Amber Lynn Smith 28, Deceased/Cause Unknown 1/29/06 TX.

Amber Lynn Smith 28, Deceased/Cause Unknown 1/29/06 TX.
Seguin Mother Of 2 Missing Police: 'She Just Wouldn't Disappear' POSTED: 7:02 am CST January 30, 2006 UPDATED: 7:13 am CST January 30, 2006

SAN ANTONIO -- Seguin police are trying to figure out Monday how a 28-year-old mother of two suddenly disappeared. Amber Lynn Smith was reported missing at 7 a.m. on Sunday by family members after they found the woman's 2-month-old and 4-year-old children home alone. Smith was last seen around 7 a.m. on Saturday. Smith's car and all her belongings were not missing when police began their investigation. Police said that family members told them that it was unlike Smith to leave her children behind. "She just wouldn't disappear," said Detective Maureen Watson, of the Seguin Police Department. "She wouldn't leave without any contact with them. She's very close to her family. So, this is really worrying us." Police have interviewed Smith's common-law husband, who was not at home when she was reported missing. Smith is 5-foot 3-inches tall and weighs about 100 pounds. She has blue eyes and shoulder-length brown hair with blond highlights that is usually worn in a ponytail. Anyone with information is urged to call the Seguin Police Department at (830) 379-2123. Copyright 2006 by KSAT.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. http://www.ksat.com/news/6584931/detail.html#

Missing Seguin woman's kin hope for her return Web Posted: 02/03/2006 Roger Croteau Express-News Staff Writer Family members of Amber Lyn Smith, missing from Seguin since Saturday, said they desperately are clinging to hope she will be found alive and that they would be shocked if her boyfriend had anything to do with her disappearance. "We are trying our best to stay positive, but each day that goes by, the harder it gets," said her sister Allison Scheffel. Smith's live-in boyfriend, Ronnie James, 26, reported he last saw Smith at 10 p.m. Saturday as he left for a night of partying. When he returned to their home on Aldama Street about 7 a.m. Sunday, her two sons, ages 4 and 1 month, were home alone. James was arrested on an unrelated misdemeanor warrant and was still in the Guadalupe County Jail on Thursday. He initially was held without bond on a charge of violation of probation for driving with a suspended license. He was released on that charge Thursday, but held on other local misdemeanor warrants. He is to be released if he pays $2,000 in fines he owes, a jail worker said. Otherwise he will have to serve 30 days in jail. "He is not a violent person," Scheffel said. "Every relationship has its arguments and stuff, but theirs were never violent. I just don't see him like that." She added that it was not unusual for James to go out with friends late at night, but her sister never did. "Amber loved children," said her mother, Cyndy Scheffel. "She did everything for her children. She was a struggling mother, but she kept trying." Smith, 28, was born in Kerrville and lived most of her childhood with a grandmother in Wichita Falls before moving to Seguin at 14. Her mother said Smith works at area day care centers, likes to go to the park with her children, spends much of her free time with her sister Allison, and enjoys country music. Seguin police said they have found no solid leads about what happened to Smith. They said her modest home next to a Tyson Chicken processing plant showed no signs of a struggle or forced entry. Searches by air and with dogs turned up nothing. Smith is 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighs 100 pounds, and has brown hair with blond highlights that she usually wears in a ponytail. Anyone with information about the case can call Seguin Police at (830) 379-2123. http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA020306.02B.missing_seguin.1c733e0e.html

Family calls for clues in woman's disappearance February 3, 2006 By RUDY KOSKI / KVUE News The family of a missing mother made an emotional plea for help Friday afternoon. Police say Amber Lyn Smith, 28, was last seen at her home in Seguin Saturday night. Her children, ages 1 and 4, were left home alone. "I feel like my child couldn't be dead," said Cyndy Scheffel, Smith's mother. "She's gonna come back to her children. We just want her to come home." Police have been searching for the woman, but they have failed to turn up any leads. They say they will begin again next week searching for Smith. "What we're really doing now is focusing everything. We're focusing trying to develop areas where out search can be narrowed," said Maureen Watson, Seguin Police Department. Smith was reported missing by her common-law husband Ronnie Lyn James. he found her two children alone when he returned home early Sunday morning. He is not considered a suspect at this time. However, he has been arrested on an outstanding warrant for driving on a suspended license. http://www.kvue.com/news/top/stories/020306kvuemissingmother-cb.69719623.html

