Original subtitles

Narrator: AMBER GERWECK DISAPPEARED

ON SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2011.

WHEN A PERSON DISAPPEARS WITHOUT A TRACE,

OFTEN, THE MOST CRITICAL INFORMATION

IS HIDDEN IN THEIR ACTIONS AND WORDS

FROM THE DAYS BEFORE THEY VANISHED.

AMBER GERWECK'S LAST KNOWN WHEREABOUTS

MAY HOLD THE CLUES TO WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.

MOTHER OF FOUR AMBER GERWECK

VANISHES SUDDENLY FROM HER JACKSON, MICHIGAN, HOME.

MY HEART JUST WENT INTO MY THROAT.

Narrator: CLUES FOUND HALFWAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY

PAINT A FRIGHTENING PICTURE.

I SAW THE VIDEO, AND I JUST LITERALLY COULD NOT BREATHE.

Narrator: THEN OLD WOUNDS

THREATEN TO TEAR AMBER'S FAMILY APART.

I HAD BEEN THROUGH THIS ONCE BEFORE,

WHEN MY BROTHER DISAPPEARED.

WITH HIM, THEY FOUND A BODY.

HOW COULD WE AS A FAMILY ENDURE A DISAPPEARANCE AGAIN?

Narrator: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

STUNS EVEN THE MOST HARDENED COPS.

EVERY NOW AND THEN, NO MATTER HOW MANY CASES YOU'VE DONE,

SOMEBODY WILL THROW A CURVE BALL AT YOU FROM LEFT FIELD.

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator: IT'S A CRISP SPRING MORNING

IN JACKSON, MICHIGAN,

A SMALL CITY IN THE MIDWESTERN HUB OF THE RUST BELT.

HOMEMAKER DIANE SPICE LIVES FIVE MILES NORTH

IN THE SLEEPY SUBURB OF BLACKMAN TOWNSHIP.

IT WAS A NORMAL, REGULAR DAY, AND THE PHONE RANG AT...EARLY.

IT WAS LIKE 7:50.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

Narrator: THE CALL IS ABOUT DIANE'S NIECE AMBER.

IT WAS AMBER'S BOSS, TELLING ME

THAT SHE HAD NOT BEEN TO WORK FOR TWO DAYS.

Narrator: 32-YEAR-OLD AMBER GERWECK

WORKS AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

AT A LOCAL CONSULTING FIRM.

AMBER WORKED FOR A COMPANY

THAT CONTRACTED WITH HOMELAND SECURITY.

SHE ENJOYED HER JOB.

SHE HAD JUST GOTTEN A PROMOTION AND WAS REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

Dale: SHE WAS REALLY EXCITED.

SHE WAS GOING FROM WORKING IN A CUBICLE

TO HAVING AN OFFICE OF HER OWN.

Narrator: BUT IT ISN'T JUST WORK THAT KEEPS AMBER BUSY.

SHE WAS TAKING A MEDICAL-ADMINISTRATION COURSE

PART-TIME AT SCHOOL,

WORKING FULL-TIME.

SHE WAS MAINTAINING A 4.0 AVERAGE

WHILE TAKING CARE OF A FAMILY.

Jackie: AMBER HAS FOUR CHILDREN.

SHE AND HER EX-HUSBAND SHARE CUSTODY.

AMBER WAS AT A GOOD PLACE IN HER LIFE.

Narrator: TO DIANE, HER NIECE'S SUDDEN ABSENCE FROM WORK

SEEMS OUT OF CHARACTER.

Spice: FOR HER NOT TO SHOW UP FOR TWO DAYS WITHOUT CALLING IN

WAS VERY UNUSUAL, SO I THOUGHT, "WELL, MAYBE SHE'S SICK."

Narrator: AMBER HAS RECENTLY MOVED TO A ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT

A FEW MINUTES FROM HER AUNT DIANE'S HOME.

DIANE DECIDES TO CHECK IN ON HER.

[ KNOCKING ON DOOR ]

BUT SHE'S GREETED BY NOTHING BUT A COLD SILENCE.

I KNOCKED ON THE DOOR PRETTY LOUDLY.

AS LOUD AS I COULD.

I POUNDED ON IT FOR A FEW MINUTES.

AND I LISTENED IN TO SEE IF I COULD HEAR ANY SOUNDS.

BUT THERE WAS NOTHING.

Narrator: MINUTES LATER, DIANE BREAKS THE TROUBLING NEWS

TO AMBER'S MOTHER, JACKIE SEGER.

SHE ASKED IF WE HAD HEARD ANYTHING FROM AMBER RECENTLY,

AND I SAID, "WELL, WE TALKED TO HER SATURDAY."

Narrator: JACKIE AND HER HUSBAND, DALE,

SPEAK WITH THEIR DAUGHTER REGULARLY.

AMBER LIVES IN MICHIGAN, AND I LIVE IN GEORGIA,

AND THAT'S A LONG WAYS AWAY,

SO IN ORDER TO STAY IN TOUCH,

AMBER AND I TALK TO ONE ANOTHER ON THE PHONE.

Narrator: ON APRIL 9th, TWO DAYS EARLIER,

AMBER WAS HER USUAL TALKATIVE SELF.

Jackie: SHE SAID THAT THE KIDS

WERE WITH THEIR FATHER THAT WEEKEND

AND THAT SHE WAS GONNA STUDY FOR THE DAY.

Narrator: BUT AMBER NEVER MENTIONED PLANS TO MISS WORK.

IMMEDIATELY CONCERNED, JACKIE TRIES HER DAUGHTER'S CELLPHONE.

THERE WAS NO ANSWER WHATSOEVER.

IT JUST WOULD GO TO HER VOICEMAIL.

WELL, WE DECIDED AT THAT POINT,

THERE NEEDED TO BE A MISSING-PERSONS REPORT FILED.

Narrator: DIANE FILES A REPORT

WITH THE BLACKMAN TOWNSHIP DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

WELL, THE NEXT STEP WAS, OF COURSE,

GOING TO HER APARTMENT AND SEARCHING.

WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO CHECK AND MAKE SURE

THAT SHE WASN'T PHYSICALLY INJURED

AND LAYING IN THE APARTMENT, OR WORSE.

Narrator: WITHIN THE HOUR,

PATROL OFFICERS ARRIVE AT AMBER'S APARTMENT.

BUT AMBER IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

Spice: THE POLICE HAD CRIME-SCENE-INVESTIGATIVE PEOPLE

THERE SEARCHING THE APARTMENT.

THEY HAD CALLED THE DETECTIVES AT THAT POINT.

Narrator: LEADING THE INVESTIGATION

IS VETERAN DETECTIVE ROBERT SCHROCK.

