Just over a week from when this episode's being released, January 13th, 2026, will mark the 30th anniversary of the abduction and murder of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman from Texas.

Yes, the Amber, who Amber alerts are named after. And guess what? Her case? It's still unsolved, and it needs your attention. Here's our episode on her story.

Welcome to the Murder Diaries. I'm Natalie. And I'm Paige. Have you ever stood in a long line at a grocery store and looked at all the magazines with salacious headlines about heinous crimes? Or stood outside of a bathroom at Walmart and gazed at the

massive wall of missing children's flyers. Do you ever wonder what happened to those kids?

Are they okay with their story? Today we're going to be talking about one of those children,

except for a time everyone knew her name, and many people still do.

Hers is a story that led an entire society to rethink safety and create legislation that has

saved hundreds of children's lives.

But it all started with one little girl from Texas.

Her name was Amber Hagerman.

This is her story.

Used to think it's in my head, but I'm walking with the day.

Amber Renee Hagerman was born on November 25th, 1986.

In 1996, when she was just 10 years old and in the third grade,

she attended Barry Elementary School in Arlington, Texas.

She loved the Disney Princess Pocahontas, playing Barbie dolls and teddy bears and riding her bike.

The bike was a Christmas gift and was pink, Amber's favorite color. Amber was extremely close to

her family. She adored her mother Donna and her younger brother Ricky. She loved to act like

Ricky's little mommy, even though she was just four years older than him.

Amber's mother, Donna, had left Amber's father, Richard, and she alleged that Richard had physically abused her. After their separation, Donna raised the kids on her own while working

towards her GED. And in late 95, early 96, Donna and her kids filmed a new special about welfare reform that was going to be

aired on WFAA TV in Dallas in mid-January 96. Hundreds of hours of footage was captured for the

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