‘I lost a part of myself': Family of missing mum make heartbreaking plea
The mother and sister of a young woman who disappeared two decades ago have released a heartbreaking call for help as NSW Police increase their reward for information to $1 million.
Amber Haigh went missing on June 5, 2002 when she was 19 after being dropped at Campbelltown train station, leaving behind her six-month-old son.
The two had been living with a married couple in Kingsvale, about four hours southwest of Sydney, when it’s believed Ms Haigh went to visit her sick father in hospital at Mt Druitt.
Later that night, money was withdrawn from Ms Haigh’s bank account.
She was reported missing two weeks later.
Coroner in 2011 deemed Amber Haigh had been murdered
Despite a number of public appeals over the years, her fate remains unknown, and in 2011 a coroner deemed that Ms Haigh had been murdered, or died of misadventure.
NSW Police have since launched a reinvestigation into her disappearance, today increasing the reward for information from $100,000 to a staggering $1 million.
In an emotional video message, Ms Haigh’s family called on the public for their help.
“I feel I lost a part of myself when Amber went missing, not knowing where is or what happened to her,” her mother Rosaline Wright said.
“Amber loved her son and I know in my heart that she would never have left him.”
“Please if there is anyone out there that has any information, big or small, please come forward and call the police. I just need to lay our Amber to rest.”
Amber's sister, Melissa Millar-Hodder, described her sister as having a kind, warm and loving soul, who would help anyone in any way she could.
“Her son never got to know or grow up with his loving, caring mum, only to be told stories about Amber. She would give him the world if she was here.”
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Police step up investigation
As police prepare to conduct door knocks and retrace the journey Ms Haigh took, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said they can’t discount the fact that she may never have made it to the Sydney area, and may have met foul play in Harden or Young.
“Amber’s mum and sister still have no answers for what is a 20-year-old mystery,” he said. “Amber’s six-month-old boy grew up not knowing his mother, and that is terribly sad circumstances.”
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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