Schrock: AS WE ENTERED,

WE MADE CONTACT WITH THE PATROL OFFICERS THAT WERE ON-SCENE.

Narrator: AT FIRST GLANCE,

NOTHING APPEARS OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

THERE WAS NO SIGN OF, LIKE, A STRUGGLE OR ALTERCATION.

THE APARTMENT WASN'T IN ANY TYPE OF DISARRAY.

THERE WAS FOOD IN THE FRIDGE.

SHE ALSO DIDN'T APPEAR TO HAVE PACKED ANY CLOTHES --

ALL INDICATORS THAT SHE PROBABLY WASN'T GOING SOMEWHERE FOR LONG.

Narrator: BUT THEN ONE ITEM SUDDENLY CATCHES HIS ATTENTION.

Schrock: AMBER'S PURSE WAS SITTING BY THE DOOR.

MISSING FROM THE PURSE WAS HER WALLET, KEYS TO THE VEHICLE,

AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AT THE APARTMENT.

Narrator: THE EVIDENCE FOUND IN THE APARTMENT

LEADS POLICE TO BELIEVE THAT AMBER HAD LEFT WILLINGLY...

...UNTIL DETECTIVE SCHROCK

REACHES THE BEDROOM AT THE END OF THE HALL.

Schrock: AS I WALKED INTO THE BEDROOM,

I LOCATED A CELLPHONE SITTING ON THE BED.

AND THE CELLPHONE WAS STILL ON.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

Narrator: A LAPTOP AND VARIOUS SCHOOL BOOKS

ARE ALSO STREWN ACROSS THE BED.

SO, IT LOOKED LIKE SHE HAD JUST GOT UP AND TOOK OFF.

Narrator: THE OBJECTS LEFT BEHIND IN THE BEDROOM

RAISE A NEW LEVEL OF CONCERN.

IT MADE IT MORE SUSPICIOUS

BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE WON'T LEAVE THEIR CELLPHONE.

Spice: WE WERE COMPLETELY MYSTIFIED.

WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED HER

TO LEAVE THE APARTMENT WITHOUT HER CELLPHONE

BECAUSE IT WAS ATTACHED TO HER

LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT WAS PART OF HER SKIN.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

Narrator: DETECTIVE SCHROCK

BEGINS TO PIECE TOGETHER POSSIBLE SCENARIOS.

Schrock: IT'S ONE OF TWO THINGS.

IT'S EITHER AMBER DIDN'T WANT TO BE CONTACTED

OR SOMEBODY GOT A HOLD OF HER.

Dale: DID SOMEBODY BREAK IN?

DID SOMEBODY GET INTO THE APARTMENT?

AND DID SOMEBODY TAKE HER FORCEFULLY?

Narrator: BUT WHO WOULD WANT TO HARM AMBER GERWECK?

POLICE SPEAK WITH A NUMBER OF FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES,

INCLUDING AMBER'S EX-HUSBAND,

BUT NO ONE STANDS OUT AS A SUSPECT.

HOWEVER, DOWN IN GEORGIA, THE SEGERS ARE CONVINCED

THEIR DAUGHTER WOULD NEVER DISAPPEAR

UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

WHEN SHE WALKED OUT OF THAT APARTMENT,

WE'RE THINKING THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG.

Jackie: AMBER NEVER WOULD HAVE LEFT HER CHILDREN --

JUST UP AND LEFT HER CHILDREN.

Narrator: AMBER'S CAREER IN SECURITY CONTRACTING

GIVES HER ACCESS

TO AN INVENTORY OF SENSITIVE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION.

HER FAMILY WONDERS

IF AMBER'S DISAPPEARANCE IS SOMEHOW CONNECTED TO HER JOB.

Jackie: SHE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE KNOWN A NUMBER OF THINGS

THAT COULD HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT TO SOMEBODY

THAT WAS MAYBE A TERRORIST OR SOMETHING.

IMAGINATION GOES WILD.

YOU JUST -- YOU CAN THINK OF SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS

THAT COULD BE GOING ON, SO MANY "WHYs" AND SO MANY "WHAT IFs."

Narrator: THE CLUES FOUND IN AMBER'S APARTMENT IN MICHIGAN

LEAVE THE FAMILY WITH A HOST OF AGONIZING QUESTIONS.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

BUT NONE POINTS POLICE TOWARDS AN ANSWER.

IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GET GOING ON THIS

BECAUSE THE LAST TIME ANYONE HAD SPOKE TO HER WAS ON THE 9th.

A COUPLE DAYS HAD ALREADY GONE BY,

SO WE WERE ALREADY BEHIND

ON TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

Narrator: WHEN DETECTIVE SCHROCK RETURNS TO THE STATION,

HE ENTERS AMBER INTO

THE NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION CENTER, OR NCIC.

THE SYSTEM WILL RAISE A RED FLAG

IF AMBER OR HER VEHICLE APPEAR ON POLICE RADAR FOR ANY REASON.

AT THAT POINT, WE WERE KIND OF IN THIS LIMBO,

LIKE, "WHAT DO WE DO?"

WE ARE SITTING HERE IN GEORGIA.

SHE'S MISSING IN MICHIGAN.

YOU KNOW, WHO DO WE CONTACT? WHO DO WE TALK TO?

WHERE DO WE TURN FOR HELP?

Narrator: THEN, ONLY THREE HOURS LATER,

THE CASE TAKES A STARTLING TURN.

Jackie: THEN SUDDENLY, WE GET THIS CALL

THAT THE CAR TURNED UP IN GEORGIA

AS AN ABANDONED CAR IN TUNNEL HILL.

I REMEMBER HAVING TO HAVE THAT REPEATED TO ME

'CAUSE I MUST HAVE HEARD IT WRONG.

HER CAR COULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN TUNNEL HILL, GEORGIA.

Jackie: AND HERE'S HER CAR,

600 MILES AWAY FROM JACKSON, WHERE SHE LIVES.

AND WE'RE LIKE...

"NOW WHAT?"

Narrator: COMING UP...

POLICE UNCOVER A PUZZLING NEW CLUE.

I SAW THE VIDEO, AND I JUST LITERALLY COULD NOT BREATHE.

Narrator: MOTHER OF FOUR AMBER GERWECK

HAS GONE MISSING FROM HER HOME IN JACKSON, MICHIGAN,

BUT JUST THREE HOURS

AFTER HER FAMILY FILED A MISSING-PERSONS REPORT,

AMBER'S CAR TURNED UP

IN THE PARKING LOT OF A DOLLAR GENERAL STORE IN GEORGIA,

OVER 600 MILES FORM JACKSON.

