LIHU‘E — A decade ago today, a pig farmer uncovered Amber Jackson’s remains in a remote wooded area of Kealia, and hope to close this cold case is being aided by advancements in technology.
Jackson, 57, described as caring, funny and beloved, was first reported missing on June 23, 2010, by friends.
She died from blunt force trauma to the head and had sustained injuries that had been caused by an assault, according to an autopsy report.
While her death was labeled a second-degree murder, no charges were filed, and no arrests have been made in the cold case.
Last year, an Investigation Discovery’s “Breaking Homicide” episode titled “A Murder in Paradise” provided a fresh pair of eyes on the case. Working alongside the KPD, host of the series private investigator Derrick Levasseur examined evidence in a new lens, Matthew Alexander, Jackson’s nephew said.
The case suffered from a lack of tangible evidence, Alexander explained, but with new technology and the evidence that KPD maintained all these years, more DNA could be extracted. This evidence, Alexander hoped, can be added to the circumstantial evidence that has been around for years that couldn’t quite be used to turn a conviction.
“Now it (the DNA) can be examined to today’s levels of expertise,” he said. “There’s a lot of hope that will turn up something that might be conclusive.”
Spurred from this investigation, new DNA evidence is currently awaiting federal processing, that was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Hopefully within the next 3-4 months with the DNA results, we should have a go-or-no-go,” Alexander said. “And we’re hoping for the go.”
Jackson, who worked at the Hawai‘i State Teacher’s Association, had lived in Kapahi for about 10 years. She was originally from Riverside, California and owned a lettuce farm on Hawai‘i Island. Jackson’s case is one 13 cold cases open by the county’s Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, dating as far back to 1979.
There is no statute of limitations for homicides.
“We have not given up in our pursuit to find the suspect(s) involved in this appalling tragedy,” Investigative Services Bureau Assistant Chief Bryson Ponce said in a press release. “What keeps us going and what has given us hope is that, even though it’s 10 years later, there are evolving scientific methods that are being undertaken to potentially help discover the killer(s).”
Alexander, who has worked with various officers throughout the year, and hopes for the day he can grab dinner with Pone and get justice.
“AC Ponce has always been very respectful, helpful, thoughtful,” Alexander said. “I view him as a close friend at this point after 10 years at this point.”
The Amber Jackson Justice Group, formed by friends and family, continues to work with KPD and continues to offer a $20,000 reward for any information that could lead to the arrest of potential suspects.
“We believe this case is solvable and that we may be closer to finding out who might have played a part in her untimely death,” Ponce said.
Those with more information can reach Ponce at 241-1681, contact the OPA Colde Case Unit at 808-241-1757 or FBI at 808-566-4300. Anonymous tips can also be made to Crime Stoppers Kaua‘i at 246-8300 or at crimestopperskauai.org.
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Sabrina Bodon, public safety and government reporter, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.
About time that outside agencies and people helped KPD out.
Kpd couldn’t solve a murder case even if the people who set it up told them.
There’s a closed case that have active participants lurking around Kauai and has possible involvement me in other cases.
These people were in trusted positions. Can Alexander open up the Aurero Moore case and find out who else was involved in his murder?
What about Lauren Kagawa?
What about Nola Thompson? Classified as an unattended death.
What about some of the murders made to look like suicides?
No need be shame KPD because you guys can’t do your jobs. There’s other agencies that can help. All you have to do is call and all of you politicians have the right to seek further assistance by contacting outside agencies to help support.
Nepotism is a big part of the problem on Kauai.
Defamations
KPD has been spreading defamations saying that I was respond for her death.
Only to use that as a tool to stalk me.
This is huge news because I’ve been requesting assistance from outside agencies and posted on social media about all of the unsolved murders in Kauai.
I spoke out against police abuse and held a meeting to discuss police misconduct and I was retaliated by kpd for over a decade and they continue to retaliate and use stalkers.
Defamation was spread at my job, KCC, and anyone kpd could use to conspire and collude.
This is one of many public corruption cases that kpd and the judicial system on Kauai has abused and covered up.
KPD leaked information, used drug dealers, rapists (former kpd cop), drug rings, mma schools, coworkers, students, faculty, staff, county and state depts, and citizens for their retaliation.
KPD gave jobs t people who was used to stalk me.
They have tried to set up the Aurero Moore like murder at Anahola beach using many people. The county and state officials involved in Moore’s murder is free and ready to set up or commit another murder because they got away with his premeditated murder. It was eat up to protect a grandson and nephew of a family with connections to public corruption.
They spread defamation against those who go against the powers and those involved in public corruption.
If you speak out then they will abuse their power at all necessary means for retaliation.
There is no checks and balances of power and abuse of power positions on Kauai. The Kealoha case is an example that this has been the norm in the state for decades.
The feds sent their best to tackle the problem and they have only scratched the surface with recent news and the Kealoha public corruption case.
Inquiring minds would like to know what else has the former KPD police chief covered up?
He got his karma when he too got ran over by a vehicle and now suffers from the injuries he sustained but that does not take away his actions for covering up the incident where a 19 yr old boy died by the vehicle of a kpd responding officer.
Defamation is the norm to conspire and collude and is a widely used tactic by the powers on Kauai.
Let’s focus on solving the many unsolved murders in Kauai.
Klein’s body was finally found after being killed in the late 1970’s.
The couple that was killed at Loop road was killed because they stumbled upon the huge marijuana farms that were around that area during those times.
The Kauai serial killer was and still is protected by kpd and they know it.
Is there any DNA evidence In the Kauai serial killer unsolved murders?
Is there DNA in the Lauren Kagawa murder?