LIHU‘E — A nearly 13-year-old unsolved murder on Kaua‘i is receiving renewed national attention after being featured on a prominent true crime podcast.
“Unsolved Mysteries,” a documentary television and podcast series, released on Wednesday a podcast episode titled “Hawaiian Homicide,” which explores the 2010 death of 57-year-old Kapahi resident Amber Jackson.
Jackson — who had moved to Kaua‘i from the mainland 10 years prior — was reported missing on June 23, 2010, after friends of hers checked in on her home, only to find the house empty, her car still in the driveway and her phone unresponsive.
Ten days later, a pig hunter discovered Jackson’s body in a remote ravine in Kealia. A forensic analysis concluded she had died due to blunt force trauma to the head.
Unfortunately, Jackson’s head trauma resulted in too much bleeding for investigators to obtain any clean DNA evidence.
With little physical evidence for investigators to work with, the case has remained cold for years, and no arrests have been made.
Still, the Kaua‘i Police Department continues to seek answers in hopes that new information will come forward.
“The Kaua‘i Police Department remains committed in continuing to seek justice for Amber Jackson and her family and friends,” said KPD Investigative Services Bureau Assistant Chief Bryson Ponce in a statement. “We want nothing more than to find her killer(s), to bring some peace, closure and answers as to why someone would want to harm a woman whom everyone describes as a kind, caring and sweet human being.”
For those who were close with Jackson — many of whom have worked together to form the Amber Jackson Justice Group — justice can never come too late.
“I can’t give up,” said Ann Spaulding, a member of the group and longtime friend of Jackson. “I cannot stop using my skills, working toward getting this case solved. And I know that’s true of her nephew who adored her, and Teri (another close friend of Jackson), and all the other folks that were her friends. We can’t give up.”
As those who knew Jackson hold onto the hope that those responsible for her death are held responsible, Jackson’s nephew, Matt Alexander, emphasized his appreciation for those who continue to seek the truth.
“The Amber Jackson Justice Group is grateful to ‘Unsolved Mysteries,’ the Kaua‘i Police Department and the media for keeping Amber’s murder case in the public eye,” he said in a statement. “We are still grieving our beloved Amber’s senseless and brutal murder, and we are not giving up. We know that someone out there has information that could help solve the case.”
The Amber Jackson Justice Group continues to offer a $20,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the killer.
Anyone with information regarding the disappearance or death of Amber Jackson is encouraged to contact the Kaua‘i Police Department at 808-241-1711. People wishing to remain anonymous can provide information by calling Crime Stoppers Kaua‘i at 808-246-8300, submitting a tip at www.cskauai.org, or through the Crime Stoppers Kaua‘i P3 Tips Mobile App available for download on Android and Apple mobile devices.
Those interested in the podcast episode can listen at unsolved.com/podcast.
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Jackson Healy, reporter, can be reached at 808-647-4966 or jhealy@thegardenisland.com.
Amber’s family and friends (The Amber Jackson Justice Group) are grateful to The Garden Island Newspaper, Unsolved Mysteries, the Kaua‘i Police Department and the media for keeping Amber’s murder case in the public eye. We are still grieving our beloved Amber’s senseless and brutal murder and we are not giving up. We know that someone out there has information that could help solve the case. There is a $20,000 reward for information leading to arrest and conviction. Please come forward if you have information: Kauai Police: 808-241-1711 Anonymous tips: Crime Stoppers Kauaʻi: 808-246-8300. Here is the link to the video:https://unsolved.com/podcasts/hawaiian-homicide/