Heather: AND EVERYTHING CHANGED.

THE SEARCH HAD SUDDENLY MOVED FROM MICHIGAN TO GEORGIA.

Narrator: WHAT'S MOST PERPLEXING

IS NOT THE S.U.V.'s DISTANCE FROM AMBER'S HOME IN JACKSON,

BUT RATHER, ITS PROXIMITY TO HER PARENTS' HOME IN CALHOUN.

Jackie: THAT'S ABOUT 35 MILES NORTH OF US.

IT'S WAY OFF THE HIGHWAY.

IT'S JUST KIND OF AN OUT-OF-THE-WAY PLACE.

Narrator: ACCORDING TO TUNNEL HILL POLICE,

THE S.U.V. WAS ABANDONED IN THE PARKING LOT

AT LEAST TWO DAYS EARLIER.

Jackie: DID SHE DRIVE THE CAR DOWN HERE?

DID SOMEONE FORCE HER TO DRIVE THE CAR DOWN?

DID SOMEONE DO SOMETHING TO HER AND THEN TAKE HER CAR?

Narrator: ONE DAY AFTER AMBER IS REPORTED MISSING,

THE CASE IS TURNED OVER TO DETECTIVE ERIC BURNETTE

OF THE WHITFIELD COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IN GEORGIA.

DETECTIVE BURNETTE INVITES THE SEGERS DOWN TO THE STATION

TO DISCUSS SOME NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CASE.

I MET WITH MISS GERWECK'S PARENTS

THE FIRST AT MY OFFICE -- AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

ASKED THEM ABOUT THEIR DAUGHTER,

WHAT KIND OF A PERSON SHE WAS, WHAT KIND OF FRIENDS SHE HAS.

I TOLD THEM WHAT WE'D FOUND IN THE CAR.

Dale: HE SAID INITIALLY, THERE APPEARED TO BE

NO SIGNS OF A STRUGGLE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.

THERE WAS NO SIGNS OF VIOLENCE. THERE WAS NO BLOOD EVIDENCE.

Narrator: HOWEVER,

WHAT POLICE DID FIND IN THE FRONT SEAT OF AMBER'S CAR

RAISES A SLEW OF NEW QUESTIONS.

Burnette: MISS GERWECK'S WALLET WAS LOCATED IN THE CAR.

THERE WAS NO MONEY THERE.

IT WAS JUST A DEBIT CARD AND HER DRIVER'S LICENSE.

Narrator: POLICE ALSO FOUND AMBER'S KEYS

LOCKED INSIDE THE S.U.V.

THAT WAS VERY STRANGE TO ME.

Narrator: IF AMBER DROVE THE CAR,

WHY WOULD SHE LEAVE HER MOST IMPORTANT POSSESSIONS BEHIND?

BUT THEN, IF AMBER WERE ABDUCTED,

WHY WOULD THE KIDNAPPER LEAVE HER POSSESSIONS OUT IN THE OPEN?

WE RAN ALL KINDS OF SCENARIOS WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO HER,

BUT THE MORE WE DID THAT, THE MORE CONFUSED WE GOT.

WAS SHE RUNNING FROM ANYBODY? SOMEONE DONE SOMETHING TO HER?

THOSE WERE QUESTIONS

THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE ANSWERS FOR PRETTY QUICK.

THERE HAD TO BE SOMETHING WRONG

FOR HER TO LOCK HER BILLFOLD AND HER KEYS IN,

AND THE ONLY THOUGHT THAT GOES THROUGH MY MIND WAS,

SHE DID THAT DELIBERATELY

SO SOMEBODY WOULD KNOW THAT SHE HAD BEEN THERE,

LIKE LEAVING THE BREAD-CRUMB TRAIL.

Narrator: THEN, DETECTIVE BURNETTE REVEALS

THE MOST VALUABLE PIECE OF EVIDENCE FOUND IN THE S.U.V. --

A SMALL PAPER RECEIPT.

THE RECEIPT LISTS A NUMBER OF PURCHASES

MADE AT THE DOLLAR GENERAL STORE.

BUT SINCE THE RECEIPT WAS LOCKED INSIDE AMBER'S S.U.V.,

WHOEVER WAS DRIVING THE CAR

MUST HAVE BEEN A CUSTOMER AT THE STORE.

AND CHANCES ARE, THIS PERSON WAS CAUGHT

ON ONE OF THE DOLLAR GENERAL'S MANY SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS.

BASED ON THE RECEIPT,

WE KNEW THE TIME AND THE DATE OF WHERE TO LOOK.

WE WANTED TO SEE EXACTLY WHO WAS IN THAT STORE.

WE WENT TO THE DOLLAR GENERAL STORE

AND MET WITH THE MANAGER AT THE STORE TO WATCH THE VIDEO.

Narrator: DETECTIVE BURNETTE CUES THE FOOTAGE UP

TO SUNDAY, APRIL 10th AT 8:04 A.M.,

THE TIME STAMPED ON THE RECEIPT.

WHAT IT REVEALS WILL TURN THE INVESTIGATION ON ITS HEAD.

Burnette: SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOWED A FEMALE IN THERE,

BUYING SEVERAL ITEMS AND LEAVING THE STORE.

SHE WAS A WHITE FEMALE.

SHE HAD A UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY BLUE SWEATSHIRT ON,

BLUE JEANS, AND TENNIS SHOES.

I SAW THE VIDEO, AND I JUST LITERALLY COULD NOT BREATHE.

LOOKED AT THE MONITOR, AND THERE'S MY DAUGHTER.

IT WAS HER.

I MEAN, THERE WAS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND IT WAS HER,

AND IT STOPPED ME DEAD IN MY TRACKS.

Jackie: YOU SEE HER COME IN.

SHE WALKS AROUND. SHE PICKS UP HER ITEMS.

SHE STOPS AT THE CHECK-OUT.

A GUY COMES TO CHECK HER OUT. SHE KIND OF SAYS HELLO TO HIM.

SHE PICKS UP A CHAPSTICK OR SOMETHING

RIGHT THERE BY THE CASH REGISTER,

PAYS FOR HER STUFF.

Dale: AND SHE TURNED TO THE LEFT,

AND SHE JUST DISAPPEARED.

Narrator: AMBER'S APPEARANCE ON VIDEO ENDS HERE.

THERE ARE NO SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS

IN THE DOLLAR GENERAL PARKING LOT.

THAT'S IT.

THAT'S ALL WE HAVE.

WE HAVE NO WAY TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED

WHEN SHE LEFT THE STORE.

Jackie: WE WATCHED IT OVER AND OVER.

I JUST WANTED TO REACH OUT AND TOUCH HER.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY, "WHERE ARE YOU, AMBER?"

