AMBER Alert Awareness Day: 30 Years Later, Amber’s Legacy Still Protects Children

Thirty years ago, the abduction and murder of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman forever changed how the nation talks about child safety and community response. 

January 13 is National AMBER Alert Awareness Day, marking the same day in 1996 when Amber was abducted while riding her bike in Arlington, Texas. Amber’s abduction and murder sparked a national call to action, which has helped safeguard children and mobilize communities when every second counts.

Today, Amber’s legacy lives on through the millions of people who respond when an AMBER Alert is issued and through the children who have been brought home because someone was paying attention.

As of December 2025, 1,292 children have been safely recovered as a direct result of AMBER Alerts and the incredible communities that respond to them.

While AMBER Alerts are usually resolved within hours, some children who were featured in AMBER Alerts are still missing, and their families continue to search for answers. Here are just a few cases where tips, no matter how small, could help bring a child home:

Jesus Martinez was 4 when he was last seen near his home in Houston, Texas on Oct. 20, 2004. In the early morning hours of Oct. 21, Jesus’s mother was found deceased and there was no sign of Jesus. Jesus may be in the company of his father, Avelino Martinez. A federal warrant for Avelino was issued on Feb. 13, 2007. Avelino should be considered armed and dangerous. Today, Jesus is 26 years old. 

Bianca Piper was 13 when she was last seen walking on McIntosh Hill Road in Foley, Missouri on March 10, 2005. Bianca left her home to go for a walk around 6:15 p.m. that night and never made it back home. Bianca has scars on her arms and legs, a scar on her abdomen and pierced ears. She was last seen wearing blue jeans, a gray Adidas sweatshirt and white sneakers. Her nickname is "B.” Bianca may be in need of medical attention. Today, Bianca is 34.  

Sofia Juarez was 4 when she vanished from her home in Kennewick, Washington on Feb. 4, 2003. At approximately 8:00 p.m. that night, Sofia walked out of her bedroom and has not been seen or heard from since. Sofia has a mole under her left eye and at the time she disappeared her four top front teeth were missing. She has pierced ears and a birthmark on her lower back. Sofia was last seen wearing blue overalls, a red shirt, violet socks and white shoes. Today, Sofia is 27. 

Christopher “Gage” Daniel and Chloie Leverette were 7 and 9 when they were last seen at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 21, 2012, at their home. Later that night, around 9:30 p.m., the house caught fire and burned. Despite law enforcement finding the other occupants of the home, Christopher and Chloie have never been found. Today, Christopher is 20 and Chloie is 22.

Zaylee Fryar was only 3 months old when she and her mother, Shauna Marie Fryar, disappeared from their home in Millersville, Tennessee on May 1, 2011. Six days later, Zaylee’s mother was found deceased in Cumberland River approximately 40 miles from their home. The cause of Zaylee's mother's death remains unknown. Zaylee is biracial; she is Black and white. She has a brown birthmark on her right leg. Today, Zaylee is 14 years old.   

To learn about the latest AMBER Alerts and see a full list of children who were featured in AMBER Alerts who remain missing, visit: https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/amber.