Police Return To Park Human remains still not identified Omaha Police say they do not expect any new information to be released until Monday on the human remains found in Hummel Park Thursday night. A large section of the park remained closed as police continued their investigation at the scene. Detectives and crime scene technicians spent all of Friday and part of Saturday back at the spot where the remains were found. Police have been in contact with the family of missing Omaha girl Amber Harris but they say there is nothing at the scene that indicates a connection. http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/2798171.html

Police Continue To Investigate Remains Amber Harris' Family Waits Nervously For Answers POSTED: 9:10 pm CDT May 13, 2006 UPDATED: 9:26 pm CDT May 13, 2006 OMAHA, Neb -- Omaha Police continue their investigation into human remains found Thursday night in Hummel Park. Investigators spent Friday and Saturday working on the case. They have yet to link the remains to missing 12-year-old Amber Harris, or any other recent missing persons case. At least two miles of crime tape surround the entire north end of Hummel Park. "It's that big because at this point police just don't know how wide an area investigators need to search for evidence." said Omaha Police Officer, Andrew Passo. "We can't have people walking through somewhere they may not think is a crime scene, but it turns up it is." Omaha police tell Newswatch 7 they'll resume the investigation Sunday. For the Harris family it means more waiting. "It's something we had to sleep on and wakeup with and it's another day of waiting" said Amber's mother, Melissa Harris. http://www.ketv.com/news/9211990/detail.html?rss=oma&psp=news

Autopsy being done on human remains found in Omaha park Monday May 15, 2006 OMAHA — Police confirmed Sunday that remains found in a city park were human remains. An autopsy was scheduled to determine the cause of death, police said. The remains were discovered in Hummel Park in northeast Omaha Thursday. Since then, police have been in contact with the family of missing 12-year-old Amber Harris. Amber’s father, Michael Harris, said police have moved methodically and have given no indication that the remains are those of Amber. Amber has been missing since Nov. 29. http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2006/05/15/nebraska/doc4467b7895d781528902823.txt

Autopsy Next Step In Investigation Police Continue Their Investigation Into Hummel Park Remains POSTED: 8:59 pm CDT May 14, 2006 UPDATED: 9:30 pm CDT May 14, 2006 OMAHA, Neb. -- Omaha police say the next step in the investigation into remains found Friday night in Hummel Park is an autopsy. A tip led police to the remains in the park just north of town. Police have said there's no indication that the remains are that of Amber Harris. Police told Newswatch 7 they have notified other families with missing loved ones in the metro of the remains. The family of Jason Jolkowski has been notified. He's been missing since June of 2001. Jolkowski's mother, Kelly, is also nervously waiting for investigators to identify the remains. Amber Harris' parents told Newswatch 7 police have told them to stay home from work Monday. http://www.ketv.com/news/9214517/detail.html?rss=oma&psp=news

Many More Missing Besides Amber 05/14/2006 The waiting game is not only affecting the Harris's, it's also raising concerns for other families who have missing loved ones. While much of the attention has been focused here at the Harris home, they know they're not the only ones keeping a close eye on the investigation. "It doesn't have to be Amber," Kelly Jolkowski says. "It could be anybody." Kelly Jolkowski's son Jason disappeared almost 5 years ago. She called Omaha police detectives after the remains were found in Hummel park, but so far hasn't gotten much information. "In this case we still don't know and that's very hard." And it's hard for more families than you might think. Currently there are more than 160 cases in Omaha involving a person's disappearance. Our cameras caught police detectives meeting with the Harris family on Friday. The question is why they were singled out. Omaha police tell us that decision is made by individual detectives and so far there's nothing to officially link Hummel Park to any particular case. Jolkowski tells us it's common for police and families to keep in contact. "At first when he went missing there were a couple of these situation where it was frightening and it still is," Jolkowski says. But that fear doesn't compare to the hope still inside many Omaha families. Hope that detectives will uncover the clues that put their anxieties to rest. These are just a few buttons some family members wear day in and day out. They help families remain hopeful for a couple of things-above all that they'll see their loved ones again, but also they want to learn the truth behind the disappearances. The Jolkowski's and Harris' have been in touch during the past couple of days. Kelly Jolkowski stopped by the Harris home today as well as Friday. They say they're leaning on each other to get thru this trying time. http://www.kptm.com/video/2098442.html?id=439