Narrator: THE FOOTAGE LEAVES THE SEGERS

WITH MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS.

SHE HASN'T CONTACTED US.

SHE HASN'T ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT US.

AND WHY NOT? WHERE IS SHE?

NEVER DID I FEEL THAT AMBER HAD GOT TO GEORGIA WILLFULLY.

I DON'T KNOW WHY, HOW, BUT I KNOW IT'S NOT OF HER OWN ACCORD.

Jackie: SHE LOOKED UP AT THE CAMERA.

SHE LOOKS RIGHT AT THE SURVEILLANCE CAMERA,

AND WE'RE LIKE, "OKAY, WERE WE SUPPOSED TO NOTICE THAT?"

"WAS SHE TRYING TO TELL US SOMETHING?

Narrator: ALL THEORIES ASIDE,

THE SEGERS MUST ACCEPT A PAINFUL REALITY --

OVER THREE DAYS HAVE PASSED SINCE AMBER WAS LAST SEEN ALIVE.

IT'S LIKE THE BIG ABYSS OF THE UNKNOWN RIGHT BEFORE YOU.

Dale: MY BABY GIRL HAS BEEN THERE,

AND I FEEL STRONGER NOW

THAN EVER BEFORE

THAT SHE'S IN HARM'S WAY,

AND I CAN'T HELP HER.

Narrator: COMING UP...

AS THE SEARCH EFFORT EXPANDS,

POLICE TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO A MURKY SWAMP IN TUNNEL HILL.

DAD AND I BOTH FELT THAT THIS WAS GONNA END BADLY.

Narrator: AMBER GERWECK HAS NOT BEEN HEARD FROM FOR FOUR DAYS.

GEORGIA POLICE SPOTTED HER ON SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE

FROM A CONVENIENCE STORE

IN THE SMALL TOWN OF TUNNEL HILL, GEORGIA,

OVER 600 MILES FROM HER HOME IN MICHIGAN.

ODDLY, IT'S JUST UNDER 30 MILES FROM HER PARENTS' HOUSE.

BUT AMBER HAS NOT BEEN SEEN SINCE,

AND HER PARENTS ARE BEGINNING TO FEAR THE WORST.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT YEAH, YOU SAW HER ALIVE THERE,

BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE MEANTIME.

OKAY, SHE MADE IT TO GEORGIA.

BUT SHE ONLY MADE IT AS FAR AS TUNNEL HILL.

HOW COME SHE'S NOT HERE?

NO NEW LEADS HAVE SURFACED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS,

AND AMBER'S FATHER, DALE, IS GROWING RESTLESS.

VERY MUCH A HELPLESS FEELING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I HAVEN'T SLEPT TWO NIGHTS BEFORE.

EMOTIONALLY, I'M JUST TORN UP.

Narrator: DALE DECIDES TO PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE

IN THE INVESTIGATION.

I FINALLY HAD ENOUGH.

I HAD TO GO LOOKING FOR AMBER.

Narrator: HE DRIVES TO THE SITE

OF AMBER'S LAST KNOWN WHEREABOUTS,

THE DOLLAR GENERAL STORE.

Dale: I HAD TO WALK UP AND DOWN THE AISLES.

I KNOW THAT I'M NOT GONNA FIND HER THERE,

BUT I KNOW THAT THAT'S WHERE SHE WAS,

AND I WALKED UP AND DOWN THESE SAME AISLES.

I'M IN THE AISLE WHERE THEY HAVE

THE LOTIONS AND THE SHAMPOOS AND THE STUFF,

AND I WALK UP AND DOWN THAT,

AND WHILE I'M WALKING, I'M THINKING,

"AMBER, WHAT'S HAPPENED TO YOU?"

Narrator: THERE ARE NO NEW CLUES TO BE FOUND INSIDE,

BUT OUTSIDE, THE STORE'S PROPERTY

BORDERS AN EXPANSIVE, DENSELY WOODED SWAMPLAND.

SO, I WALKED OUT IN BACK, AND I WALKED A GRID AREA BY MYSELF,

LOOKING FOR MY DAUGHTER IN THE TALL GRASS.

I'M NOT GONNA DEVIATE FROM A STRAIGHT LINE FOR NOTHING.

SO, I'M WALKING THROUGH THE BRAMBLES,

I'M WALKING THROUGH THE BERRY BUSHES,

I'M WALKING THROUGH EVERYTHING.

Narrator: DALE IS DRIVEN BY INSTINCT

BUT TERRIFIED OF WHAT HE MIGHT FIND.

Dale: I CLIMBED DOWN IN THE DRAINAGE CULVERT,

WALKED THAT FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER,

WALKED OUT THERE THROUGH THE MUD,

AS MUCH AS I COULD, TO FIND HER.

Narrator: AFTER TRUDGING THROUGH

ACRES OF JAGGED BRAMBLE AND PUTRID SWAMP,

DALE CAN GO NO FURTHER.

I JUST SAT THERE, AND I LOOKED DOWN.

I WAS ALL SCRATCHED UP.

MY LEGS WERE ALL MUDDY AND EVERYTHING.

I REMEMBER BUYING SOME BOTTLED WATER

AND WASHING MY LEGS AND STUFF OFF.

AND I REMEMBER THE DREAD OF GOING HOME

BECAUSE I HAD NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

Narrator: THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ENLISTS THE HELP

OF THE GEORGIA BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION,

A STATE-RUN CRIMINAL-JUSTICE ORGANIZATION.

WELL, THE GBI, THEY HAVE MORE RESOURCES THAN WE DO.

THEY BRING US MORE MANPOWER FOR SEARCHES.

Narrator: HEADING UP THE CASE IS SPECIAL AGENT DANIEL SIMS.

TIME IS OF A CRITICAL ELEMENT.

THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS IS VERY IMPORTANT

IN THE COLLECTION OF FACTS AND EVIDENCE

MAINLY BECAUSE THOSE THINGS ARE PERISHABLE.

THEY CAN GO AWAY.

AS FAR AS INVESTIGATIVE WORK,

AMBER WAS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.

Narrator: THE FIRST OFFICIAL STEP FOR THE BUREAU

IS TO MOUNT AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH THROUGHOUT TUNNEL HILL.

WE ORGANIZED A SEARCH WITH ABOUT 30 EMERGENCY PERSONNEL.

THE AREA AROUND THE DOLLAR GENERAL STORE

IS EXTREMELY RURAL.

IT'S HILLY, IF NOT MOUNTAINOUS.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE WASN'T IN THE WOODS.

