Authorities recovered the body of missing community activist Amber Evans from the Scioto River in Ohio on Saturday, nearly two months since her disappearance.
As the Columbus Dispatch reports, Evans was reported missing on Jan 28., following a dispute with her boyfriend. Her vehicle was found in the Scioto Mile area Downtown, and her phone was recovered from another area of the Scioto Mile.
The Columbus, Ohio Police Department confirmed on Sunday that the body they recovered had been positively identified as Evans, tweeting “While this is not the outcome we hoped for, we understand this brings closure for the family. Our thoughts & prayers go out to them.”
*UPDATE 3/24/19: The body recovered yesterday, Saturday, 3/23/19 has been positively identified as 28yo Amber Evans. The family has been notified.
While this is not the outcome we hoped for, we understand this brings closure for the family. Our thoughts & prayers go out to them. https://t.co/YF2iAS4LSN— Columbus Ohio Police (@ColumbusPolice) March 24, 2019
Despite having an argument with her boyfriend the same afternoon of her disappearance, police have said from the beginning that there were no known issues of domestic violence in Evans’ relationship, and so there as no reason to suspect foul play.
Authorities have been searching the river since the night of her disappearance, the Dispatch notes. The night Evans went missing, patrol officers, canine units and a sheriff’s office drone searched along the river.
The next day, a dive team went out and searched the river. More searches of the river by the dive team followed, however the weather, water levels and current throughout the river made the search difficult.
An active member in community justice organizations, Evans was one of the key organizers of protests at Columbus City Hall, and was also involved in the People’s Justice Project. Evans was also tapped to be the executive director of the Juvenile Justice Coalition, the Dispatch reports.
Now her family is left to plan a funeral, asking for privacy as they grieve their loss and asking reporters, as well as those on social media, to give them time.
Posted by Tonya Fischer on Sunday, March 24, 2019
“I’m coming on here as a mother… who has just found out that I lost my first-born child,” Tonya Fischer said on Facebook Live video. “I love you all, and you all know I’m more than willing to accept all that you have to give… but just give me a moment. Just a moment. Give my family a moment.”
The family is planning a vigil at Scioto Mile on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
