Update (March 25, 2019): A body found in the Scioto River in Columbus, Ohio Saturday has been identified as that of missing activist Amber Evans, who mysteriously vanished nearly two months ago on January 28.
The Columbus Police Department confirmed the news on Sunday, posting a tweet informing the public that the 28-year-old’s family was contacted with the devastating update.
“Through the efforts of the detectives and dive team members, a body was recovered from the water,” a portion of the department’s statement read.
Tonya Fischer, Evans’ mother discussed the revelation in a somber Facebook Live video Sunday, and ABC6 obtained an excerpt of her remarks.
“I'm coming on here as a mother… who has just found out that I lost my first-born child,” Fischer said. “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.”
The Women’s March mourned the loss of the Ohio State graduate with a statement of their own.
This is devastating. #AmberEvans was a beautiful person and powerful activist. To our sisters at @OhioWomensMarch who organized with Amber, and to her entire family and community: we are thinking of you all. ???? https://t.co/lTwdntiNnE
— Women's March (@womensmarch) March 24, 2019
According to The Columbus Dispatch, a memorial service is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Scioto Mile in Ohio.
Original story: Amber Evans has been missing for nearly a month, and little to no details have emerged as the search to find the 28-year-old activist continues.
According to The Columbus Dispatch, Evans disappeared on January 28, allegedly after an argument with her boyfriend. Per the news site, officers found her car in the Scioto Mile area in downtown Columbus, Ohio, later that day.
A longtime community organizer in Ohio's capital, Evans has led rallies at Columbus City Hall and is also heavily involved with the People’s Justice Project and the Juvenile Justice Coalition.
Search efforts for the Ohio State graduate have been consistently postponed, and Refinery29 writes officials from the Columbus Police Department blame rising river waters as one of the reasons why they're unable to continue looking. Since that February 7 report, there has been no indication of when the probe will continue.
"We had a reported drowning [Feb. 22] and unfortunately could not get into the river because of the rising and moving waters," Denise Alex-Bouzounis, a representative for the Columbus Police Department, told Refinery29. "We want to get in as soon as we can to see if Amber is in there or not as well as the man who supposedly went in."
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However, some close to Evans remain hopeful she will found alive and well.
"We are still hopeful Amber is coming home," Liz Ryan, the executive director of Youth First, said to the Chronicles of Social Change on February 13.
Evans has been a vocal critic of the police system in the past, leading many to believe the Columbus Police Department is intentionally sluggish with the investigation into her whereabouts. However, police commander Alex Behnen has vehemently denied those accusations, saying they are treating her situation like every missing person case.
"That is of no concern to my investigators we are working on a missing persons case," Behnen explained to ABC6 on February 13. "I will not fail someone else's child. Absolutely not."
Columbus Police Missing Persons Unit is spearheading the investigation, and anyone with tips is encouraged to call (614) 645-4624.
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