OTHER OFFICERS SEARCHED THE RAILROAD TRACKS

THAT TRANSVERSED THAT STRIP MALL

THAT THE DOLLAR GENERAL IS PART OF,

AND WE ALSO HAD SOME INDIVIDUALS SEARCH THE SWAMPY AREA

BEHIND THE DOLLAR GENERAL ITSELF.

AND WE DID NEIGHBORHOOD CANVASS SEARCHES, WENT DOOR TO DOOR.

THIS MAY BE AN AWFUL THING TO ADMIT,

BUT WHEN THEY SAID

THAT THEY WERE GONNA GO BACK THERE AND SEARCH,

I ACTUALLY PRAYED THAT THEY WOULDN'T FIND AMBER

BECAUSE THAT WOULD MEAN A BODY, NOT MY DAUGHTER.

Sims: YOU GO INTO IT WITH THE HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS

THAT YOU'LL FIND HER ALIVE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME,

HAVING TRAVELED DOWN THESE INVESTIGATIVE ROADS BEFORE,

YOU KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN

FOR ANYTHING THAT'S ON THE GROUND OR MOTIONLESS

OR, OF COURSE, THE DISCOVERY OF A HUMAN BODY.

Narrator: BUT AFTER AN EXHAUSTIVE SEARCH,

THE TEAM COMES UP EMPTY.

THOUGH AGENT SIMS IS UNDETERRED,

THE FAILURE TO UNCOVER NEW EVIDENCE IS A BLOW TO MORALE.

THE LONGER THAT ANYONE IS MISSING,

THE CHANCES OF FINDING THEM LESSENS.

DAD AND I BOTH EXPRESSED

THAT WE FELT THAT THIS WAS GONNA END BADLY,

THAT THERE REALLY WASN'T A LOT OF HOPE.

IT WAS VERY HARD TO BE HOPEFUL

BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY AS A FAMILY.

Narrator: ALTHOUGH IT'S HARD TO FATHOM,

AMBER'S DISAPPEARANCE

IS ACTUALLY A FAMILIAR TRAUMA FOR THE SEGER FAMILY.

I HAD BEEN THROUGH THIS ONCE BEFORE,

WHEN MY BROTHER DISAPPEARED.

IT WAS WINTER. IT WAS IN JANUARY.

AND HE TRIED TO GO TO THIS PARTY, AND HE GOT LOST

AND GOT STUCK IN THE SNOW.

WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE HE WAS FOR TWO YEARS.

HE DIED OF HYPOTHERMIA.

IT WAS HORRIBLE FOR OUR FAMILY.

HOW COULD WE AS A FAMILY ENDURE A LONG-TERM DISAPPEARANCE AGAIN?

WOULD WE BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

Narrator: COMING UP...

AMBER'S FATHER SUDDENLY FINDS HIMSELF

AT THE CENTER OF THE INVESTIGATION.

AND I REMEMBER BREAKING DOWN.

I FOUND IT UNCONSCIONABLE

THAT SOMEBODY COULD MAKE THAT ACCUSATION AGAINST ME.

Narrator: GET MORE "DISAPPEARED" ONLINE AT...

Narrator: MISSING MICHIGAN RESIDENT AMBER GERWECK

WAS LAST SEEN ALIVE ON APRIL 10, 2011

IN A SMALL-TOWN GEORGIA CONVENIENCE STORE.

BUT IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS FOLLOWING,

IN SPITE OF A CONCENTRATED SEARCH EFFORT

LED BY STATE AND LOCAL POLICE,

NO NEW LEADS HAVE MATERIALIZED.

WHEN YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A MISSING PERSON

AND THEIR FAMILY'S GRIEVING,

IT'S HARD NOT TO THINK ABOUT THAT

EVEN WHEN YOU'RE OFF DUTY.

AND I FOUND MYSELF THINKING A LOT ABOUT AMBER

AND WHERE SHE MIGHT BE.

Narrator: DISTRAUGHT BY THE LACK OF ANSWERS,

AMBER'S PARENTS DEVOTE EVERY SPARE MOMENT

TO SEARCHING FOR THEIR DAUGHTER.

OBVIOUSLY, THE DETECTIVES

AND THE POLICE AND SHERIFFS AND AGENT SIMS

WERE ALL DOING THEIR PART,

BUT WE NEEDED TO BE DOING SOMETHING, AS WELL.

AMBER'S BROTHER, SEAN, DESIGNS A MISSING-PERSONS POSTER

FOR HIS PARENTS TO DISTRIBUTE AROUND TOWN.

IT HAD THREE PICTURES OF AMBER ON IT.

PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PICTURE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT,

WAS A LARGE ANGEL TATTOO ON HER SHOULDER.

I WAS NEVER HAPPY THAT AMBER GOT TATTOOED

UNTIL WE HAD THIS HUGE ANGEL

THAT WE COULD PUT OUT THERE AND SAY,

"HERE'S AN IDENTIFYING MARK THAT YOU CAN USE TO FIND HER."

Dale: WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER, SHE WAS ENAMORED WITH ANGELS,

AND WE'RE TALKING FROM AN EARLY AGE.

WE'RE TALKING 3 YEARS OLD.

Jackie: I HAD AN ANGEL PIN, AND WHEN I SAW THE PIN --

I'D FORGOTTEN I'D HAD IT -- I PULLED IT OUT AND I PUT IT ON.

IT SERVED TO HELP ME.

YOU KNOW, I WORE IT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Narrator: THE SEGERS LAUNCH A BROAD CAMPAIGN

TO GET THE WORD OUT.

Dale: THAT POSTER WAS DISTRIBUTED.

LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF THOSE THINGS

WERE ALL OVER THE SOUTHEAST UNITED STATES.

WE HAD PUT HER LISTING ON FACEBOOK.

WE WOULD POST IT, AND WE WOULD ASK OUR FRIENDS TO RE-POST IT,

AND AMBER'S FRIENDS WERE POSTING IT AND RE-POSTING IT.

Narrator: DALE AND JACKIE ARE DESPERATE

FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO YIELD SOME NEW LEADS.

THAT WAS MY FULL-TIME JOB, WAS FINDING AMBER.

Narrator: MEANWHILE, AGENT SIMS IS WORKING EVERY ANGLE,

INCLUDING SOME OF THE DARKEST PLACES

ON THE CRIMINAL LANDSCAPE.

THERE IS A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF OUR SOCIETY THAT ARE PREDATORS,

AND THEY DO TARGET PEOPLE.

WE DID FOCUS ON LOCAL SEX-OFFENDER DATABASES,

AND WE ACTUALLY INTERVIEWED

SOME PEOPLE THAT WERE ON THAT LIST.

Narrator: THEN, ON APRIL 27th, DISASTER STRIKES THE SOUTH.