Family Keeping Hope With Missing Seguin Woman Amber Smith Went Missing On Saturday POSTED: 8:45 pm CST February 3, 2006 UPDATED: 9:17 pm CST February 3, 2006 It's been nearly a week since 28-year-old Amber Lyn Smith disappeared from her Seguin, Texas, home. Smith's family is keeping hope that she will be found alive and made a tearful plea at a news conference on Friday. "It's like it's not real," said Smith's mother, Cyndy Scheffel. "Like I'm in a fog." Cyndy Scheffel said she just wants to hear from her daughter. Authorities said the last time anyone spoke with Smith was late Saturday. "We talked at midnight and everything was fine," said Smith's sister, Allison Scheffel. "We talked on a daily basis, two or three times a day." Smith's common-law husband told police that Smith was gone when he returned home Sunday morning. He said the couple's 4-year-old and 1-month old sons were left alone in the house. Seguin investigators said they're following leads and interviewing people to narrow their focus. "As every day goes by, as every hour passes, we grow more concerned for her safety," said Detective Sgt. Maureen Watson, with the Seguin Police Department. The Department of Safety crime lab is evaluating evidence taken from her home and car. Smith's family said the disappearance is strange. The Department of Safety crime lab is evaluating evidence taken from her home and car. "Waiting is the hardest part," said Allison Scheffel. "We're waiting to hear something from her -- looking at the door -- if she's going to walk through there." Seguin police are asking area law enforcement agencies to help them in the search. For now, however, the search has been suspended. Investigators hope to resume their search of area rivers and grounds next week. http://www.ksat.com/news/6721094/detail.html

Search plans are underway for a search in Seguin, TX for Amber Lyn Smith to begin on Tuesday, February 7th, 2006. Our Director, Tim Miller, will need as many volunteers as possible including those with 4-wheelers and possibly horses. The command center location will be announced soon. Please contact our office 281/309-9500 if you can go. Amber Smith was last seen by her boyfriend at 10pm on 1/28/06 in their home located on Aldama St in Seguin, Texas. She left without her purse and identification and also left behind 2 small children. Ms Smith was last seen wearing red/pink pajamas. She has tattoos on her back, stomach, and right foot. http://www.texasequusearch.org/

Horseback Riders Join Search For Seguin Woman LAST UPDATE: 2/7/2006 10:14:25 PM Posted By: Michael Campion This story is available on your cell phone at mobile.woai.com. High tech equipment is now being used to try to find a missing mom from Seguin. People with Texas Equu-Search have begun looking for Amber Lyn Smith on Tuesday. The 28-year old mother of two has been missing for about a week and a half. Search teams have been are using unmanned aircraft to take pictures of fields around Seguin. So far investigators have no suspects in this case. http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=7FC19115-7406-4BE6-A844-6878943D558C

Texas Missing Persons Clearinghouse Online Bulletin Missing Person Details

Name: Amber Lyn Smith Case Number: M0106013 Case Type: Endangered Last Seen in: Seguin (Guadalupe County) Last Seen on: 1/28/2006 Height: 5' 2 " Weight: 105 lbs. Age Missing: 28 Eye Color: Blue Hair Color: Blonde Date of Birth: 12/20/1977 Race: White Sex: Female State Missing From: Texas Country Missing From: USA Circumstances: Ms. Smith has tattoos on her back, stomach and right foot. She was last seen wearing red/pink pajamas. She left without her purse and identification and also left behind her two small children. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You can contact the Missing Persons Clearinghouse at : Missing Persons Clearinghouse Texas Department of Public Safety P O Box 4087 Austin, Texas 78773-0422 Phone: (512) 424-5074 Helpline: (800) 346-3243 http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/mpch/mpdetails.asp?id='M1/30/20061:04:11PM'

