Hide Article Text (OCR)
Body of child found in drainage ditchBy Charles RichardsAssociated Press WriterARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — A body found floating face down in a creek behind an apartment complex has been tentatively identified as a 9-year-old girl who was abducted Saturday while riding her bike.Positive identification was expected later today by the Tarrant County medical examiner’s office, police spokesman Dee Anderson said.Amber Hagerman was last seen as she was dragged, fighting and screaming, from her bicycle by a man who drove a dark-colored pickup truck. The brown-haired, blue-eyed third-grader, a Girl Scout, had been playing near her grandparents’ home.“From every description and photographs that we’ve looked at, we tentatively feel that this is going to be the body of Amber Hagerman,” Anderson said. “We feel that by the size, weight, hair ... everything appears to be matching from everything we've seen.The body was found late Wednesday by a man walking his dog. The area, about eight miles from where Amber disappeared, was quickly cordoned off by police.Amber’s father, Richard Hagerman, said he did not want to believe that the body washis daughter's.“I’m not believing it untO I find out for sure. I’m not. I’m not going to do it,” he said.Anderson said they have not determined if the body was dumped at the site or farther up stream. It was found only a short time after a line of strong thunderstorms moved through the area and might have been moved by rushing water, he said.“We are all a little numb,” Anderson said. “We certainly didn’t want this outcome. I’m not going to say we are shocked or amazed, but we are really disappointed.”He would not say how she died or confirm published reports that thebody was nude.A police chaplain delivered the news to the family. “Obviously they’re grieved, obviously they’re frightened right now, and they’re weeping,” said Harold Elliott, the chaplain.Around the home of Amber’s grandparents, Glenda and Jimmie Whitson, neighbors had decorated their homes and cars with ribbons and balloons in her favorite color, pink.State prison officials said they were assisting, the investigation by searching records of recently released child sex offenders in North Texas. Anderson also said police were questioning known sex offenders and kidnappers.
Newspaper Details
Mount Carmel Daily Republican Register
Mount Carmel, Illinois, US
Thu, Jan 18, 1996
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Allen C.
IN, USA 28 Nov 2023
Other Publications Near Mount Carmel, Illinois
Mount Carmel Register
Mount Carmel Daily Republican Register