Sims: NORTHEAST ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST GEORGIA

AND SOUTHEASTERN TENNESSEE

GOT HAMMERED WITH A SERIES OF F-4 TORNADOES.

WE HAD TO DIVERT OURSELVES FROM THE INVESTIGATION

TO FOCUS ON RESCUE EFFORTS.

IT WAS A PRETTY TRYING TIME

FOR EVERYBODY IN THE NORTHWEST GEORGIA REGION.

Narrator: SUDDENLY, AT THE GEORGIA BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION,

AMBER'S CASE IS NO LONGER PRIORITY NUMBER ONE.

WE KNEW THAT HE DID NOT HAVE -- LITERALLY DID NOT HAVE TIME.

THAT WAS RATHER DEVASTATING FOR US.

Sims: THERE MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, TWO OR THREE HOURS A DAY

THAT I COULD FOCUS ON AMBER'S INVESTIGATION,

AND THEN IT WAS RIGHT BACK TO OUR EFFORTS

IN HELPING THE COMMUNITIES THAT WERE AFFLICTED BY THE TORNADOES.

Narrator: BUT DESPITE AGENT SIMS' VIGILANCE,

WEEKS GO BY WITH NO NEW ANSWERS.

FOR THE SEGERS, EACH PASSING DAY

ERODES THEIR HOPES OF FINDING THEIR DAUGHTER.

Jackie: AMBER HAD BEEN MISSING FOR THREE AND A HALF WEEKS.

WE CRIED, WE PRAYED, WE DIDN'T SLEEP.

IT WAS A REAL TOUGH, TOUGH TIME.

WE WERE RUNNING OUT OF IDEAS.

Narrator: ON MAY 4th, AT 1:30 P.M.,

SPECIAL AGENT SIMS CALLS THE SEGERS DOWN TO THE STATION.

HE SAYS HE HAS AN IMPORTANT MATTER TO DISCUSS WITH THEM.

HE MET US AT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

HERE IN GORDON COUNTY,

AND HE SAID THAT HE NEEDED TO QUESTION US SEPARATELY.

Sims: I TOLD HER

THAT WE HAD INVESTIGATED THE CASE THOROUGHLY,

THAT WE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST

THAT HER DAUGHTER HAD BECOME THE VICTIM OF FOUL PLAY.

WE HAD NO EVIDENCE THAT SHE WAS ALIVE.

Jackie: HE SAID, "WE HAVE NO MORE LEADS.

WE DON'T KNOW WHERE TO LOOK ANYMORE."

Sims: IT WASN'T THAT WE WERE STOPPING THE INVESTIGATION.

IT WAS JUST AT THE STAGE WHERE WE KNEW

THAT IT WOULD BE EASY TO PERCEIVE

THAT THE INVESTIGATION WAS GRINDING TO A HALT.

THAT WAS EXTREMELY UPSETTING.

Narrator: FOR JACKIE, WHAT AGENT SIMS TOLD HER

IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCEPT.

BUT WHEN AGENT SIMS SITS DOWN WITH DALE,

THE NEWS ONLY GETS WORSE.

DURING THAT MEETING WITH HIM, HE SAID SOMETHING TO ME.

SOMEBODY HAD MADE THE ACCUSATION THAT I KNEW WHERE AMBER WAS

AND I WAS HELPING HER TO STAY HIDDEN.

Sims: INFORMATION HAD COME OUR WAY THAT DALE WOULD DO THIS,

AND IT WAS A BRIDGE THAT I FELT LIKE I HAD TO CROSS WITH HIM.

Narrator: DALE FEELS BLINDSIDED BY THE ACCUSATION.

I REMEMBER BREAKING DOWN.

I FOUND IT UNCONSCIONABLE

THAT SOMEBODY COULD MAKE THAT ACCUSATION AGAINST ME.

ONE OF THE MOST UNPLEASANT PARTS OF MY JOB

IS WHEN I'VE GOT TO SIT DOWN

WITH SOMEBODY WHO IS TRULY GRIEVING

AND THEN CHALLENGE THEM

AS TO WHETHER THEY HAVE COMMITTED A CRIME.

I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE

THAT THE SEGERS HAD ENGAGED IN THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY,

BUT I JUST HAD TO CROSS THAT BRIDGE.

Narrator: AGENT SIMS IS CONVINCED OF DALE'S INNOCENCE,

BUT IT COMES AS LITTLE RELIEF.

AFTER WE GOT DONE WITH THAT DISCUSSION,

HE TOLD ME THERE WAS JUST NOTHING MORE THEY COULD DO.

I REMEMBER WALKING OUT OF THAT INTERVIEW ROOM

AND FEELING LIKE I WAS CARRYING A 10-TON WEIGHT.

Narrator: THE SEGERS' LIVES HAVE TAKEN ON A HOLLOW SADNESS

THEY ARE CONVINCED THEY WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH FOREVER.

BUT THEY SOON WOULD BE PROVEN DEAD WRONG.

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

LATER THAT DAY, AGENT SIMS GETS AN UNEXPECTED CALL.

A FEW HOURS AFTER I HAD THIS MEETING WITH THE SEGERS,

I RECEIVED A CALL

FROM THE WHITFIELD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

ONE OF THE SECRETARIES IN THE INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION SAID,

"YOU NEED TO CONTACT THE JOLIET, ILLINOIS, POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THERE'S A DETECTIVE THERE THAT WANTS TO SPEAK TO YOU."

NO MATTER HOW MANY CASES YOU'VE DONE,

NO MATTER HOW MANY INVESTIGATIONS

THAT YOU HAVE UNDERTAKEN,

EVERY NOW AND THEN,

SOMEBODY WILL THROW A CURVE BALL AT YOU FROM LEFT FIELD.

Narrator: ONLY TWO HOURS AFTER RETURNING HOME,

THE SEGERS' PHONE RINGS.

IT WAS SPECIAL AGENT SIMS.

I RECOGNIZED THE PHONE NUMBER,

AND I ANSWERED, "YES, SPECIAL AGENT?"

HE SAYS, "THEY'VE LOCATED A WOMAN IN JOLIET, ILLINOIS,

WHO MATCHES AMBER'S DESCRIPTION, THAT HAS AMNESIA."

THEIR DEPARTMENT HAD FOUND A YOUNG FEMALE

WANDERING IN A CITY PARK

AND HAD FLAGGED DOWN THE POLICE.

SHE WAS SUFFERING FROM MEMORY LOSS,

DID NOT KNOW WHO SHE WAS,

AND THAT THEY HAD BEEN DEALING WITH A JANE DOE.

Narrator: THEN HE SAYS SOMETHING

AMBER'S FATHER WILL NEVER FORGET.