Family of missing mom solicits help from organized search team (Seguin)-- A top-notch search and recovery team has arrived in Seguin. The family of Amber Smith has solicited the help of Texas EquuSearch. The squad of volunteers known for its participation in high-profile cases such as in the search for Natalee Holloway, an Alabama teen who went missing during a senior class trip to Aruba, spent the day Tuesday searching high and low for any sign of the young mother. Smith, 28, was last seen at around 10 p.m. Jan. 29 at her home located in the 1300 block of Aldama Street. Search volunteer Steve Pitzer says the group based near Houston was contacted by the family on Monday and within one day managed to pull together a handful of people to assist the Seguin Police Department in its search for the mother of two. "Why Seguin? Well because of the time frame of when she's been missing," said Pitzer. "We've been called out on searches. We were called last week on a search to go to California for a girl who's been missing for two years. Because this is such a fresh case, it's obviously better to get some people on it as quickly as possible or more so than a case that might be two or three years old. Right now, it just so happened we had people free, that it was a fairly fresh case that the Seguin Police Department was working hard on and needed just a few extra hands out here to help search." Pitzer says since its arrival, the group has already conducted a preliminary search of several areas along State Highway 46 and FM 467. He says the group, which is expecting more volunteers today, will begin a more thorough search both on land and along the Guadalupe River. The group spent the day Tuesday searching small wooded areas along Huber Road and conducted an aerial search of property on the city's west side. Pitzer says EquuSearch hopes the next few days will prove successful. "You always hold out hope until you find somebody, and our biggest hope is that maybe she just decided that it was time to go away and be by herself for a while. All of us sit here and hold out hope that the phone is going to ring and she's going to say, 'I'm here. I'm fine. I'm good.' Obviously, we're out here looking for something. What? We don't know yet until we come across something that might be of interest to the police department," said Pitzer. The non-profit organization funded solely through donations was founded five years ago by Tim Miller. The group was established in memory of Miller's daughter who was abducted and murdered in the early 1980s. Pitzer says whether it be Natalee in Aruba or Amber in Seguin both cases are just as important. "Obviously, we're still holding out hope to find Natalee and bring her home. Tim Miller, the director, his feeling is always we're not going to give up until we bring them home. You know a family always needs closure. Tim learned that firsthand. His daughter was missing about a year and a half, and that's where his passion comes in. Whether we believe a person is alive or dead, (it) really doesn't make a difference to us. We want to make sure we get that person home. Obviously, we want them home safe. As far as the Aruba case goes, it's not going to be done until Natalee is brought home. That's words direct from Tim," said Pitzer. Seguin Police detectives say they appreciate the assistance by the group and welcome its state-of-the-art search and recovery equipment. It's been more than a week since Smith has been seen or heard from. Smith was reported missing by her husband, Ronnie James, after he returned home to find both of their children unattended. Police say Smith also left home without her purse or any of her personal belongings. Anyone with information on Smith's whereabouts is asked to contact the Seguin Police Department at 379-2123. http://www.seguindailynews.com/