Waiting For ID No word on tests The wait continues for the possible identification of human remains found in Omaha's Hummel Park last Thursday night. As of Monday, police said there was no new information to report. Investigators had been expecting DNA tests back Monday but there has been no word if that has happened. Meanwhile, the nervous waiting continues for the family of missing 12-year-old Amber Harris. Michael and Melissa Harris spent the day by the phone. Melissa Harris says, "We are both tired; emotionally drained. But like we've said all along: hope and faith. And I know this is all focused on Amber but who knows who this could be. " Amber disappeared after getting off of a school bus in November. Omaha police made no contact with the Harris family on Monday. http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/2805891.html

Harrises Wait, Wonder Autopsy Under Way On Remains Found In Hummel Park POSTED: 5:04 pm CDT May 15, 2006 UPDATED: 5:31 pm CDT May 15, 2006 OMAHA, Neb. -- The family of a missing Omaha 12-year-old were home all day waiting for work on a police autopsy. On Thursday evening, a body was found in Hummel Park. A tip led police to the remains in the park just north of town. Police have said there's no indication that the remains are that of Amber Harris, who has been missing since November. Police told KETV Newswatch 7 on Sunday that they have notified other families with missing loved ones in the metro of the remains, but authorities still asked the Harrises to stay home on Monday as police worked to identify the remains. Michael and Melissa Harris said police told them at about 5:30 p.m. Monday they have no new information, and that the couple can return to work on Tuesday. "I'm tired. I'm emotionally drained," Melissa Harris said. The Harrises spent Monday trying to keep their hopes alive of finding their daughter safe. "Hoping that she'll get eliminated -- it's not our daughter," Michael Harris said. The family of Jason Jolkowski was also notified. He's been missing since June of 2001. Jolkowski's mother, Kelly, said she is also nervously waiting for investigators to identify the remains. Police have given no indication of how long it will take to complete the autopsy. http://www.ketv.com/news/9220468/detail.html?rss=oma&psp=news

Harrises Take Comfort In Family Harrises, Jolkowski Waiting For Answers POSTED: 8:40 am CDT May 16, 2006 UPDATED: 8:46 am CDT May 16, 2006 OMAHA, Neb. -- Amber Harris' parents hope Tuesday will bring some answers about whether the body of their daughter was found last week in a north Omaha park. On Thursday evening, a body was found in Hummel Park. A tip led police to the remains in the park just north of town. Police have said there's no indication that the remains are that of Amber Harris, who has been missing since November. Police told KETV Newswatch 7 on Sunday that they have notified other families with missing loved ones in the metro of the remains, but authorities still asked the Harrises to stay home on Monday as police worked to identify the remains. The Harrises were told they can return to work on Tuesday. Detectives called the family Monday afternoon to say the autopsy and DNA processes are taking longer than they had hoped. That was a disappointment for Michael and Melissa Harris. "You just think, 'Oh God, another day,'" Melissa Harris said. "What can you do? You just wait. Every night you get a little less sleep." The Harrises aren't the only ones who don't have closure. Kelly Jolkowski has been there before, playing the waiting game. Her son, Jason Jolkowski, has been missing since June 2001. Kelly Jolkowski has befriended the Harrises, and now both families are waiting to learn the identity of the Hummel Park remains. "Somebody knows the answer, whether it's a forensic expert, or somebody at the head of the police department," Jolkowski said. "We could be told something to eliminate the person almost immediately, and that's not the case. It just seems like something strange." The Harrises are taking comfort in their friends and family, including goddaughter Ayana, who Melissa said was very special to her daughter, Amber. "It's like a part of Amber is with me," Melissa Harris said as she cradled Ayana. http://www.ketv.com/news/9223175/detail.html?rss=oma&psp=news

Autopsy Complete; Identity Not Yet Known Hummel Park Body Could Take 10 Days To ID POSTED: 5:11 pm CDT May 16, 2006 UPDATED: 5:33 pm CDT May 16, 2006 OMAHA, Neb. -- The autopsy is complete in the case of some human remains discovered Thursday in Omaha's Hummel Park, but the identity of the victim has not been revealed. Michael and Melissa Harris, the parents of missing 12-year-old Amber Harris, told KETV NewsWatch 7 that they are hoping they'll hear from detectives on Tuesday night about those remains. The autopsy is complete, but investigators are now trying to identify the remains through forensics. Omaha Police Department Sgt. Teresa Negron said it could take anywhere from a week to 10 days to identify those remains once they were delivered to the lab. The search for Amber Harris continues. If you have any information that could help in the search, call (800) 78-CRIME or (402) 444-5600. http://www.ketv.com/news/9227491/detail.html?rss=oma&psp=news