THIS WOMAN HAD A TATTOO OF AN ANGEL ON HER BACK.

Narrator: COMING UP...

A DRAMATIC BREAK IN THE CASE IS NOT EXACTLY WHAT IT SEEMS.

I'M LOOKING INTO A FACE THAT ISN'T RIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT. SHE JUST DIDN'T LOOK RIGHT.

Narrator: IT'S BEEN THREE AND A HALF WEEKS

SINCE MISSING MOTHER AMBER GERWECK

WAS LAST SEEN IN TUNNEL HILL, GEORGIA.

HER FAMILY HAD ALL BUT GIVEN UP HOPE OF FINDING HER,

WHEN THEY RECEIVED SOME ASTONISHING NEWS --

AN UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN SUFFERING FROM MEMORY LOSS

WAS FOUND IN JOLIET, ILLINOIS,

NEARLY 600 MILES NORTH OF TUNNEL HILL.

JOLIET POLICE THINK IT'S AMBER.

Dale: THEY'VE LOCATED A WOMAN

THAT MATCHED HER DESCRIPTION IDENTICALLY,

THAT HAD AN ANGEL TATTOO ON HER RIGHT SHOULDER.

Narrator: IN JOLIET, THE STORY OF THE WOMAN WHO LOST HER MEMORY

HAD CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THE LOCAL MEDIA,

WHO BROADCAST A PHOTO OF THE MYSTERIOUS WOMAN.

THE PHOTO WAS SEEN BY SOMEONE

FAMILIAR WITH THE MISSING-PERSON FLIER POSTED ON FACEBOOK.

THE FACEBOOK COMMUNICATION

WAS THAT THIS IS THE PERSON YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

SHE'S AMBER GERWECK.

Narrator: SIMS SENDS THE SEGERS A PHOTO OF THE WOMAN,

TAKEN AT SILVER CROSS HOSPITAL IN JOLIET.

AND THERE WAS AMBER

IN A HOSPITAL BED,

STARING AT US.

I JUST SAID, "IT'S HER. IT'S HER."

AND DALE'S LIKE, "IT'S HER. SHE'S THERE. SHE'S ALIVE."

WE WERE JUMPING. WE WERE SCREAMING.

WE WERE CRYING.

Sims: MY HAPPINESS WASN'T EVEN CLOSE TO THEIR HAPPINESS.

OVER THE PHONE, YOU COULD HEAR THAT WEIGHT BEING LIFTED,

YOU KNOW, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,

THIS FLOOD OF HOPE COMING INTO THEIR HEART

THAT, YOU KNOW, THEIR DAUGHTER'S ALIVE.

Narrator: BUT DALE NOTICES

SOMETHING STRANGE IN THE PHOTOGRAPH.

I'M LOOKING AT AMBER'S PICTURE, AND I KNOW IT'S AMBER,

BUT I'M LOOKING INTO A FACE

THAT ISN'T RIGHT.

SHE JUST DIDN'T LOOK RIGHT.

HER EYES WERE EMPTY,

AND I DIDN'T SEE AMBER'S PERSONALITY SHINING BACK AT ME.

Narrator: DESPITE THEIR MISGIVINGS ABOUT THE PHOTO,

THE SEGERS ARE EAGER TO GET TO JOLIET.

THE PACK THEIR BAGS AND BEGIN THE 600-MILE DRIVE THAT NIGHT.

THE NEXT MORNING,

DALE AND JACKIE HEAD STRAIGHT TO THE HOSPITAL.

Dale: THE NURSES GAVE US AN UPDATE

ON AMBER'S CONDITION AND WHAT WAS GOING ON.

SHE WAS UNHARMED. SHE WAS -- PHYSICALLY, SHE WAS FINE.

THE ONLY THING THAT WAS WRONG WAS HER MEMORY.

Narrator: AMBER IS SUFFERING FROM ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX

AND PUZZLING CONDITIONS IN MEDICINE --

TRANSIENT GLOBAL AMNESIA.

SHE DIDN'T REMEMBER BEING MARRIED.

SHE DIDN'T REMEMBER HAVING CHILDREN.

SHE'D JUST FORGOTTEN HER LIFE.

DR. LUCY AT SILVER CROSS PUT IT THIS WAY --

99.99% OF THE DOCTORS IN THIS COUNTRY

WILL GO THROUGH THEIR ENTIRE CAREER PRACTICING MEDICINE

AND WILL NEVER SEE THIS TYPE OF AMNESIA EVER.

Narrator: THAT AFTERNOON, THE SEGERS FINALLY GET THE CHANCE

TO SEE THEIR DAUGHTER FACE TO FACE.

Dale: WE SAW AMBER,

AND SHE WAS HOLDING A LITTLE STUFFED DOG

THEY HAD GIVEN HER IN THE E.R.

AND WHAT I REMEMBER IS MY DAUGHTER TAKING ONE LOOK AT US,

AND SHE GRABBED THAT DOLL, AND SHE HUGGED IT REAL CLOSE,

AND SHE STARTED CRYING AND SAID, "I DON'T KNOW YOU.

I DON'T REMEMBER YOU."

AND SHE JUST CRIED.

I MEAN, SHE WAS JUST SOBBING,

AND JACKIE AND I REASSURED HER THAT WAS FINE.

THAT WAS NO PROBLEM.

WE HAD TALKED IN THE CAR AND PREPARED OURSELVES

FOR THE POSSIBILITY THAT SHE MIGHT NOT KNOW US.

Narrator: BUT FOR AMBER,

THE REUNION IS A FRIGHTENING REALIZATION

OF JUST HOW MUCH SHE HAD LOST.

[ Voice breaking ] THEY TERRIFIED ME...

[SNIFFLES]

...BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW THEM.

IT WAS DEVASTATING, NOT KNOWING WHO YOUR PARENTS ARE.

WORSE THAN NOT KNOWING WHO YOU ARE.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO RAISED ME.

I REMEMBERED THEM THE WAY THEY WERE WHEN I WAS LITTLE,

BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHO THEY WERE AT THAT MOMENT.

Narrator: AMBER CAN ONLY REMEMBER HER LIFE UP TO AGE 12.

ALMOST ALL MEMORIES FROM HER ADULT LIFE HAVE VANISHED.

Amber: I'D LOOK IN THE MIRROR,

AND THE FACE THAT WAS LOOKING BACK AT ME

WAS NOT THE FACE THAT I WOULD EXPECT.

YOU KNOW, I'D EXPECT TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR

AND SEE THAT KID THAT I WAS,

AND IT WAS AN ADULT LOOKING BACK AT ME.

