[♪♪♪]
[COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO]
[OPENS CAN]
HI. WOULD YOU LIKE TO BUY SOME COOKIES?
WELL, HELLO THERE, HONEY.
YEAH, I'LL TAKE SOME COOKIES.
CAN YOU GUESS WHAT IT IS?
HOW MANY?
TEN.
TEN BOXES OF COOKIES?
YOU'RE A GOOD LITTLE GIRL SCOUT.
SHE SAID SHE WAS GETTING READY
TO PLAY CARDS,
BECAUSE SHE ALWAYS PLAYS ON SATURDAYS,
AND I SAID SHE COULD GIVE THEM TO ALL HER FRIENDS.
YOU'VE GOT A GIFT, GIRL.
I THINK WE'VE GOT TO GET YOU SET UP
WITH BRUSHES OR VACUUMS OR SOMETHING.
GET YOU OUT HERE
MAKING MONEY FOR THIS FAMILY.
I'M A KID, MAMA.
I'M NOT SELLING VACUUMS TO GRANDMAS.
THAT'S TOO BAD,
BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE WERE ON TO SOMETHING HERE.
SPEAKING OF GRANDMAS, YOURS IS WAITING ON US.
HURRY UP!
LAST ONE.
[SQUEALS]
[CAR HORN HONKS]
HEY, DADDY.
HEY, BABY.
GRANDPA!
OH!
YOU HAVING A GOOD DAY?
GREAT DAY.
I LIKE TO HEAR THAT.
GO ON.
HEY, HEY, HEY!
HOLD ON, LITTLE MAN.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR OLD GRANDPA?
HI, GRANDPA.
GO AHEAD. GO ON.
WHAT ABOUT ME?
HEY, DARLING.
SHE SOLD HALF THE COOKIES IN TEXAS TODAY.
INCLUDING US?
NO, YOU'RE BUYING THE OTHER HALF.
I WAS AFRAID OF THAT.
HEY, DONNA.
HEY, MAMA.
WHERE'S MY GRANDKIDS?
RIGHT BEHIND YOU.
HI, GRANDMA!
BYE, GRANDMA.
DON'T YOU WANT A SNACK FIRST?
WE'LL BE BACK IN FIVE MINUTES.
OH, YOU GOT THAT RIGHT.
I KNOW!
HEY, ONE TIME AROUND THE LOOP,
THAT'S IT, THEN STRAIGHT BACK HERE,
AND YOU STAY WITH YOUR BROTHER
NO MATTER WHAT. OKAY.
RICKY, YOU STAY WITH SISSY, NOW.
I WILL.
OKAY. OH, YOU GOT IT.
GO ON, THEN.
YOU GOT IT.
AND DON'T HURT NOBODY!
GRANDPA!
[LAUGHING]
BYE-BYE!
Y'ALL GONNA FEED ME, OR WHAT?
WELL, OF COURSE WE ARE.
OKAY, LET'S GO.
[COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO]
THAT'S NOT YOUR STYLE.
WASN'T IT JUST YESTERDAY
SHE WAS COMING HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL,
TINY LITTLE THING,
ALL WRAPPED UP IN A BLANKET?
AMBER OR DONNA?
[CHUCKLES]
YOU GOT A POINT THERE.
SHE IS GROWING UP, HUH?
MM. SCHOOL OKAY?
YEAH, SHE'S DOING GREAT.
SHE'S READING THREE BOOKS A WEEK,
GETTING As IN EVERYTHING.
TEACHERS SAY SHE'S A DREAM KID.
WELL, OF COURSE SHE IS.
I WASN'T,
I'LL TELL YOU THAT MUCH.
IT SKIPS A GENERATION, SWEETHEART.
[LAUGHING]
WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING?
SHE GOT YOU THERE.
[RINGS BICYCLE BELL]
GO ON, RICKY.
I'M RIGHT BEHIND YOU.
MAMA SAID.
I'M RIGHT BEHIND YOU.
♪ NOW I'M PICKING UP THE PIECES OF MY LIFE... ♪
♪ THIS TIME WILL BE DIFFERENT WAIT AND SEE... ♪
♪ PEOPLE WILL LOVE ME FOR WHAT THEY SEE ♪
♪ 'CAUSE I AM WHO I AM
♪ I DON'T PRETEND TO BE
♪ LORD, YOU GET WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU GET ME ♪
♪ LORD, HELP ME FIND SOMEONE OUT THERE ♪
♪ WHO WILL LOVE ME FOR WHAT I AM... ♪
♪ LORD, YOU GET WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU GET ME ♪
♪ OH, THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMEONE OUT THERE ♪
♪ WHO'S GOING TO LOVE ME FOR WHAT I AM ♪
♪ BECAUSE I AM WHO I AM
♪ I DON'T PRETEND TO BE...
[SCREAMING]
MAMA!
[SCREAMING]
OH, MY GOD!
[SCREAMING]
MAMA!
[SCREAMING]
[MUFFLED SCREAMING]
I WANT TO REPORT A...
[SCREAMING]
SIR, ARE YOU THERE?
WHOA!
WHERE'S SISSY?
I DON'T KNOW, MAMA.
WELL, WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
YOU DON'T KNOW, BABY?
AMBER WENT TO THE LOADING DOCK, MAMA.
WELL, GO ON AND GET HER,
BECAUSE WE'RE WAITING ON HER FOR DINNER.
I'LL GET HER.
RICKY, YOU COME WITH GRANDMA.
SPOILED, SPOILED, SPOILED.
WE'LL PUT YOUR BIKE AWAY
AND WE'LL GET YOU SOMETHING TO DRINK.
[TRUCK DOOR CLOSES]
[ENGINE TURNS OVER]
SO YOU'RE THE ONE WHO CALLED THIS IN, SIR?
YES.
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER]
OKAY, NOW, IS THAT YOUR RESIDENCE OVER THERE?
YES.
NOW, THIS IS HER BIKE.
THE LITTLE GIRL THAT HE TOOK, THIS IS HER BIKE--IT FELL HERE.
MR. REDDEN, PLEASE STAY CALM. TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAW.
WELL, I WAS IN MY BACKYARD, I HEARD HER SCREAMING,
AND THE MAN CAME OUT OF THE TRUCK.
THE BLACK PICK-UP, SIR?
YES.
COULD YOU SEE THE LICENSE PLATE
OR ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT THE TRUCK THAT STOOD OUT TO YOU?
NO, MY EYES ARE VERY POOR.
I KNOW IT WAS BLACK,
AND IT WAS A TRUCK,
AND THE MAN WAS WHITE,
AND HE WAS WEARING A HAT, A COWBOY HAT,
BUT THAT'S ALL I COULD SEE.
SHE WAS SCREAMING AND FIGHTING.
HE RAN UP AND GRABBED HER
OFF THE BIKE,
AND JUST GRABBED HER AND THREW HER IN THE TRUCK!
OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR.
EXCUSE ME.
MY NAME IS JIMMIE WHITSON.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR MY GRANDDAUGHTER.
SHE WAS ON HER BIKE.
THAT-- THAT'S IT.
THAT'S AMBER'S BIKE.
THAT'S HER BIKE.
SIR...
WHERE'S MY GRANDDAUGHTER?
WHAT HAPPENED?
MY NAME'S OFFICER PERRY, MR. WHITSON, OKAY?
NOW, WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENED JUST YET, OKAY,
BUT THERE'S BEEN A REPORT OF A CHILD ABDUCTION
AT THIS LOCATION.
ABDUCTION?
[SIRENS WAILING]
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
SOMEBODY TOOK AMBER, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?
SOMEBODY TOOK AMBER?
NO, SIR, I'M NOT SAYING THAT, MR. WHITSON.
I CAN'T CONFIRM ANYTHING, OKAY?
BUT SOMEONE REPORTED THAT THEY DID SEE WHAT HAPPENED.
THERE'S AN EYEWITNESS.
OH, JESUS.
SWEET JESUS.
[GRANDMA]: I'VE GOT A GRAND SENSE OF HUMOR.
[MOTHER]: WELL, LOOK WHO'S HERE.
