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UPDATE: Bones Found Are Missing Pregnant Woman Save Email Print
Posted: 5:28 PM Jun 23, 2008
 Last Updated: 11:09 AM Jun 24, 2008
 Reporter: Courtney Sisk
Email Address: courtney.sisk@wsasz.com
56 comments Photos
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PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (WSAZ) -- A family in Portsmouth now knows their loved one who's been missing will not be coming home.

Detectives have confirmed that skeletal remains found in Shawnee State forest back in April are those of Amber Howard. It took several weeks to make a DNA match.

Howard disappeared last August. She was 7 months pregnant when she was first reported missing. Detectives say they are now treating this case as a homicide.

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Posted by: just saddend by it all. on Jul 20, 2008 at 05:08 PM
This story has been in the hearts of Scioto County residents for almost a year now. It saddens and disgusts me that it didn't get any more attention than it did. Remember when Lacey Peterson went missing?!! National news couldn't get enough of it. I guess after they made "Conners Law" they don't feel the need to report on murdered pregnant women anymore. And for everyone wondering where the baby is, yes it is a wonderful though that the baby made it through this whole ordeal. Amber's remains were found in the forest. We have to be realistic about this, and I hate to be the one to point it out, but animals live in the forest. I really don't think any remains of the little one will ever be found. Just find comfort in the fact that Amber has her little one in her arms and they will always be together. Amber, bless you and your family. Bless your baby. I hope you have both found peace.
Posted by: Gone but not Forgotten on Jul 6, 2008 at 06:29 PM
The last time we saw you, you were 16 or 17 years old. at Aunt Loretta's. Blooming into that beatiful young lady and full of life. I wish we only spent more time at home than we did. We missed your Dads funeral and all the others in the family. From our hearts to the Howards and McBees and the Bertrums, we are so very sorry for this terrible tragedy and I pray that the ones responsible for this can be tortured over and over and they know who they are and the ones holding information are just as guilty. Again our Deepest Condolences and Love.
Posted by: Just Shut Up on Jul 4, 2008 at 07:07 PM
Why isn't anyone telling the family and community what is going on. This is very scary I was raised right up the road from where Amber's body was found, and my family still lives there. Someone needs to say something atleast to the family.
Posted by: Melinda on Jul 1, 2008 at 12:41 AM
This is a sad time and We are all praying that Ambers murder is found we are also all concerned about her baby she was carring nobodys saying any thing about the baby however they found Amber but not the baby this could be one blessing that comes out of this the baby may be alive and I know this town will not sleep good until it is solved i pray GOD will send an angel to find this child and bring him or her home to its home where it is loved and needed,it will not bring Amber home,but our friend Bob and The grandma will be very happy as the rest of the family may God be with them all
Posted by: aunt barb & uncle tim on Jun 30, 2008 at 09:05 PM
amber, we miss you very much I wish you would have came and lived with us when you dad wanted you to.We love you very and much and hope and pray who ever done this horrible thing to you will pay for it the rest of their lives. We know you are in heaven with you dad may you know be a peace.Your family up north loved you
Posted by: aunt paula on Jun 28, 2008 at 11:32 PM
amber,we are praying for justice,no matter what. we love and miss you .the howard family, up north.
Posted by: Your other cousin on Jun 28, 2008 at 04:52 PM
Amber, I miss you!! I love you and your sister! ALOT!! Love, Your other cousin
Posted by: Anon on Jun 28, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Maybe the baby wasnt born at 7 months just because she went missing when she was 7 months along doesnt mean thats when she was murdered. Either way if the baby wasnt elsewhere then it's remains should have been there too. A family member confirmed they weren't. My thoughts and prayers are with the family during this tragic time.
Posted by: your cousin on Jun 27, 2008 at 07:43 PM
Dear Amber, I love you very very much and miss you but one day I will get to see you again for sure. And whoever did this to you I hope the tables turn BIG time!! I love you Amber!!:) Love, Your cousin
Posted by: Pam Ky on Jun 26, 2008 at 07:27 PM
May god give you peace for your loss of Amber my prayers are with you. to nurse, my great nephew was born premature at 7 months he survived with out any vents or medical intervention so yes its possible,not common but it can happen.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 25, 2008 at 07:13 PM
God bless this family this is horrible. Its like no teenage girls are safe anymore. Please for all teenage girls Go get a gun permit. peper spray something... Always carry something with you. Or always have someone with you.. RIP AMBER.