Narrator: THE SEGERS SPEND THE NEXT FEW DAYS

SLOWLY WALKING AMBER THROUGH THE LAST TWO DECADES OF HER LIFE.

THEY WERE EXPLAINING TO ME THAT I'D BEEN MISSING

AND HOW LONG I'D BEEN GONE

AND HOW SHE HAD THIS ANGEL PIN,

AND I LOVED ANGELS.

Jackie: I GAVE HER THE PIN, AND I TOLD HER, "AMBER," --

TOLD HER WHY I'D WORN IT EVERY DAY.

"NOW YOU NEED TO FIND YOURSELF,

SO THIS IS YOUR ANGEL PIN NOW TO HELP YOU FIND YOURSELF."

Narrator: AT THE END OF THE WEEK,

AMBER IS REINTRODUCED TO HER FOUR CHILDREN.

Jackie: SHE MET WITH EACH OF THEM FOR A HALF AN HOUR,

ONE AT A TIME.

IT WAS A DIFFICULT THING,

BUT SHE ENJOYED SEEING HER KIDS, AND THEY WERE OVERJOYED.

Narrator: AMBER IS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL

AND TRAVELS WITH HER PARENTS TO GEORGIA

TO BEGIN A LONG AND STRENUOUS RECOVERY PROCESS.

BUT MANY QUESTIONS STILL REMAIN,

PARTICULARLY WHAT HAPPENED THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED.

FORTUNATELY, AMBER CAN RECALL HER LAST HOURS OF LUCIDITY.

Amber: I REMEMBER STUDYING, SITTING AT MY COMPUTER,

TRYING TO GET SCHOOLWORK DONE.

Narrator: IN THE EARLY EVENING, AMBER TOOK A BREAK FROM STUDYING

AND HEADED TO A NEARBY CONVENIENCE STORE.

AND HEADED TO A NEARBY CONVENIENCE STORE. Amber: I REMEMBER GOING DOWN TO THE CAR

Amber: I REMEMBER GOING DOWN TO THE CAR

AND GETTING THERE AND REALIZING I'D LEFT MY PHONE UPSTAIRS.

ALL I HAD GRABBED WAS MY KEYS AND MY WALLET.

I DIDN'T SEE ANY REASON TO GO BACK UPSTAIRS TO GRAB MY PHONE

WHEN I WAS ONLY GONNA BE GONE FOR A FEW MINUTES.

I WENT TO THE CONVENIENCE STORE DOWN THE ROAD.

I PICKED UP A COUPLE OF SMALL THINGS THERE,

AND THEN THAT'S IT.

IT JUST STOPS.

IT'S -- IT'S LIKE THERE'S NOTHING ELSE AFTER THAT

UNTIL I REMEMBER THE HOSPITAL.

Narrator: DOCTORS ASSUME

AMBER SPENT THE NEXT THREE AND A HALF WEEKS

IN WHAT IS KNOWN AS A DISSOCIATIVE FUGUE STATE.

DR. LUCY TOLD US THAT THE PERSON THAT IS IN THE FUGUE STATE

CAN STILL OPERATE.

THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

THEY JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

THEY DON'T REMEMBER IT.

Narrator: BUT NO ONE KNOWS WHAT TRIGGERED THE EPISODE.

Jackie: WE KNOW THAT A TRAUMATIC EVENT

CAN CAUSE GLOBAL AMNESIA.

THAT'S WHAT WE BELIEVE HAPPENED.

Dale: AMBER, NUMEROUS TIMES, HAS BEEN VERY SPECIFIC IN A FEAR

THAT A MAN WALKS UP BEHIND HER,

PUTS HIS LEFT HAND ON HER RIGHT SHOULDER, AND SPINS HER AROUND.

THIS IS SOMETHING NEW.

I BELIEVE THAT SOMEBODY GRABBED HER FROM BEHIND

AND EITHER FRIGHTENED HER TERRIBLY

OR DID SOMETHING TO HER, AND SHE RAN.

Narrator: AMBER IS STILL HAUNTED BY THE DARK GAPS IN HER MEMORY.

SHE STILL HAS NO IDEA WHERE SHE WAS, WHERE SHE ATE,

OR WHERE SHE SLEPT AT NIGHT DURING HER FUGUE STATE.

I REFUSE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED

DURING THOSE THREE AND A HALF WEEKS WHEN I WAS MISSING.

WHAT CAUSED ME TO WALK AWAY?

WHAT CAUSED ME TO...

JUST DISAPPEAR LIKE THAT?

WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WHILE I WAS GONE?

I COULD DRIVE MYSELF CRAZY THINKING ABOUT THOSE THINGS.

I'VE HAD TO STOP THINKING ABOUT IT

AND JUST ACCEPT THAT THOSE THREE AND A HALF WEEKS ARE GONE

AND THAT I'LL NEVER GET THEM BACK

EVEN IF I GET THE REST OF MY LIFE BACK.

Narrator: TODAY,

AMBER IS STILL WORKING TO RECOVER THE MEMORIES SHE LOST,

BUT SHE HAS A POSITIVE OUTLOOK TOWARDS THE FUTURE.

THERE'S SO MUCH SHE DOESN'T KNOW,

SO MUCH SHE DOESN'T REMEMBER, AND SHE WANTS TO KNOW IT ALL.

SHE WANTS TO LEARN IT ALL.

Jackie: SHE'S REMEMBERING A LITTLE BIT MORE EACH DAY.

THE AMBER THAT YOU SEE TODAY

IS THE AMBER THAT SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN.

THERE'S REALLY NO CHANGE IN HER PERSONALITY.

HER SENSE OF HUMOR IS THE SAME.

Amber: THE BEST THING THAT HAS COME OUT OF HAVING AMNESIA --

I'VE HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXAMINE MY LIFE

AND THE DECISIONS THAT I MADE

FROM ALMOST A THIRD-PERSON PERSPECTIVE.

HOW MANY PEOPLE GET A CHANCE TO RE-EXAMINE THEIR LIFE LIKE THAT?

Narrator: THROUGH HER ORDEAL,

AMBER HAS LEARNED A VALUABLE LESSON.

THE ONE THING IN THE WORLD THAT MATTERED THE MOST TO ME

IS THAT PEOPLE DON'T LOSE HOPE.

YOU HAVE TO KEEP HOPING

THAT IF SOMEBODY THAT YOU LOVE IS MISSING,

THAT THEY'RE OUT THERE.

IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME TO REMEMBER EVERY DAY

HOW MANY PEOPLE REFUSED TO GIVE UP THAT I WOULD BE FOUND.

YOU JUST -- YOU CAN'T GIVE UP. YOU HAVE TO KEEP HOPING.