YES, HE IS.
I LOVE THAT OLD COOT.
HEY, GOOD-LOOKIN', WHAT ARE Y'ALL DOING?
HEY, DADDY.
SHE'S GONE, DONNA.
SOMEBODY TOOK HER.
WHAT?
THE POLICE ARE AT THE WINN DIXIE NOW.
NO!
THERE WAS AN EYEWITNESS.
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!
A MAN IN A BLACK TRUCK TOOK HER.
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!
NO!
GOD, NO!
YOU'VE GOT TO STAY, DONNA.
THE POLICE ARE COMING.
OH, MY GOD.
GOD! OH, MY GOD.
IT'S GOING TO BE FINE.
THE POLICE ARE COMING.
DAD, NO!
THEY'RE GOING TO FIND HER.
THEY'RE GOING TO FIND HER, DONNA.
GET OFF ME! GET OFF ME!
YOU'VE GOT TO STAY, DONNA.
IT'S GOING TO BE FINE.
NO, NO, NO, NO, DADDY, NO.
NO, DADDY, NO.
AMBER!
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER]
[SIRENS WAILING IN DISTANCE]
OVER 350,000 KIDS A YEAR
ARE ABDUCTED BY FAMILY MEMBERS,
SO WE'RE GOING TO START THERE.
I GOT A LIST FROM MRS. WHITSON--
NAMES, ADDRESSES, PHONE NUMBERS
OF EVERYBODY IN THE FAMILY--
AUNTS, UNCLES, COUSINS, BROTHERS, SISTERS.
LET'S START WITH THE EX-HUSBAND,
RICHARD HAGERMAN.
HE'S OUT OF THE PICTURE,
HE LIVES HALFWAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
LET'S SEE IF HE'S IN TOWN.
IF IT'S A FAMILY ABDUCTION,
FIVE OUT OF TEN TIMES, IT'S THE FATHER WHO TOOK THEM.
IF HE'S HERE, HE'S GOT HER.
MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IN ARLINGTON HAS THIS.
SPEED IS EVERYTHING.
CAN YOU RUN THAT FOR ME?
GRIFF!
WHAT IF IT'S NON-FAMILY?
STATS SAY WE'RE LOOKING FOR A WHITE MALE,
LATE 20s, UNMARRIED, PROBABLY UNEMPLOYED.
RIGHT.
AMBER LIVES FIVE MINUTES FROM HERE,
CLEARVIEW APARTMENTS.
THEY VISIT THE GRANDPARENTS
THREE, FOUR TIMES A WEEK,
THEY KEEP THEIR BIKES HERE.
I WANT BOTH NEIGHBORHOODS TURNED UPSIDE-DOWN.
RIGHT.
GENTLEMEN.
WE'RE GOING TO FIND THIS LITTLE GIRL.
[♪♪♪]
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER]
[DONNA]: I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG.
[JIMMIE]: THESE THINGS TAKE TIME, DONNA.
[DONNA]: WHERE IS SHE?
I MEAN, WHO WOULD TAKE HER?
WHY HAVEN'T THEY FOUND HER, DADDY?
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING.
[JIMMIE]: THEY'RE LOOKING, DONNA.
[DONNA]: YEAH, RIGHT.
THEY NEED TO FIND HER.
I MEAN, THEY NEED TO FIND MY BABY NOW.
THEY'RE CALLING EVERYONE WE KNOW.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.
I FEEL SO GUILTY. MY GOD.
SHE'S DONE THAT LOOP A THOUSAND TIMES, Y'ALL.
A THOUSAND TIMES.
OH, DONNA.
WHAT'D SHE DO?
SHE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO ANYONE.
WHO WOULD TAKE HER?
WHERE IS SHE?
I'M GOING TO GO FIND HER.
YOU CAN'T LEAVE.
WHY?
GRIFFIN SAID YOU'VE GOT TO STAY HERE,
IN CASE WHOEVER DID THIS IS AFTER YOU OR RICKY.
I DON'T CARE!
YOU HAVE TO BE HERE...
[KNOCKING]
IN CASE SHE COMES BACK.
SHE NEEDS ME, MAMA!
I KNOW THAT, DARLING, BUT--
DONNA.
DONNA, THE PRESS IS HERE, THEY'RE RIGHT OUTSIDE.
THEY ASKED MY PERMISSION
TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AIR.
I'VE SAID YES.
WE NEED SOME WAY TO GET AMBER'S PICTURE
OUT IN THE WORLD.
PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW SHE'S BEEN TAKEN.
THEN THERE ARE NO LEADS?
IT'S BEEN OVER TWO HOURS, MR. WHITSON.
WE'VE BEEN ALL OVER YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD,
AND AMBER'S NEIGHBORHOOD,
THE WINN DIXIE.
WE CALLED EVERY NAME ON THAT LIST.
NO ONE HAS HER.
WHAT ABOUT RICHARD?
MAMA!
HE'S A THOUSAND MILES FROM HERE.
HE DOESN'T HAVE HER.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF
THAT MAYBE YOU FORGOT, OR SLIPPED YOUR MIND,
ANYTHING THAT WOULD HELP US
IDENTIFY AND FIND HER?
NO.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
AMBER NEEDS YOU.
HELP US FIND HER.
I'M STANDING HERE
IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE--
[DONNA]: IT'LL BE ON THE 6:00 NEWS?
WHERE, EARLIER TODAY, JUST A FEW HOURS AGO...
NO. WE'RE GOING TO MISS IT.
WE'LL BE ON AT 10:00.
AND EVERYONE WILL SEE IT?
MAYBE EVEN AMBER, AND THAT MAN WHO TOOK HER?
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HOPING.
OKAY.
NOW, JIM, WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET
A COMMENT FROM AMBER'S MOTHER.
OKAY...
DONNA, HI. HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD.
NOW, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR DAUGHTER'S DISAPPEARANCE?
WELL...
I COULD JUST SAY THAT...
MY DAUGHTER'S OUT THERE SOMEWHERE,
AND THAT HER MAMA REALLY LOVES HER A LOT
AND THAT HER MAMA WANTS HER TO COME HOME.
I COULD JUST SAY THAT, UM...
I'M HURTING SO BAD
BECAUSE I CAN'T TOUCH HER RIGHT NOW.
PLEASE, I BEG YOU... DON'T HURT MY LITTLE GIRL.
PLEASE BRING HER HOME FOR ME.
[SOBBING]
DONNA, THANK YOU.
IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION
REGARDING THE DISAPPEARANCE OF AMBER,
PLEASE CONTACT
THE ARLINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
AT 555-0101.
JIM, BACK TO YOU.
[♪♪♪]
DETECTIVE, HAVE YOU RECEIVED
ANY NEW INFORMATION TODAY?
I HAVE NO COMMENT AT THIS TIME.
HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO THE FAMILY?
THERE'S NOTHING AT CLEARVIEW?
WE GOT EVERYBODY IN THE COMPLEX TWICE.
NO TROUBLE OF ANY KIND.
NO POLICE RECORDS, NO FIGHTS,
NOTHING SUSPICIOUS IN ANY WAY.
SWEET MOM, SWEET KIDS.
GOOD NEIGHBORS.
HIGHLAND?
SAME.
WE GOT EVERYBODY WHO WAS HOME.
NOTHING. THEY'RE ALL IN SHOCK.
EXCEPT FOR REDDEN, WINN DIXIE CAME UP ZERO, TOO.
HIT THEM ALL AGAIN TOMORROW MORNING.
SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE.
MAKE SURE THE MEDIA
IS UP TO SPEED AND ACCURATE.
THE MORE INFORMATION WE GET OUT THERE--
THE BETTER, I KNOW.
I KNOW.
RIGHT.
[SIGHING]
[DOOR SHUTS]
REDDEN REMEMBERS
THE BLACK PICK-UP'S A FORD,
SO GET WITH CITATIONS,
AND GET A PRINT-OUT
OF ALL '82 TO '87 BLACK FORD PICK-UPS
THAT HAVE BEEN TICKETED IN THE LAST YEAR.
YOU WANT TO CROSS THE LISTS?