Search expands through Guadalupe County By Bryan Kirk The Gazette-Enterprise Published February 9, 2006 SEGUIN — The search for a missing 28-year-old woman went beyond the borders of Seguin on Wednesday with law enforcement and search and rescue teams expanding their efforts to western Guadalupe County. Amber Lyn Smith vanished from her home nearly two weeks ago, leaving her two young children alone. She was reportedly last seen by her common-law husband at 10 p.m., Jan. 28. He reported her missing the next day. Officials from Houston-based Texas EquuSearch Mounted Search and Recovery Team joined officers at the Seguin Police Department early Wednesday and discussed expanding what police called “areas of interest.” “What we are doing is expanding our area of search from the perimeter of the previous search area,” said Seguin Police Lt. Mike Watts. “We are expanding the area of interest based on new intelligence.” Using sophisticated electronic equipment, police expanded their search efforts to include areas of McKnight Road south of FM 466, Zuehl Road near the Bexar-Guadalupe County Line and the length of Interstate 10 from Seguin to San Antonio. Much of that search was conducted through the air. “We covered a lot of ground with the helicopter,” Watts said. Police also searched FM 464 near Blumberg Park. The expanded search came a day after police received much-needed help from Texas EquuSearch and three days after investigators suspended five days of foot search efforts in order to narrow the area. “The expanded areas will be standard areas that we know she traveled,” said detective Sgt. Jerry Hernandez, the lead investigator in the case. Police used a drone aircraft that has digital photography equipment to scan areas of FM 467 Tuesday afternoon. Police gathered more than 500 aerial photographs that are still being examined by police and search and rescue personnel. “It’s a concurrent process,” said Gene Robinson of RF Flight Systems in Wimberley. “We are still analyzing.” Search and rescue teams were joined by members of the Seguin Fire Department, who launched a boat to help in the search. Teams searched the Guadalupe River south of Red Mill Dam and areas of Lake Placid. Meanwhile, while no one has heard from Smith since her disappearance, police are still hopeful they will find her alive and well. “You have to hope for the best and at the same time plan for the worst,” Watts said. “Best-case scenario would be that we get a phone call from Amber saying ‘I’m alright.’” Police will resume search efforts this morning. http://www.seguingazette.com/story.lasso?ewcd=115e018175d91c09

Search team offers reward By Bryan Kirk The Gazette-Enterprise Published February 10, 2006 SEGUIN — The search for a missing 28-year-old woman will have to wait a little longer after Houston-based Texas EquuSearch and members of Search and Rescue Team 8 out of Austin temporarily withdrew from the search for Amber Lyn Smith. “I think we have covered about all of the ground that we can cover,” said Texas EquuSearch Director Tim Miller. “There’s nothing left for us to do right now anymore on the ground.” Teams spent much of Thursday searching areas of FM 725 south of Deadman’s Creek and in the area of Sutherland Springs Road for Smith, who has been missing for two weeks. “What’s nice is all these people who came out to help us and who’ve volunteered to come back and help us,” said Detective Sgt. Maureen Watson. “We are going to keep hoping, and we are going to keep doing everything we can.” Texas EquuSearch arrived in Seguin on Tuesday to help in the search for the missing mother of two. In that three-day period, search teams combed vast areas of the county on foot and searched by air using drones and helicopters. Teams also searched areas of the Guadalupe River near Red Mill Dam Wednesday, returned there Thursday with sonar equipment but found no sign of the missing woman. Meanwhile, Miller announced EquuSearch will offer a $5,000 reward for information leading to Smith’s whereabouts. Texas EquuSearch has conducted 521 searches for missing persons since it was founded in 2000. Miller said in its six-year history, Texas EquuSearch has rarely offered a reward for a missing person, but Miller said his reasons were personal. “When I held that little 1-month-old baby yesterday and realized how bad that mother needed that baby and Amber’s mother broke down and cried, that’s when I realized that whatever it takes to locate her, we are willing to do,” Miller said. “I think we’ll use that $5,000 reward as just another resource to generate some information.” Miller said even though they were leaving, he did not rule out returning to continue the search for Smith. “Whenever we’re needed in Seguin, we’ll be here,” Miller said. Seguin Police Lt. Mike Watts said the search for Smith may be the most extensive ever conducted in Guadalupe County. “This is the largest scale search I have ever been involved with,” Watts said. “We have used more resources and used more avenues than I can remember. We are doing everything in our power and everything we can to bring this to a positive conclusion.” Watts said police will halt ground searches pending further investigation but will continue with periodic searches of the Guadalupe River. http://www.seguingazette.com/story.lasso?ewcd=22038a702e78c009

