Columbus Police defend strategy in 17-day search for Amber Evans

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) — Amber Evans went missing by the Scioto River on January 28th, the night her mother found Amber's silver sedan parked at a meter on Belle Street.

Naturally, the river would be the first place to look for her — and Columbus Police did for one day, but say they can't do more until the very high and fast-moving river calms down.

"It's not because we want to keep the boat from going up and down," said police commander Alex Behnen, who leads the special victims unit. "Side-scan sonar works so much better when the water's flowing smoothly."

Behnen said the day after Evans was reported missing, one diver entered the Scioto and did a "pattern search," swimming back-and-forth across the width of the river to feel for a body or evidence. After heavy rains and snow-melt, the high water is washing large debris — including tree trunks — down the Scioto, which the commanders says will put dive teams in danger if they go into the water.

Behnen says the Columbus Police dive team assesses the river every day, waiting to go in again when it's safe.

For Amber's mother Tonya Fischer, whose 28-year-old daughter has been missing for more than two weeks — it is all happening far too slowly.

"They keep giving us reasons why they're not going in the water to do a search," Fischer said this week. "I want them to do that with care, like they would for anybody else."

Her concerns are shared by the community. Columbus Police have heard from local activists who work alongside Amber in her roles at Juvenile Justice Coalition and the People's Justice Project. They worry her past protests against police may be a reason law enforcement isn't in a hurry to find her.

"She made a few people mad in this city," Fischer said.

Police insist that holds no weight at their department.

"That is of no concern to my investigators we are working on a missing persons case," Behnen said Wednesday. "I will not fail someone else's child. Absolutely not."

Police also say there will be no presumption that Amber Evans is dead until that can be confirmed by a body or other evidence. She is still being labaled a "distraught high-risk" missing person, because investigators believe Amber left her boyfriend on the night of January 28th following a domestic dispute.

Columbus Police Missing Persons Unit continues investigating the case. You can reach them with any information by calling (614) 645-4624.

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