THE POOL'S EMPTY.
I WANT SUSPECTS.
I WANT THEM TOMORROW MORNING.
[ENGINE TURNS OVER]
ALL RIGHT.
PLEASE, JUST BRING HER HOME FOR ME, OKAY?
[INHALES SHARPLY]
DONNA, THANK YOU.
IF YOU HAVE
ANY INFORMATION
REGARDING THE DISAPPEARANCE OF AMBER,
PLEASE CONTACT
THE ARLINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT--
IT'S NEWS NOW.
AT 555-0101.
IT'S 10:00.
SEVEN HOURS,
AND THIS IS THE FIRST ANYONE'S HEARD OF IT.
SEVEN HOURS, MAMA.
WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU
IS A LIST OF ALL BLACK FORD PICK-UPS,
'82 TO '87, CITED IN THE LAST YEAR.
I WANT EVERY ONE OF THEM ACCOUNTED FOR
IN THE NEXT THREE HOURS.
ALSO, THERE'S A LIST OF EVERY SEXUAL PREDATOR
WHO FITS THE PROFILE
WITHIN A MILE RADIUS OF THE ABDUCTION SITE.
IT'S NOT THAT LONG A LIST.
YOU MAKE SURE THAT NONE OF THEM HAVE AMBER.
IT'S MONDAY MORNING.
CAN WE TAKE A LOOK?
THIS LITTLE GIRL HAS BEEN GONE SINCE SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
[♪♪♪]
I WANT YOU TO KEEP TALKING TO THE MEDIA--
RADIO, TV, MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, ALL OF THEM.
IT GOES OUT ONE LITTLE BIT AT A TIME.
MAYBE PEOPLE ARE HEARING IT, MAYBE NO ONE IS.
IT'S WHAT WE CAN DO,
SO IT'S WHAT WE WILL DO.
LIKE THIS?
STANDARD PROCEDURE.
TO GET THE ANSWER,
I HAVE TO ELIMINATE EVERYTHING
THAT ISN'T THE ANSWER.
DONNA.
IS YOUR NAME DONNA WHITSON?
YES.
ARE YOU MARRIED TO RICHARD HAGERMAN?
NO.
DO YOU LIVE IN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA?
NO.
IS YOUR DAUGHTER'S NAME AMBER HAGERMAN?
YES.
WAS SHE ABDUCTED
SATURDAY, JANUARY 13th, 1996?
YES.
DID YOU ABDUCT AMBER?
NO.
DID YOU PLAN AMBER'S ABDUCTION?
NO.
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING AT ALL
TO DO WITH YOUR DAUGHTER'S ABDUCTION?
[SOBBING]: NO.
IT HAS BEEN TWO DAYS NOW
SINCE NINE-YEAR-OLD AMBER HAGERMAN
WAS FIRST REPORTED MISSING IN ARLINGTON, TEXAS.
NOW, AS OF TODAY, POLICE ARE TELLING US
THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED
ABSOLUTELY NO NEW INFORMATION,
NO NEW LEADS
THAT COULD POSSIBLY HELP THEM IN THIS MISSING CHILD CASE.
NOW, AMBER'S MOTHER, DONNA,
HAS JUST ARRIVED ON THE SCENE.
WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET A COMMENT FROM HER.
DONNA, HI.
ASHLEY CHAMBERS, KNBC-FORT WORTH.
CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOU'RE FEELING RIGHT NOW?
I GUESS I FEEL THE SAME WAY
EVERY PARENT WOULD FEEL
IF THEIR BABY GIRL WAS TAKEN AWAY.
SHE'S...
I HAVE A PICTURE OF HER.
SHE'S JUST THE NICEST, SWEETEST LITTLE GIRL.
IF YOU FIND HER...
PLEASE, PLEASE, CALL THE POLICE.
TRY TO HELP HER.
TELL HER YOU KNOW WHO SHE IS
AND THAT EVERYBODY'S WORRIED ABOUT HER.
IF YOU'RE THE MAN WHO TOOK HER...
PLEASE LET HER GO.
SHE'LL FIND HER WAY.
MAMA'S HERE, BABY GIRL.
I'M RIGHT HERE AND I AIN'T GOING NOWHERE.
WE'RE NOT GONNA STOP LOOKING FOR YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DONNA, THANK YOU.
AND, ONCE AGAIN, ARLINGTON POLICE
STILL HAVE NO NEW LEADS.
YOU FIND HER, DETECTIVE.
YOU GET OUT THERE
AND YOU FIND MY BABY GIRL.
...NINE-YEAR-OLD AMBER HAGERMAN,
YOU SHOULD CONTACT
ARLINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
WITH ANY INFORMATION...
GRIFF.
ANYTHING?...555-0101.
EVERY PRINT IN THE PLACE HAS BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR.
EVERY NAME IN HER PHONEBOOK,
EVERY MESSAGE ON HER MACHINE.
WE'VE QUESTIONED EVERYBODY TWICE,
AND THE FBI GOT THEM AFTER US.
NOTHING.
WHAT ABOUT THE TRUCK?
WE'RE CHECKING EVERY BLACK FORD IN THE COUNTY.
RANGERS HAVE EVERYTHING WE HAVE.
NOW WE'RE CONTACTING OTHER AGENCIES
AND THEIR HIGHWAY PATROLS.
THEY'RE LOOKING,
BUT NO TAGS, NO POSITIVE I.D.
[SIGHING]
NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.
EXACTLY.
GRIFF.
YOU HAVE TO TELL HER.
IT'S NOT SAFE FOR YOU TO BE HERE.
HE AIN'T AFTER ME OR RICKY.
HE'S GOT AMBER, AND THAT'S ALL HE WANTED.
WE DON'T KNOW THAT YET.
WHAT THE HELL DO YOU KNOW?
YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING, THAT'S WHAT YOU KNOW.
MY BABY GIRL
IS OUT THERE ALL ALONE,
AND YOU STILL DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE IS
OR WHO TOOK HER.
WHAT'RE YOU DOING HERE?
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?
GET OUT THERE AND FIND HER.
DO SOMETHING, DAMN IT.
DO SOMETHING!
[SNIFFLES]
YOU GOT KIDS, DETECTIVE?
THREE.
ONE'S IN COLLEGE, HOUSTON.
SHE'S LIVING THERE.
TWO IN HIGH SCHOOL.
YEAH, THEY'RE HOME.
IT'S HARD TO PICTURE YOU AS A FATHER.
I GOTTA LEAVE IT BEHIND SOME DAYS.
WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT...
ALL YOU WANT TO DO IS KEEP THEM SAFE, YOU KNOW?
I DON'T KNOW-- EVERYTHING OUT THERE, I GUESS.
KEEP THEM SAFE.
[SOBBING]
DONNA. DONNA, IT'S BEEN 48 HOURS.
I KNOW HOW LONG IT'S BEEN.
DON'T YOU THINK I KNOW HOW LONG IT'S BEEN?
THERE'RE ALL KINDS OF STATISTICS
ABOUT THIS.
I DON'T WANT STATISTICS.
FAMILY ABDUCTIONS, NON-FAMILY ABDUCTIONS.
I WANT MY DAUGHTER.
IN NON-FAMILY ABDUCTIONS--
WHERE'S MY DAUGHTER, DAMN IT?
AFTER 24 HOURS...
I DON'T CARE HOW MANY HOURS IT'S BEEN.
THE CHANCES OF
RECOVERING THE CHILD ALIVE...
DON'T YOU SAY THAT.
SHE'S ALIVE, DETECTIVE.
IF AT ALL...
[SOBS]
ARE VERY SMALL.
[SNIFFLES]
SHE HAS TO BE ALIVE.
MM-MM.
INSTEAD OF TELLING ME THAT...
GET OUT THERE AND FIND HER.
DUBLIN, DON'T GO TOO FAR.
DUBLIN?
DUBLIN.
DUBLIN, WHERE'D YOU GO, BOY?
[♪♪♪]
IS IT HER?
GRIFF?
ANY IDEA OF TIME OF DEATH?
UM...
THREE, FOUR DAYS, PROBABLY FOUR.