Search Alert !!!! The ground search for Amber Lyn Smith has been suspended at this time. Our dive team along with the Seguin Fire Department will continue searching the Guadalupe River. Special thanks to the Seguin Police Department, other search teams (to be announced), all the volunteers and Seguin community for your gracious help and hospitality. Please keep Amber and her family in your prayers. http://www.texasequusearch.org/index.html

Reward Offered in Missing Mom Case LAST UPDATE: 2/13/2006 Posted By: Walker Robinson A reward was announced Monday for the return of a missing Seguin mother, News 4 WOAI learned. Texas Equusearch officials were offering a $5,000 reward for information about Amber Lyn Smith. The 26-year-old mother has been missing since last month. The Houston-based search team has suspended the ground search for Smith, but told News 4 WOAI dive teams will continue to search the Guadalupe River. If you have any information in the Smith case, call the Seguin Police department at (830) 379-2123, or Texas Equusearch toll free at (877) 270-9500. http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=3757942A-CE64-48E0-AE19-A66BBBD0C6E0

Body may be that of Seguin mom Web Posted: 02/17/2006 Roger Croteau Express-News Staff Writer SCHUMANSVILLE — A Texas Department of Transportation worker found the badly decomposed body of a woman under a bridge along FM 725, south of New Braunfels, on Thursday afternoon. The body had not been identified, but police met Thursday evening with the family of Amber Lyn Smith, a missing Seguin woman. "I let them know to be prepared for the possibility that it might be Amber," said Seguin police Sgt. Maureen Watson. "We do not have any other missing persons locally, but it's a big state and we don't want to jump to any conclusions." Smith, 28, the mother of two boys, 1 month and 4 years, went missing Jan. 28 from her home on Aldama Street. Her common law husband, Ronnie James, said he went out at 10 that night, and when he returned before 7 a.m., she was gone and the children were alone. James is reportedly staying with family in Corpus Christi. The children are staying with relatives. The largest search in Guadalupe County history ensued, with law enforcement personnel and volunteer agencies sending dozens of people into the brush, searching on foot, on four-wheelers, on horseback, from boats and helicopters. An unmanned drone plane with a high-resolution camera was also used to take hundreds of photos. But the search turned up nothing. Watson said searchers scoured areas along FM 725, but came only within 10 or 15 miles of where the body was found. The body was under a small bridge on a short loop that connects to FM 725 on both ends. Watson said Smith's mother and sister "absolutely do not want any contact at all" with the media. "Obviously, they are very upset," she said. "It's a difficult situation for them." The TxDOT worker was doing bridge inspections and stumbled upon the body at about 4 p.m. Police called in the Texas Department of Public Safety mobile crime lab, which arrived after dark, at about 8 p.m. Seguin Police Chief Luis Collazo said the body was badly decomposed and lying face down in a dry creek bed, making it impossible to tell if it was a woman. The remains were not disturbed while investigators waited for the crime lab team. But Watson said the body was that of a female, as did a news release issued by the department Thursday night. The body was to be taken to the Travis County medical examiner's office for identification and autopsy. http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA021706.01B.guadalupe_body.1d002243.html

Seguin Police: Decomposed Body Found Is That Of Missing Woman Smith's Body Found Underneath Bridge POSTED: 6:47 am CST February 17, 2006 UPDATED: 2:59 pm CST February 17, 2006 SAN ANTONIO -- Seguin police said Friday that a body found in Guadalupe County is that of a missing mother of two. Dental records, DNA and tattoos helped authorities identify the decomposed body as that of Amber Lyn Smith, who had been missing since Jan. 28. Smith's body was found face down Thursday underneath a bridge near FM 725 between Seguin and New Braunfels. The bridge is located less than 10 miles from Smith's home. Among the tattoos was one that had the name of Smith's common-law-husband, Ronnie James, on it. Police said they consider James a person of interest. James reported Smith missing following a night of partying. Her 1-month-old and 4-year-old children were home alone at the time. Several searches were conducted since she was reported missing, but Smith was never found. http://www.ksat.com/news/7148490/detail.html?subid=22100443&qs=1;bp=t

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