LIHUE — Almost a decade after a Kauai woman was found murdered and left in the wilderness in Kealia, one of her closest friends say she and the victim’s family and friends will never give up hope for justice. “We
LIHUE — Almost a decade after a Kauai woman was found murdered and left in the wilderness in Kealia, one of her closest friends say she and the victim’s family and friends will never give up hope for justice.
“We certainly feel that this is a small community. Somebody knows something, and I think people get scared and for one reason or another don’t speak up to the KPD,” said Teri Ceplo, a friend of Amber Jackson.
Friday marks the seventh anniversary of the brutal murder of Jackson, whose body was left in a remote area in 2010 and found July 3 by local pig hunters. According to an autopsy report, the 57-year-old Jackson died from injuries of an assault.
“We’re hoping that by every year bringing this to light again that perhaps as time goes by, somebody will step forward,” Ceplo said.
Ceplo, along with friends and family of Jackson, will place reward posters Friday throughout the area Jackson’s body was found.
There is a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for Jackson’s murder.
“We’re hoping people will look out for those and get the word out if anybody knows anything or knows of anyone who might be involved in this brutal murder; we hope they step forward,” Ceplo said.
Ceplo and Jackson moved to Kauai in 2000 and immediately developed a close bond.
“Amber was a productive person. She always held down a job. She was reliable and just loved by everybody,” she said. “She never had a bad word to say to anybody. She was a kind person. That’s one of the reasons why this isn’t going away.”
When Jackson didn’t show up for dinner with Ceplo on a summer night in 2010, red flags immediately went up for Ceplo.
“The Amber Jackson justice group does what it can to keep this case going and alive,” Ceplo said. “As far as anything new, seven years down the line, there’s not really any new developments.”
During the time of her death, Jackson worked for the Hawaii State Teachers Association. She was originally from Riverside, California.
“Her previous work with Legal Aid, Marin (County) Treatment Center, and the Marin Services for Women as well as her love of the outdoors and a sustainable Hawaii illustrate the type of person she was and why she partnered so well with our staff, members, and the community. Amber’s dedication, sense of humor, and kind ways will be missed by all who knew and cared for her,” according to the HSTA.
For more information, contact We Can’t Forget Amber Jackson: https://www.facebook.com/rememberingamberjackson.