SATURDAY NIGHT.
YEAH. THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT.
LET THE CORONER CONFIRM IT.
THERE'S NO BLOOD.
I'D GUESS HE KILLED HER
SOMEWHERE ELSE,
THEN DROPPED HER HERE.
ANY SIGNS OF RESTRAINT?
NOT THAT I CAN SEE.
ANYTHING ELSE, I WANT TO KNOW RIGHT AWAY.
I MEAN NOW.
OKAY, DETECTIVE.
WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
HE TOOK HER AT THE WINN DIXIE
ON SATURDAY,
KILLED HER SOMEWHERE ELSE FOUR, FIVE, SIX HOURS LATER,
DROPPED HER HERE AT DUSK THAT NIGHT.
I WANT EVERY BLADE OF GRASS THAT'S TURNED WRONG.
GRIFF, THEY'RE ALL TURNED WRONG.
LOOK AT THIS PLACE.
DO IT ANYWAY.
HE LEFT SOMETHING BEHIND, AND I WANT IT.
WE DON'T TELL DONNA UNTIL WE MAKE A POSITIVE I.D.
SON OF A BITCH.
GOD-DARN SON OF A BITCH!
NEED SOME HELP?
I'M FINE.
YOU'VE BEEN CLEANING FOR THREE DAYS NOW.
KEEPING BUSY.
HE ASLEEP?
HMM?
IS HE ASLEEP?
HE'S EXHAUSTED.
OH, AND YOU'RE NOT?
YOU HAVEN'T SLEPT SINCE SATURDAY.
WELL, I CAN'T SLEEP, MAMA.
LET ME FIX YOU SOMETHING, THEN.
I'M NOT HUNGRY.
JUST A LITTLE DINNER, SWEETHEART.
NO, THANKS..
I'VE GOT-- I'VE GOT COLD CUTS
AND SALADS--
MAMA, I DON'T WANT ANYTHING, BUT THANK YOU.
I COULD HEAT YOU UP SOME SOUP.
I SAID NO.
YOU NEED TO EAT, BABY.
DADDY, I CAN'T EAT AND I CAN'T SLEEP, OKAY?
JUST LEAVE ME ALONE.
YOU KNOW, WE WERE READING THE BIGGEST BEAR.
LORD, HE LOVES THAT BOOK.
MY GOD.
AMBER LOVED IT, TOO.
THAT BIG OL' THING KEEPS COMING HOME
NO MATTER WHAT
LITTLE JOHNNY ORCHARD DOES TO IT.
WELL, AMBER'S COMING HOME, TOO.
WE'VE GOT TO KEEP BELIEVING THAT.
CLEAR ACROSS THE STATE, EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT HER.
TOOK 'EM FOUR DAYS TO FIND OUT, MAMA.
EVERYBODY'S PRAYING FOR HER.
ALL OF TEXAS.
NEWS IS ON.
[SETTING DISHES ON COUNTER]
[GRANDMA]: EVERYONE, THE NEWS IS ON.
POLICE RECEIVED THE 9-1-1 EMERGENCY CALL
AROUND 7:30 THIS EVENING.
[FEMALE REPORTER]: WE NOW GO TO ASHLEY CHAMBERS
WHO IS LIVE AT THE SCENE.
[CHAMBERS]: EARLIER TODAY,
A MAN WALKING HIS DOG
CAME UPON A PALE, WHITE FEMALE CHILD,
DEAD IN A CREEK BED.
AS OF NOW,
THERE IS STILL NO OFFICIAL
IDENTIFICATION OF THE BODY,
BUT POLICE BELIEVE IT COULD BE AMBER HAGERMAN,
WHO WAS ABDUCTED FROM THE WINN DIXIE
ON EAST ABRAM STREET
LAST SATURDAY
AT APPROXIMATELY 3:30 IN THE AFTERNOON.
DESPITE BEING ABDUCTED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT,
ARLINGTON POLICE
WERE ABLE ONLY TO TRACK DOWN
ONE EYE-WITNESS...
[SIREN WAILING]
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER]
[DOORS SHUT]
THIS IS PART OF THE CRIME SCENE NOW.
MOVE EVERYBODY OFF THE LAWN AND AWAY FROM THE HOUSE.
NO EXCEPTIONS.
BABY, I NEED YOU TO WAKE UP FOR A MINUTE, OKAY?
THINGS ARE GOING TO GET REALLY BAD AROUND HERE.
IF YOU GET CONFUSED OR ANYTHING,
I JUST NEED YOU TO TALK TO ME, OKAY?
I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT.
OKAY, YOU CAN GO TO SLEEP NOW.
[♪♪♪]
[SNIFFLES]
DONNA.
OH... OH, NO.
DONNA...
IT'S NOT HER.
WE HAVE THE FINGERPRINTS.
IT'S A MISTAKE.
IT'S A POSITIVE I.D.
NO.
I WANT TO SEE HER.
I WANT TO SEE MY BABY.
I WANT TO SEE HER.
I'M VERY SORRY.
OH! NO!
[SOBBING LOUDLY]
[♪♪♪]
WE STARTED PASO IN APRIL,
THREE MONTHS AFTER AMBER WAS MURDERED.
WE KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO CALL IT
"PEOPLE AGAINST SEX OFFENDERS,"
AND THAT IF WE WERE GOING TO GET TOGETHER,
WE WERE GOING TO REALLY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING,
BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS WE WERE GOING TO DO
AT THE TIME.
BUT WE KEPT MEETING,
'CAUSE WE WERE NEVER GOING TO LET ANYBODY FORGET AMBER.
AND THEN, ONE DAY, WE ALL JUST KIND OF SAID
THAT WE HAVE
THIS EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM FOR BAD WEATHER...
WHY CAN'T WE HAVE ONE FOR ABDUCTED CHILDREN?
20% OF THE KIDS
REPORTED
TO THE NATIONAL CENTER
FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN
IN NON-FAMILY ABDUCTIONS...
ARE FOUND DEAD.
[SIGHING]
THREE OUT OF FOUR OF THEM,
75%...
ARE FOUND DEAD
WITHIN THE FIRST THREE HOURS.
I KNOW THAT THESE JUST MIGHT BE FACTS TO YOU,
BUT THEY'RE MORE THAN THAT TO ME,
TO US.
[SOBS]
MY PRECIOUS LITTLE NINE-YEAR-OLD GIRL...
WAS JUST RIDING HER BIKE.
SHE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO NO ONE,
AND YET SHE PAID THE MOST TERRIBLE PRICE
WITHIN THOSE FIRST THREE HOURS.
[INHALES SHARPLY]
CONGRESSMAN FROST...
SO WE'RE HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU
IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP US.
FOR AMBER, YOU KNOW?
AND FOR ALL THE OTHER
INNOCENT CHILDREN.
DONNA, I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS MYSELF.
KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE
HAS GOT TO BE OUR FIRST PRIORITY.
[SIGHING]
I'M NOT GOING TO LIE TO Y'ALL.
POLITICS IS A COMPLICATED BUSINESS.
I CAN'T PROMISE
THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
BUT I CAN PROMISE
THAT I WILL FIGHT TO MAKE IT REAL.
SEEMS LIKE, FIRST OFF,
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET THE POLICE ON BOARD,
THEN WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO FIND A RADIO STATION
TO SIGN UP.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO NEED A BILL.
[♪♪♪]
[HORN HONKS]
I AM SO SORRY THAT I'M LATE.
YOU KNOW, I STARTED DOING SOMETHING
AND I LOST TRACK OF TIME.
I-- I-- LET'S GO, LITTLE ONE.
HI, GLEN.
COME ON.
HOW WAS SCHOOL?
OKAY.
HERE.
SEE YOU TOMORROW, NICHOLE.
BYE-BYE.
HERE WE ARE.
SO, HOW DID YOU DO ON YOUR SPELLING TEST?
GOOD.
E...VA...POR...A...TION?
E-V-A...
P-O-R...
A...T-I...
O-N.
HEY!
PRE...CI...PI...TATION.
GOT IT RIGHT.
