Amber Ramsey

21 year old Amber Ramsey was reported missing in February of 2006. Her body was found seven months later on August 1, 2006. The New Jersey Detective Edgar Rios, who was in charge of the investigation, failed to notify Ramsey's parents that she had been found dead, for 20 months following the discovery of the body.

Despite the fact that Ramsey's body was found with her wallet, license and college ID inside her coat, Rios was still unsure of her identity. He claimed he wanted to wait for DNA verification, despite medical examiner's request to inform the family. The results came back inconclusive, but he never notified the family. Her body remained in the morgue for 20 months. Ramsey's family was not notified until March 18, 2008, over a year and a half after their daughter's death. Reaction: "This investigation was pushed aside and never followed up on"—Police Director Joseph Santiago

"For the last two-and-a-half years I didn't know where Amber was, Now I have something solid. I feel like she was memorialized. She was honored. That was good."—Linda Ramsey (Mother)

"They said 'We haven't found her. We don't know why everybody is calling asking if she's dead,'" and "They told me it was just a rumor. They said 'If her mother finds out, she'll be upset so just leave it alone.'"—Karen Paul (Friend)

"Humanity in this case would have been letting the family know that there was a good chance the body found was Amber's. Even though it was bad news, they should have been told so they could put this behind them. They should not have been left hanging for two years."—Police Director Joseph Santiago Fast Facts:

1. Mercer County Medical Examiner reported Ramsey died of "probable drug overdose"
2. Died approximately on December 29, 2005
3. Age 21 at time of death

Categories