Mysteries Of The Missing Recent cases draw attention In the past week, three missing person cases have been in the news along with the discovery of two unidentified bodies. There are actually more than 100 people from the area who are currently missing. It's been a stressful week in the Harris home. Twelve-year-old Amber Harris disappeared in November and there have been few leads. There was a development in the case of Jessica O'Grady Tuesday when her car turned up in a west Omaha parking lot. Jessica's aunt, Shauna Stanzel says, "They basically said they found the vehicle without her, so we continue to search for her." Friends and family of the 19-year-old UNO student have not had contact with her in a week. Shauna says, "I would like to hope that she's out there somewhere, and now that we've found her car, then she's not too far behind." Shauna Stanzel says what makes her niece's disappearance even more unusual is her commitments, including helping her coach seven and eight-year-olds on a softball team. It's been nearly two weeks since 35-year-old Tracy Tribble vanished from Council Bluffs. Searches have come up empty. Adding to the spate of mysteries are the two recent discoveries of human remains. The latest discovery came last Thursday in Hummel Park, in far north Omaha. Ten days ago, a woman's remains were found in a barrel in Council Bluffs. Police are waiting for test results in hopes of making progress on the remains found in Omaha but identification of those found in Iowa will be more difficult. The woman apparently died years ago. Pottawattamie County Attorney Matt Wilber says they've received dozens of tips but only a few have any promise. "When they've got information that hasn't necessarily been released to the public that's consistent with what we've found, that really makes us stand up and take notice," he says. Since the remains found in Iowa are years old, there is no connection to any of the recent high-profile cases involving missing people. Authorities are hoping that science can shed more light on the remains found in Hummel Park but the test results are still pending. http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/2815851.html

Harrises Visit Hummel; ID Not Expected Today Detectives Visit Parents Of Amber Harris POSTED: 8:35 am CDT May 17, 2006 UPDATED: 8:47 am CDT May 17, 2006 OMAHA, Neb. -- The parents of missing Omaha 12-year-old Amber Harris may not know until Monday whether a body found in Hummel Park is their daughter. The Harrises were visited by Omaha police detectives on Tuesday evening, shortly after the couple returned from a trip to the park to see the crime scene for themselves. Detectives told the Harrises they would know something concrete about the remains by Friday or Monday. An autopsy was completed on Tuesday, but no new details have been made public about those results. "Nothing known if it's female or male," said Melissa Harris. The Harrises did get some information from detectives that they were asked not to share with the media. The Harrises walked into Hummel Park side by side on Tuesday. It was their first visit to the site where human remains were found on Thursday since investigators removed the remains and took down the crime scene tape. They stood at the very place the remains were found. "I don't feel Amber was here. I'm not a psychic or anything, but I'm hoping it's not Amber's bones," Michael Harris said. http://www.ketv.com/news/9230239/detail.html?rss=oma&psp=news

DNA Testing Can Be Tedious Process Families Wait As DNA Processed In Several High-Profile Cases POSTED: 8:21 am CDT May 18, 2006 UPDATED: 8:32 am CDT May 18, 2006 OMAHA, Neb. -- DNA testing is an important to several high-profile criminal cases happening in the Omaha metro area right now. Jessica O'Grady, 19, was last seen on May 10, and now investigators are testing items taken from both her apartment and her boyfriend's home. Remains found May 11 in Omaha's Hummel Park may solve one of several missing person's cases, and several families -- including that of missing 12-year-old Amber Harris -- are awaiting the results of DNA tests on the remains. On May 6, some Pottawattamie County mushroom hunters found a body in a barrel, and investigators are working to identify those remains, too. DNA analysis is often a tedious process in solving such mysteries, according to the director of the University of Nebraska Medical Center forensics lab, Dr. Kerry Bernal. The lab is top secret because analysts test DNA for law enforcement agencies and attorneys around the state. "You need to keep track of who has the specimen, when they have it, when they give it to another person -- chain of custody is very important," Bernal said. Bernal said it's an arduous task, especially when technicians are analyzing bones. The first step is extraction. "The issue with bone is the DNA is contained in the very center of the bone. You would have to cut through the outer cortex to get to the tissue," Bernal said. The next step is amplification. "That's where we photocopy the DNA," Bernal said. Next, scientists detect the DNA with the help of an ultraviolet light. The entire process can take as little as three days and as long as several months. The lab at UNMC is one of only two forensic labs in the state. Technicians at UNMC only do DNA testing. The Nebraska State Patrol lab does DNA and other forensic tests, such as fingerprint and fiber analysis. In addition to missing persons, DNA analysis can go a long way to identify or eliminate suspects in all kinds of criminal cases. http://www.ketv.com/news/9237119/detail.html?rss=oma&psp=news