[PAPERS RUSTLING]
[CHUCKLES PROUDLY]
OH, MY GOO--
YOU GOT THEM ALL RIGHT!
THEY'RE ALL-- IT'S--
WELL, PERFECT.
OH! OH, MY GOSH.
I THINK A REWARD IS IN STORE FOR YOU, YOUNG LADY.
MOMMY SAID NO MORE SHOPPING.
OH, COME ON!
LOOK, Y-Y-Y-YOU WORKED HARD.
YOU-- YOU DESERVE SOMETHING PRETTY.
WE WON'T BE LONG.
[ENGINE TURNS OVER]
[TELEPHONE RINGING]
HEY, LINDA.
HEY.
YOU DOING VEGAS NEXT?
NO. ATLANTA. YOU?
I GOT VEGAS, SEATTLE, SAN DIEGO, DENVER.
I'M GOING TO BE GONE 10 DAYS THIS MONTH.
NO IDEA WHY I DO THIS.
I KNOW WHY I DO IT.
NICE HOUSE, NICE CAR, NICE TRUCK,
ONE DAUGHTER IN COLLEGE, ONE AT HOME.
NO HUSBAND.
WAIT A MINUTE, SCRATCH THAT--
EX-HUSBAND.
I KNEW IT WAS SOMETHING.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
514 AND 672,
DO YOU KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING?
YES. UH...
514 TO DENVER...
672 TO SAN DIEGO.
GREAT.
SO WHO WATCHES NICHOLE?
HER DAD WHEN I'M OUT OF TOWN.
WELL, WHAT ABOUT WHEN YOU'RE HERE?
I'VE GOT THIS GUY NAMED GLEN
WHO PICKS HER UP AFTER SCHOOL.
HE JUST LIVES AROUND THE CORNER FROM US,
BASICALLY BEHIND THE HOUSE.
HE PICKS HER UP,
THEN TAKES HER BACK TO HIS PLACE.
I SPEND THANKSGIVING WITH HIM,
HE HELPS NICHOLE WITH HER READING,
HE HELPS WITH HER HOMEWORK,
HE HAS HER WAITING OUT FRONT FOR ME
WHEN I GO TO PICK HER UP.
THEN WHY DON'T YOU SOUND HAPPY?
HE GIVES HER JUNK FOOD WHEN I TELL HIM NOT TO.
OH, COME ON.
ALL KIDS LOVE TO EAT JUNK FOOD.
YEAH. LISTEN.
HE TAKES HER SHOPPING,
WHEN I TELL HIM NOT TO DO THAT EITHER.
[TELEPHONE RINGING]
I'M GOING TO FIND SOMEBODY ELSE.
THEY'VE GOT THIS GREAT NEW AFTERCARE PROGRAM AT THE SCHOOL
I'M THINKING ABOUT.
LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING.
HOW MANY BABYSITTERS DID YOU BURN THROUGH
BEFORE THIS GUY?
FIVE.
AND YOU'VE KNOWN HIM HOW LONG?
TEN YEARS.
SO WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
YOU'VE KNOWN HIM FOREVER.
GIVE HIM A BREAK.
HE DOES THINGS I DON'T WANT HIM TO DO.
IS THAT A CRIME?
OH...
VERY NICE.
ISN'T THAT NICE, HUH?
TURN AROUND.
ISN'T THAT NICE?
OKAY. JUST THESE.
THEN WE'LL PICK ONE,
AND WE'RE DONE.
YOU LOOK ADORABLE, SWEETHEART.
SHE'S CUTE.
THANK YOU.
IS SHE YOURS?
YEAH, SHE MIGHT AS WELL BE.
I WATCH HER EVERY DAY AFTER SCHOOL.
HER MOTHER WORKS VERY LONG HOURS
AND TRAVELS ALL THE TIME.
I'M JUST LIKE A PARENT TO HER, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I MEANT.
I'M...
I'M JUST LIKE A PARENT.
HOW'RE YOU DOING, NICHOLE?
COME ON, GLEN, WHERE IS SHE?
[CELLPHONE AUTODIALS]
[SIGHING]
GLEN, HI. IT'S SHARON.
I'M SITTING OUT FRONT.
WHERE'S NICHOLE?
GLEN?
[HONKING]
OH! SORRY.
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF]
[SIGHING]
COME ON.
[ENGINE STARTS NEARBY]
[♪♪♪]
[POUNDING]
GLEN?
[YELLING]: I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE!
GLEN, OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!
SHARON, WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?
YOU HAVE NO RIGHT
TO TALK TO ME LIKE THAT.
NO.
YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TALK TO ME LIKE THAT,
YOU HAVE NO RIGHT AT ALL.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I HAVE EVERY RIGHT, GLEN.
SHE IS MY DAUGHTER.
THAT'S ENOUGH. LET'S GO.
BUT YOU'RE NEVER THERE FOR HER.
YOU'RE WORKING.
YOU'RE ALWAYS WORKING-- WORKING, WORKING, WORKING.
I AM THE ONE WHO'S RAISING HER.
SEE THIS?
YOU THINK IT'S EASY BEING A PARENT?
WELL, TRUST ME, IT'S NOT.
BUT DO YOU APPRECIATE ME?
NO, NO, NO, NO-- NO, NO.
Y-Y-Y-Y-YOU--
YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME.
YOU TREAT ME LIKE DIRT--
LIKE THE DIRT ON THE TOP OF YOUR SHOES.
GLEN, YOU ARE SICK.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN HERE,
BUT IT IS NOT RIGHT.
I-I-I-I'M UNDER PRESSURE.
OKAY, WELL, NOT ANYMORE.
FROM NOW ON,
SHE GOES TO AFTERCARE AT THE SCHOOL, GLEN.
DO YOU HEAR ME?
YOU ARE DONE.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T DO THAT, SHARON.
THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
OUT OF OUR WAY.
SHARON!
THAT'S-- THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE!
[STAMMERS]
SHARON!
[♪♪♪]
[DONNA]: IT WAS JUST OVER A YEAR AGO
THAT WE STARTED WORKING ON THIS WITH CONGRESSMAN FROST,
AND NOW
AMBER ALERTS HAVE SPREAD ALL ACROSS TEXAS.
COMMUNITIES FROM OTHER STATES
ARE CALLING THE ARLINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND RADIO STATION KRLD
TO FIND OUT HOW THEY CAN
PUT IT TOGETHER
SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE AMBER ALERTS, TOO.
I CAN'T THINK
OF ANYTHING MORE IMPORTANT
THAN GETTING AMBER ALERTS SET UP ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SO, WHEN ATTORNEY GENERAL STOVALL
INVITED ME TO COME TO HERE TO TALK TO Y'ALL
ABOUT AMBER AND AMBER ALERT,
IT TOOK ME ALL OF ONE SECOND
TO SAY YES.
EXCEPT SHE DIDN'T TELL ME
THAT SHE'D BE SCHEDULING
FOUR SCHOOLS IN THE SAME DAY,
FOLLOWED BY
A ROOM FULL OF STATE SENATORS AT THE CAPITOL,
SO YOU'LL HAVE TO EXCUSE ME
'CAUSE MY HEAD'S SPINNING JUST A LITTLE BIT.
UM...
I THINK WE CAN AGREE
THAT THE STATISTICS ARE OVERWHELMING,
BUT WHAT IS THE COST, IN HARD DOLLARS,
BASED UPON IMPLEMENTING
THE STATE-WIDE ALERT SYSTEM,
AND HOW DO WE RECONCILE THAT COST
WITH THE STATISTICS?
STATISTICS?
HOW DO WE RECONCILE THE STATISTICS?
YES.
WELL...
FIRST, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THEM.
[VOICE BREAKING]: AMBER LOVED SCHOOL.
HER FAVORITE SUBJECT WAS CREATIVE WRITING.
HER TEACHER SAID SHE WAS A LITTLE PERFECTIONIST.
HER FAVORITE FOOD WAS RICE-A-RONI
AND SPAGHETTI.
AND BLUE BELL VANILLA ICE CREAM.
IT HAD TO BE BLUE BELL.
