had hoped for, we understand this brings closure for the family. Our thoughts & prayers go out to them.”
*UPDATE 3/24/19: The body recovered yesterday, Saturday, 3/23/19 has been positively identified as 28yo Amber Evans. The family has been notified.
— Columbus Ohio Police (@ColumbusPolice) March 24, 2019
While this is not the outcome we hoped for, we understand this brings closure for the family. Our thoughts & prayers go out to them. https://t.co/YF2iAS4LSN
When the investigation began, police were clear that there were no known domestic violence issues between Evans and her partner. However, at the time they’d also added that there was no reason to suspect foul play.
Evans' mother, Tonya Fischer, revealed that on the night her daughter disappeared, she’d texted her: “I love you and I'm sorry.” A number of people accused the Columbus police of conducting the investigation in a slow manner because of Evans' activism.
In the past, she’d criticized the department. Authorities have refuted this claim, saying there’d been delays due to the weather being too cold to drag the river.
Investigators tried to trace Evans' cellphone to find its location. They also used drones to search the area near where she disappeared.
Evans', an active member of several community justice organizations including the People's Justice Project and the Juvenile Justice Coalition, had many volunteers searching for her. She was also a key organizer of protests at the Columbus City Hall.
On Sunday, the late activist’s mother took to Facebook with a live video to ask for privacy as her family mourned.
Justice must prevail.
— seun olaniyi (@seun156) March 25, 2019
She wrote:
"I'm coming on here as a mother... who has just found out that I lost my first-born child. I love you all, and you all know I'm more than willing to accept all that you have to give... but just give me a moment. Just a moment. Give my family a moment."
RIP dear one. Gone way too soon. 🙏😪🙏😪
— Viuda Alegre (@ViudaAlegre13) March 24, 2019
On the same day, the social justice organization "Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)" released a lengthy statement through lead its organizer Tynan Krakoff. The group urged people to remember Evans by continuing the work she’d started.
Reaction and tribute is beginning, following the news of local organizer Amber Evans' body being found in the Scioto River: https://t.co/8FbWevQ2g9
— Geoff Redick (@GeoffWSYX6) March 24, 2019
Below is statement at length from Tynan Krakoff with @SURJColumbusOH, which worked alongside Evans with the @OhioPJP pic.twitter.com/s7DZAzRYaN
After her disappearance, a support GoFundMe page was created. It was revealed that the donations would be put into a savings account dedicated to the missing woman.
The page further explained:
“This funding will go to manage expenses that Amber or her family may have to take on and endure as more concrete information comes to light during the upcoming days and weeks. Please donate whatever you feel.”