Three Still Missing Families are still praying for loved ones to be found The families of three missing people are still waiting for word on the whereabouts of Amber Harris, Jessica O'Grady, and Tracy Tribble. There is still no definite word on where these missing loved ones are. Tribble's relatives question whether Tracy is even alive but they are preparing another search in the hopes that their prayers will be answered. Tribble's father, John Gostomski says it is not like his daughter to be gone this long without contacting anyone. He believes that she has been gone too long. "When you're searching for this, you know, you are not searching for one that's alive and well, but you have to do it." A cadaver dog assisted in the search for Tribble last week and much of the area surrounding her home has been eliminated from the search area. This Saturday the search perimeters will expand. Hundreds of volunteers have shown up to help, but Tribble's husband has not been one of them. "We've had four days of organized searches and we haven't seen them at one," said Gostomski. Tribble's husband was the last one to see Tracy and he tells police that she was sleeping when he left for work. Police have released a description of what Tribble was wearing the night before; the last time that someone other than her husband saw her. Police say that Tribble was seen wearing dark blue jeans, a dark green sweater, and a dark green jacket with a hood. Sgt. Jerry Mann says that these may or may not be the clothes that Tribble was wearing when she disappeared, but it is a starting point. Mann says they have searched the home a couple of times and the clothes have not yet been discovered. Police say that Tribble's husband is merely a person of interest and for now, the focus is on finding Tribble. "We would like to see Tracy show up alive. That's what out ultimate goal is here. We hope that's how this case turns out, but we'll have to see," said Mann. A tipline has been set up for those who may have any information regarding Tribble, the number is 218-1199. A search is has also been set up for anyone who would like to help. Meanwhile at Amber Harris' house, her parents continue that long wait to hear about their missing daughter. Omaha police have contacted them and other families after human remains were found in Hummel Park. There is a candlelight vigil planned for 7 p.m. on Friday, May 19th at Pulaski Park in 41st and 'H' St. Anyone who would like to join is welcome. Another family is waiting to hear about their daughter. Nineteen year old, Jessica O'Grady has been missing for a week and her family is still waiting to hear of any developments. The Douglas County Sheriff has assigned additional detectives to O'Grady's case. Anyone with information on where she may be is asked to call the Sheriff's office at 333-1000. http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/2831141.html

Remains Could Be Identified Today Harris Family Plans Vigil May 19, 2006 OMAHA, Neb. -- Word could come on Friday regarding the identity of remains found on May 11 in Omaha's Hummel Park. The family of missing 12-year-old Amber Harris, and other families who have missing loved ones, have been waiting for that identification. Police told the Harris family earlier in the week that they could have some concrete information by Friday or Monday. Over the past week, police have made several visits to the Harris home to update the family on the investigation. Mother Melissa Harris has said she appreciates the updates from police and the attention the media has paid to her daughter's case. Amber Harris has been missing since Nov. 29 The family and her friend plan a vigil Friday night at 7 p.m. at Pulaski Park, near 41st Avenue and H Street in south Omaha. The public is invited to take part in the candlelight vigil as the search for Harris continues. Anyone with information on the girl's whereabouts is asked to call (402) 444-STOP. http://www.ketv.com/news/9243544/detail.html?rss=oma&psp=news