[SNIFFLES]
THE DAY THAT SHE WAS ABDUCTED,
WE WERE SELLING GIRL SCOUT COOKIES,
ME AND AMBER AND RICKY.
[SNIFFLES]
SHE WAS LAUGHING AND... SMILING,
AND SHE WAS JUST SO HAPPY AND FULL OF LIFE.
SHE WASN'T A STATISTIC TO ME, SENATOR.
SHE WAS MY BABY.
[SNIFFLES, SOBS]
SHE WAS TAKEN
AND MURDERED FOR NO REASON,
AND NO ONE KNEW FOR HOURS OR HOURS,
AND NO ONE COULD HELP US FIND HER.
SO...
I DON'T THINK
THAT WE CAN JUST SIT ON OUR HANDS
AND DO NOTHING.
I MEAN, THESE ARE CHILDREN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT,
NOT NUMBERS.
YOUR CHILDREN...
AND YOUR FRIENDS' CHILDREN.
[SNIFFS]
SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING WE CAN
TO MAKE THEM SAFE,
BECAUSE WE'RE RESPONSIBLE.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN TAKE SIDES ON THIS.
AND WE CAN'T DO NOTHING.
IT'S TOO IMPORTANT.
YOU WEREN'T WAITING TOO LONG, WERE YOU, SWEETIE?
I'M SORRY I'M LATE.
SO DID YOU HAVE FUN?
YEP!
AND DO YOU LIKE THE NEW PROGRAM?
YEAH. YEAH?
YEAH?YEAH. YEAH!
WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR DINNER?
UH...
[MOCKINGLY]: "UH..."
[GIGGLES]
OKAY, YOU'RE IN, YOUR SEATBELT IS ON.
[ENGINE STARTS]
[♪♪♪]
GOOD GIRL.
GOOD GIRL!
HI!
ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT FOR THE JUDGES?
NO.
OKAY. GOOD.
VERY GOOD.
ALL RIGHT, NOW HOW DO WE FINISH?
I HEARD HER SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT
YOUR CHIN--
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO-- PERFECT!
LET'S DO IT AGAIN.
YOU READY?
[BOTH LAUGHING]
WHAT WAS THAT?
A SOMERSAULT.
OH, WAS IT?
[♪♪♪]
WHY DON'T WE BOTH STAY HOME TOMORROW?
I'LL MISS SCHOOL,
AND YOU'LL MISS WORK.
OH, I CAN'T DO THAT, SWEETHEART.
WHY NOT?
BECAUSE I HAVE TO MAKE ENOUGH MONEY
TO PAY FOR ALL THE THINGS I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR.
LIKE ME?
YEAH, LIKE YOU,
AND YOUR SISTER
AND THIS HOUSE AND OUR CAR.
WHEN YOU'RE A RESPONSIBLE GROWN-UP,
YOU HAVE TO GO TO WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY,
EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T WANT TO.
EVEN IF, MORE THAN ANYTHING,
YOU WANT TO STAY HOME WITH YOUR DAUGHTER.
MWAH!
OH, NOW LOOK WHAT I DID.
YOU HAVE TO WASH THAT OFF.
LOOK AT THIS BIG HUGE RED LIPSTICK.
MARCH. BACK IN.
[BOTH GIGGLING]
[♪♪♪]
I'M MAKING A NOTE
THAT THIS MONEY...
IS FOR...
AN MP3 PLAYER.
THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
[♪♪♪]
"IT WOULD BE SOMETHING, INDEED," SAID DR. TEDDY BEAR.
"BUT I DIDN'T DO IT.
BUT AS A MATTER OF FACT--"
[♪♪♪]
NICHOLE.
NICHOLE, NICHOLE, WAKE UP.
NICHOLE.
I SAID WAKE UP, COME ON.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
WE'RE-- WE'RE GOING TO THE MALL.
SHE SAID-- YOUR MOTHER SAID
I COULD TAKE YOU TO THE MALL
AND BUY YOU A NEW BACKPACK
FOR SCHOOL.
COME ON, LET'S GO.
THE MALL'S NOT OPEN TILL LATER.
I-I-I...
WE'RE GOING TO A DIFFERENT MALL.
MY MOM WAKES ME UP AT 7:00.
SHE'LL WORRY!
I'LL HAVE YOU BACK BY THEN.
COME ON.
I DON'T WANT TO GO.
NICHOLE, NICHOLE--
[SOBBING]
SHH, IF YOU MAKE ANY NOISE,
I'LL HIT YOU WITH THIS.
I'LL HIT YOU IN THE HEAD.
COME ON, NOW. YOU UNDERSTAND?
[WHIMPERING]
OH, SHH.
[CRYING]
NICHOLE, PLEASE, PLEASE.
DO I HAVE TO PUT THIS OVER YOUR MOUTH?
OKAY.
COME ON, LET'S GO.
COME ON, HURRY.
NICHOLE, WE'VE GOT TO HURRY.
WE WANT TO GET BACK IN TIME.
LET'S GO.
[SQUEAKS]
EASY. COME ON, NOW.
COME ON. NICHOLE, COME ON.
COME ON, NOW.
COME ON.
FOUR DAYS LATER, SHE WAS FOUND IN A CREEK BED.
SHE'D BEEN SEXUALLY MOLESTED AND BRUTALLY MURDERED.
AND THAT WAS?
JANUARY 17th, 1996.
THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO?
YES, SIR.
DID THEY EVER CATCH THE GUY?
NO. THEY NEVER DID.
WELL, AS IMPOSSIBLE AS THIS IS
FOR US TO UNDERSTAND--
I MEAN, THE LOSS YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH
AND THE PAIN YOU'VE HAD TO ENDURE,
YOU HAVE FOUND A WAY TO KEEP GOING,
A WAY TO KEEP YOUR DAUGHTER ALIVE,
AND A WAY FOR YOU AND AMBER
TO SAVE OTHER CHILDREN.
YES. THANKS.
WITH THE HELP OF THE PUBLIC AND STATE GOVERNMENTS,
RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS,
POLICE DEPARTMENTS,
AND THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE
FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER
OF MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN,
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SET UP
AMBER ALERT SYSTEMS
IN MORE THAN A DOZEN STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
NOW, FOR THOSE LISTENERS
WHO MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS,
CAN YOU EXPLAIN IT FOR US?
YES, SIR.
AN AMBER ALERT IS AN S.O.S.
BROADCAST IMMEDIATELY OVER A VERY WIDE AREA
TO ALERT THE PUBLIC
THAT A CHILD HAS BEEN ABDUCTED AND IS IN GREAT DANGER.
AND IS IT WORKING?
OH, YES.
EVERY DAY,
AND EVERY TIME IT SAVES ANOTHER CHILD,
I THINK OF AMBER.
I LOOK UP AND I SAY, "YOU DID IT AGAIN, BABY GIRL."
EXCUSE ME, I'M SORRY.
[INHALES SHARPLY]
UH... ARE A DOZEN STATES ENOUGH, THOUGH?
NO, WE'RE ADDING NEW ONES ALL THE TIME,
BECAUSE KIDS ARE TAKEN EVERY DAY
IN EVERY STATE.
WE'D LIKE THERE TO BE AMBER ALERT SYSTEMS
ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, FROM COAST TO COAST.
NOW, CALIFORNIA DOESN'T HAVE ONE YET?
NOT YET.
LINDA, IT'S 7:00, YOU'RE NOT EVEN UP YET.
YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE ME LATE.
OKAY, JUST BE READY AND I'LL PICK YOU UP IN 20.
NO, JUST BE READY.
OKAY.
[PHONE BEEPS]
NICHOLE?
[SIGHS]
[TEDDY BEAR SQUEAKS]
OH, GEEZ.
NICHOLE, I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS THIS MORNING.
NIC--
NICHOLE?
NIC...
NICHOLE?
OKAY, THIS ISN'T FUNNY.
OKAY, NICHOLE, YOU COME OUT.
YOU'RE STARTING TO SCARE ME.
[♪♪♪]
NICHOLE!
NICHOLE! NICHOLE!
HELP ME!
PLEASE!
SOMEBODY!
HELP ME, PLEASE!
[SOBBING]
HELP ME, PLEASE.
NICHOLE!
HELP ME, PLEASE HELP ME.
I WANT TO GO HOME.
TAKE ME HOME, GLEN.
I HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.
IF YOU SAY ONE WORD...
TO ANYONE...
ONE WORD...
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO HURT YOU.
I'M GOING TO GET SOME GAS.
EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE FINE.
IT'S ALL GOING TO BE FINE, NOW.
DON'T WORRY.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO HURT YOU.
YOU'RE A DAUGHTER TO ME, NICHOLE.
JUST LIKE MY DAUGHTER.
BUT I SWEAR TO GOD...
IF YOU DO ANYTHING, I...
I'D...
[STAMPS FOOT]
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO HURT YOU.
REAL BAD.
YOU UNDERSTAND?
NOW LET'S GO TO THE BATHROOM.
COME ON.
OKAY. TAKE MY HAND.
WATCH YOURSELF.
THERE YOU GO.
[DOOR SHUTS]
WELL, IS DADDY OKAY?
I HEAR HIM IN THE BACK THERE.
RIGHT.
TELL HIM IT'S DONNA NORRIS NOW, IN CASE HE FORGOT.
MM-HMM.
HOLD ON A SEC, MAMA. HOLD ON.
[TURNS UP VOLUME]
THE AMBER ALERT CONTINUES TO BE
A POWERFUL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT,
BROADCASTERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
CALIFORNIA IS JOINING SOME 33 STATES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
IN PASSING INTO LAW
A STATE-WIDE AMBER ALERT PLAN...
[SHARON]: SHE'S AWAY IN COLLEGE.
I HAVE TO TELL HER, I HAVE TO CALL HER.
LET US CALL HER, ALL RIGHT?
LET US DO THAT FOR YOU.
DO YOU HAVE HER NUMBER IN THE HOUSE?
YEAH, IT'S ON A...
ON A DESK,
IN THE KITCHEN, IT'S IN MY LITTLE PHONE BOOK.
OKAY, I NEED YOU TO STAY OUT OF THE HOUSE FOR NOW, OKAY?
BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE SOME EVIDENCE IN THERE
THAT WE CAN USE.
LET'S JUST-- LET'S JUST STEP BACK HERE FOR A SEC.
ALL RIGHT?
SHE... SHE WANTED AN MP3 PLAYER
SHE WAS... SHE WAS SAVING HER MONEY
FOR AN MP3 PLAYER.
SHE HAS HER MONEY BOX WITH HER,
BECAUSE SHE STUCK THIS ON IT LAST NIGHT,
AND I FOUND IT BY THE BACK GATE.
OKAY, I'LL SEND SOME OFFICERS
OVER TO THE LOCAL MALLS
JUST IN CASE SHE WALKED OVER THERE.
AND I'LL ALSO CHECK WITH THE NEIGHBORS
AND HER FRIENDS AND HER CLASSMATES--
OH, GOD.
SHARON. SHARON.
I'M GOING TO NEED YOU TO MAKE A LIST
OF THOSE PEOPLE FOR ME.
SHARON?
WHAT? SHARON.
I'M GOING TO NEED YOUR HELP.
I NEED YOU
TO BE HERE WITH ME IN THIS, ALL RIGHT?
OKAY.
NOW WHO'S MAD AT YOU?
WHAT?
WHO DO YOU THINK COULD'VE TAKEN HER?
UM...
TERRY?
TELL ME.
BOYFRIEND.
UH, WE BROKE UP LAST MONTH.
HE ASKED ME TO MARRY HIM, I SAID NO,
AND HE GOT REALLY ANGRY.
I'VE NEVER SEEN HIM LIKE THAT BEFORE.
DO YOU THINK HE HAS HER? DO YOU THINK HE TOOK HER?
WELL, I DON'T THINK ANYTHING YET.
TERRY, BOYFRIEND.
HIS NUMBERS ARE IN YOUR PHONE BOOK?
YEAH.
WHO ELSE?
I DON'T KNOW!
I DON'T KNOW.
OH, GOD, OH, GOD.WHAT? WHO?
UM--
WHO?
RALPH. RALPH.
IT'S NICHOLE'S FATHER.
HE'S GOING TO THE PHILIPPINES.
HE'S MARRYING A WOMAN THERE.
I DON'T KNOW, HE'S GOING TO LIVE THERE,
HE'S GOING TO WORK THERE, BUT HE WANTED TO TAKE NICHOLE,
AND I SAID NO, AND WE HAD THIS HUGE ARGUMENT.
OH, GOD!
STAY WITH ME. WE DON'T KNOW THAT HE HAS HER.
WHEN WAS HE SUPPOSED TO LEAVE FOR THE PHILIPPINES?
THIS MORNING!
HE LEFT THIS MORNING.
ALL RIGHT, WE'LL FIND HIM,
AND THEN WE'LL KNOW.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE?
A FRIEND, SOMEBODY FROM WORK,
A RELATIVE, A BABY-SITTER?
GLEN.
GLEN WHO?
PARK. GLEN PARK.
HE USED TO WATCH NICHOLE FOR ME
AFTER SCHOOL,
UNTIL I GOT OFF OF WORK.
I LET HIM GO,
AND HE DID NOT HANDLE THAT VERY WELL AT ALL.
HE JUST LIVES AROUND THE BLOCK.
OKAY, THAT'S GOOD, THAT'S VERY GOOD.
OKAY, NOW, SHARON, WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO
IS JUST STAY RIGHT HERE FOR NOW.
I'M GOING TO GET EVERYBODY
GOING ON THIS, ALL RIGHT?
[SOBBING]
[SIGHING]
SHARON.
WHAT?
WE'RE GOING TO FIND TERRY
AND RALPH AND GLEN,
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO FIND NICHOLE.
PLEASE, FIND NICHOLE.
PLEASE, SHE'S JUST A BABY.
PLEASE.
[♪♪♪]
NICHOLE?
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH THE ICE CREAM?
I'M EATING MINE.
NICHOLE, PLEASE.
YOU SHOULD EAT YOUR ICE CREAM.
IT'S GOOD. IT'S...
WHAT'S THE MATTER, NICHOLE?
WHAT IS--
NICHOLE.
WHAT'S THE MATTER?
WHAT IS IT, PLEASE?
COME ON.
COME-- COME ON, NOW.
SHH.
NOW WAIT HERE.
DIDN'T I BUY YOU SOME ICE CREAM?
AND NOW I'M GOING TO BUY YOU--
I'M GOING TO BUY YOU A NEW DRESS.
I DON'T WANT A NEW DRESS.
I WANT TO GO HOME.
YOU WANT WHAT I WANT YOU TO WANT.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO DO
WHAT I TELL YOU TO DO.
IF YOU CAN'T DO THAT...
IF YOU DON'T LISTEN TO ME, IF--
NOW, YOU TAKE THIS DRESS.
THAT'S A PRETTY--
IT'S A REAL PRETTY DRESS.
NOW, YOU GO-- I WANT YOU TO BE PRETTY.
NOW, COME ON.
NOW YOU PUT THAT DRESS ON, ALL RIGHT?
AND STOP COMPLAINING.
NOW GO.
PHILIPPINE AIRLINES, PHILIPPINE POLICE,
PHILIPPINE CUSTOMS-- EX-HUSBAND ARRIVES ALONE,
HE DOESN'T HAVE HER.
WHAT ABOUT THE EX-BOYFRIEND?
ROCK-SOLID ALIBI.
TWO CONFIRMATIONS.
[CELLPHONE RINGS]
STEVENS.
HEY!
YEAH, WE'RE COMING OVER.
WE GOT SOMETHING.
[SIREN WAILS]
JESUS.
HE WAS IN A HURRY.
WHEN I CALLED FOR THE WARRANT,
I CALLED DMV.
WE GOT HIS PICTURE, LICENSE,
REGISTRATION, INSURANCE, EVERYTHING.
[DETECTIVE]: ALL CONTACT INFORMATION
IS BEING SENT ELECTRONICALLY.