Remains In Park Belong To Amber Harris Hummel Park Body Is That Of Missing 12-Year-Old May 19, 2006 OMAHA, Neb. -- Human remains found Thursday night in Omaha's Hummel Park appear to be that of a missing 12-year-old girl. Amber Harris disappeared in November. Investigators visited the Harris family last Friday afternoon, and the family said they'd been told the remains were Amber's. Omaha Police Chief Thomas Warren said DNA results showed that the remains were Amber's. He said the case is now considered a homicide. Warren said there was no immediate indication of the cause of death, and it isn't clear how long the body had been in the park. Warren said there are no suspects identified, but the department is working on a number of tips. Warren said he doesn't know whether Amber Harris was killed in the park or elsewhere. He said that whomever reported the remains had only seen a skull, and investigators dug up a shallow grave to remove all of the remains. Warren said the reward fund is at $19,000, but he did not say when or whether the money would be awarded. He said the people who reported the remains are not suspects in the death, and they have requested anonymity. A memorial for Amber Harris is planned at 7 p.m. Friday in Omaha's Pulaski Park, at 41st and H streets. A vigil had been planned for Friday night, and now it has become a memorial for the girl. Police said officers went to the park on May 11 at about 8:45 p.m. when someone reported finding the remains. Melissa Harris, mother of Amber Harris, told KETV NewsWatch 7 that Omaha police contacted her to let her know about human remains shortly after they were discovered, and before police could even determine whether the remains belonged to a man or woman, adult or child. The park is north of Interstate 680 along the Missouri River. Search For Amber Has Been Intensive Amber Harris disappeared Nov. 29 and was last seen near Florence Boulevard and Pinkney Street as she got off her school bus. Harris's backpack was found in March near 22nd and Lake streets. An anonymous tipster told police where to find the bag. Harris's mother, Melissa, said the bag belongs to her daughter, and it had some clothes and a physical education notebook in it. The bag was delivered to the Omaha crime lab, but no information was ever released by police since it was found. Police said the discovery of the bag made Amber's missing status that of an endangered missing child, changed from runaway. The picture of the missing Omaha girl has been within plain sight of thousands of interstate travelers for a number of months. Lamar Advertising unveiled a billboard earlier this month that shows a picture of Harris. The billboard is just off the Leavenworth Street exit of Interstate 480 northbound. It displays the missing 12-year-old's name and police contact information in bold letters against a neon green background. Another billboard was unveiled near 24th and Cuming streets. The search went nationwide when CBS's crime drama "Without a Trace" featured Harris's case on its Web site and during the prime-time drama. Omaha's police chief sought during a news conference in December to defend the department's handling of the case of the missing girl. Police Chief Thomas Warren said his officers worked through the night of Nov. 29 after the department was first told that Amber Harris did not make it home after she was seen getting off her school bus. The police chief listed a day-by-day analysis of what his department had done to try to locate the girl. Warren said his officers went to 3210 N. 16th St. on a report of a missing juvenile after 7 p.m. on Nov. 29. Melissa Harris told officers that she last saw her daughter get on her school bus at 6 a.m. on Nov. 29. Warren said officers talked to the Harris family and others who were on the same Laidlaw bus that Amber Harris boarded after school that day. One of the bus riders told officers that Harris may have asked to get off near Miller Park on that day. Warren said his officers covered the area around Miller Park and between there and Harris' home. The night the 12-year-old disappeared, Warren said, a K-9 unit was not used to track the girl. They worked through the night, and continued to interview the family and other bus riders. The media was not notified that the girl was missing until the evening of Nov. 30. At that time, a photo of the girl and the phone numbers for Omaha police were released to the public asking for help to find the girl. "We had no indication (initially) that there was any foul play involved," Warren said in December. "We investigate these matters from all possible perspectives -- from worst-case scenario, if there may have been an abduction, to the individual running away voluntarily. At the time of the initial radio call, we didn't have any indication that this was anything other than a runaway. But as the time elapsed, you have concern that there's a missing 12-year-old." Investigators said Harris was dropped off at Lothrop Street and Florence Boulevard and was seen headed east on Lothrop toward her home. Warren said his department has expended considerable resources in the hunt for Harris, including many officer hours, the use of the department's helicopter and use of the FBI for help. Michael Harris, Amber's father, said in December that he and his wife took polygraph tests in an effort to cooperate with police in any way they can. Police confirmed that the Harris family has been very cooperative, and are considered victims in this case. http://www.ketv.com/newsextra/9208830/detail.html