WE'RE RECEIVING NOW, DETECTIVE.
I NEED TO ASK YOU FOUR QUESTIONS.
ARE YOU READY?
READY.
ONE-- IS IT A CONFIRMED ABDUCTION?
AFFIRMATIVE. TWO--
IS THE VICTIM 17 YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER?
AFFIRMATIVE. THREE.
IS THE VICTIM IN GRAVE DANGER OF BODILY HARM OR DEATH?
AFFIRMATIVE. FOUR--
HAVE YOU OBTAINED INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP THE PUBLIC
IDENTIFY THE ABDUCTOR,
THE VICTIM OR THE VEHICLE?
AFFIRMATIVE. WE SENT YOU EVERYTHING.
WHAT DO YOU WANT US TO DO, DETECTIVE?
WE THINK HE'S HEADED OUT OF STATE,
TOWARD NEVADA.
OKAY, WE'LL ACTIVATE RIVERSIDE EAST
TO THE NEVADA HIGHWAY PATROL.
GOOD.LET'S GET THIS GUY.
[♪♪♪]
I'VE ORDERED AN AMBER ALERT.
HERE'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
IN THE NEXT 45 MINUTES.
FIRST, THEY'LL PUT TOGETHER THE MESSAGE--
EVERYTHING ABOUT NICHOLE AND GLEN AND THE TRUCK.
AT THE SAME TIME,
THEY'LL PUT OUT A WRITTEN ELECTRONIC ALERT,
WHICH SIMULTANEOUSLY NOTIFIES ALL COMMUNICATIONS,
LAW ENFORCEMENT,
AND PUBLIC SERVICE PERSONNEL IN THE AMBER ALERT AREA.
THAT MEANS THE POLICE, FIRE, EMS,
PHONE COMPANIES, STATE LOTTERY--
ALL THEIR PEOPLE IN THE FIELD GET THE MESSAGE IMMEDIATELY.
ON-STAR SERVICES
REPORTING A POSSIBLE AMBER ALERT CITING
HEADING EAST ON U.S. I-95.
COPY THAT.
[DETECTIVE]: CALTRANS GETS THE MESSAGE,
AND THEY PROGRAM IT
INTO THEIR 500 ELECTRONIC FREEWAY SIGNS.
ALL ACROSS THE STATE, MASSIVE SATURATION.
A TONE SOUNDS THAT ACTIVATES
RADIO AND TV STATIONS--
HOPEFULLY EVERY MINUTE OR TWO, UNTIL NICHOLE COMES HOME.
[BEEPING]
I'M ON TV.
WHAT?
WHAT'D YOU SAY?
WE'RE ON TV.
OH, MY GOSH.
[STAMMERING]
NICHOLE, WE HAVE TO GO.
WE HAVE TO LEAVE, QUICKLY.
QUICK, GET YOUR STUFF IN THE BAG.
HERE, COME ON.
JUST GET IT IN THE BAG.
COME ON, LET'S GO.
WE'VE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.
IT'S JUST NOT A GOOD MOTEL, THAT'S ALL.
BAD MOTEL.
YEAH. BAD MOTEL. THAT'S IT.
[BAG ZIPPING UP]
COME ON, NOW.
HURRY UP, PLEASE. PLEASE.
GET YOUR SHOES.
NOW, COME ON.
HURRY UP. GET YOUR SHOES. HURRY.
ALL RIGHT, COME ON.
HERE WE GO.
HURRY UP. COME ON.
[TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING]
[♪♪♪]
THEY WERE I.D.ed HEADING NORTH ON 95
RIGHT THROUGH THE RESERVATION.
ALL THE IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
SHOULD BE TRANSMITTING NOW.
GOT IT.
PONOWEE ONE HEADED SOUTH ON 95.
THERE'S NO ONE WITHIN 20 MILES, TOMMY.
ROGER THAT.
[TIRES SQUEALING]
[POUNDING DASHBOARD]
LICENSE PLATE C-L-5-8-4-9-5.
CHARLIE-LINDA-
5-8-4-9-5.
THAT'S THEM. YOU HAVE CONFIRMATION, TOM.
[SIREN WAILING]
[SIREN STOPS]
HAWTHORNE, THIS IS PONOWEE ONE.
GO AHEAD, PONOWEE ONE.
I'M 10-6 TRAFFIC.
US-95, NORTHBOUND, MILE MARKER 276.
I HAVE A GRAY PICK-UP, FORD.
TWO OCCUPANTS--
ADULT CAUCASIAN MALE
AND JUVENILE
CAUCASIAN FEMALE.
10-4, PONOWEE ONE.
IT'S 12:45 PM.
BE CAREFUL, TOM.
WE'LL BE FINE, NOW.
I'M GOING TO GET YOU HOME.
[RAPS ON DOOR]
GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR.
HOW YOU DOING TODAY?
OH, WE'RE FINE, FINE.
I NEED YOUR LICENSE,
REGISTRATION, AND PROOF OF INSURANCE.
W-W-W-WHAT'S WRONG, OFFICER?
SIR, IF YOU GIVE ME THAT INFORMATION,
I'D BE HAPPY TO TELL YOU.
OH. O-OKAY.
SIR, WILL YOU STEP OUT OF THE VEHICLE FOR ME?
AND WALK BACK HERE,
AND I'LL SHOW YOU
EXACTLY WHY I STOPPED YOU.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
WON'T BE LONG.
NOW JUST STAY QUIET.
SHH.
BACK HERE.
MR. PARK.
HUH?
DO YOU KNOW WHY I STOPPED YOU TODAY?
NO, I DON'T. I, UH...
[CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY]
IS IT ABOUT ME AND THAT LITTLE GIRL?
ISN'T IT?
CORRECT.
YOU AND THE GIRL.
NO PROBLEM.
NO, IT'S FINE.
EVERYTHING'S FINE.
I-I-I WAS JUST ON MY WAY TO, UH...
FALLEN. FALLEN.
UH, I WAS GOING TO DROP HER OFF.
SIR.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT TO FALLEN TODAY.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
BUT, OFFICER, I SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM.
I... I... OFFICER!
[♪♪♪]
[CAR DOOR OPENS, CLOSES]
NICHOLE!
HI!
OH, GOD.
HI!
IT'S OKAY.
IT'S OKAY, BABY, IT'S OKAY.
[CRYING]
IT'S OKAY, IT'S OKAY.
YOU'LL BE OKAY.
[♪♪♪]
[CROWD APPLAUDING]
[PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH]: AMBER HAGERMAN--
WHOSE MOM IS WITH US TODAY--
A GOOD TEXAN, I MIGHT ADD...
[CROWD APPLAUDING]
WE DID IT AGAIN, BABY GIRL.
WAS NINE YEARS OLD
WHEN SHE WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM HER PARENTS.
WE ARE ACTING TODAY IN HER MEMORY
AND IN THE MEMORY
OF SO MANY OTHER GIRLS AND BOYS
WHO LOST THEIR LIVES
AND INNOCENCE
IN ACTS OF CRUELTY.
NO CHILD SHOULD EVER HAVE TO EXPERIENCE
THE TERROR OF ABDUCTION, OR WORSE.
NO FAMILY SHOULD EVER HAVE TO ENDURE
THE NIGHTMARE OF LOSING A CHILD.
AND NOW IT IS MY HONOR
TO SIGN THE PROTECT ACT OF 2003.
[CROWD APPLAUDING]
EXCUSE ME.
I'M SORRY, I DON'T MEAN TO BOTHER YOU.
OH, NO, YOU'RE NOT BOTHERING ME IN ANY WAY.
I'M SHARON TIMMONS,
AND THIS IS MY DAUGHTER, NICHOLE.
IT'S VERY NICE TO MEET YOU.
I KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
I SAW YOU ON THE NEWS.
HI, NICHOLE.
I'M DONNA.
HI.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW HAPPY I AM TO SEE YOU
HERE TODAY.
I...
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK.
IF IT...
IF IT WASN'T FOR AMBER, I WOULDN'T HAVE MY BABY BACK.
THANK YOU.
OH...
SHALL WE?
BYE.
[♪♪♪]