Posted by: Beth Ann on Jun 25, 2008 at 06:51 PM
Prayers and thoughts are with Amber's family and friends. I am so sorry for your loss.
Posted by: misty on Jun 25, 2008 at 06:39 PM
i didnt know amber....but iam friends with her sister,s boyfriend iam so sorry its turn out this...so my prayer go out to all of u guys.
Posted by: shantay on Jun 25, 2008 at 03:22 PM
This here ain't right. It scares me. I don't know why a youn girl like her was took. It ain't right dat we got to worry about our daughters being out walking and someone killing them.
Posted by: portsmouth on Jun 25, 2008 at 03:11 PM
How many young women have to die before this wierdo(s) is caught? This is happening too much in our area. Something needs to be done. Is there a profiler who could figure it out? He needs to be caught. Are we safe?
Posted by: Me-n- westwood on Jun 25, 2008 at 02:57 PM
so are they thinking someone "took" the baby? could it survive at 7 months without a hospital?
Posted by: Judy on Jun 25, 2008 at 01:33 PM
My condolences to all.
Posted by: a nurse on Jun 25, 2008 at 11:28 AM
I'm not trying to be mean but if she was seven months pregnant (28 weeks) the only way there would be a baby alive if it was delivered at a high risk facility and on a vent. They cannot make it without being on support at 7 months. My thoughts are that it's not possible for the baby to be anywhere but with her mother. May they rest in peace.
Posted by: ~T~ on Jun 25, 2008 at 10:07 AM
I'm sorry for your loss. Your family are in my prayers!
Posted by: Rip on Jun 25, 2008 at 12:46 AM
Rip Amber.
Posted by: resident on Jun 25, 2008 at 12:12 AM
I am so sad to hear about Amber. Our city needs to protect our residents. The end of town where Amber was last seen is horrible. I cannot drive down the street without women trying to jump in the car. Why isn't something being done by the police department and city government to protect our residents??? For goodness sake, there are two elementary schools and a high school on the same block that she was found missing. Also, haven't there been several young women about Amber's age missing from our area? Is there a link? The person who killed her may have been looking for a prostitute, and she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. CRACK DOWN ON THE PROSTITUTION!!! You know they are there. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!! Why turn a blind eye? Run them out of our town. Don't let them get by with it. If you have to arrest them 10 times in the same day to get them to leave, DO IT!!!! I am so fed up. It's time to take our city back from the druggies and prostitutes.
Posted by: di on Jun 24, 2008 at 09:56 PM
TO AMBER'S FAMILY YOU ARE IN MY PRAYERS , IN REGARDS TO THE BABY REMEMBER JESUS HAS A ROCKING CHAIR!!THE LOW LIFE THAT DID THIS WILL GET HIS IF NOT ON THIS EARTH , ON JUDGEMENT DAY. VENGENCE IS MINE SAITH THE LORD.
Posted by: mom of 2 on Jun 24, 2008 at 08:21 PM
My heart goes out to this family. May Amber rest in peace!
Posted by: Pam on Jun 24, 2008 at 07:28 PM
So sorry for your loss, our prayers and thoughts are with you all. Do they have any leads at all as to who did it and where the baby is? Once again you all will be in our prayers.
Posted by: karen on Jun 24, 2008 at 07:05 PM
Bonnie I am so sorry for your loss my thoughts and prayers go out to you
Posted by: Question? on Jun 24, 2008 at 06:58 PM
WSAZ can you confirm that no baby was present?
Posted by: So Sad on Jun 24, 2008 at 04:56 PM
I would like to express my condolences to the family. And I pray that the baby is still alive and out their so you can have a part of Amber to hang on to. I'm sorry for your loss May God be with you!
Posted by: GOD on Jun 24, 2008 at 01:04 PM
I know who did this! Amber is safe with me now and you can never hurt her again, and judgement day will come...and YOU will be accountable for this murder!!!!
Posted by: Sheena on Jun 24, 2008 at 12:41 PM
I really hope this baby is found safe. I have a 2 yr old and couldnt imagine him being missing for a second. I feel terrible for what happened to Amber and I will keep this family in my prayers. How could someone do such a terrible thing? I grew up thinking that this was a safe place to live... now I wonder what will happen next! This world is crazy!
Posted by: Linda on Jun 24, 2008 at 11:55 AM
they did mention the baby "Pregnant Woman" -- that covers both I believe
Posted by: putnam co on Jun 24, 2008 at 11:27 AM
I do belive i would wait on the police reports to come back befor i started makeing comments about the baby,i wouldent want this family to be worrieing about the baby being alive and in the hands of the murder(s)when nobody really knows anything about it,this family is going through enough right now without putting more worries on them.may god be with each and every one of you.
Posted by: Joanne on Jun 24, 2008 at 09:57 AM
My sincerest condolences to her family and friends. May you now be able to give her and her unborn child the christian burial that she deserved. I hope now that the police can focus on this as a true homicide and find the perpetrator.
Posted by: anonymous2 on Jun 24, 2008 at 09:16 AM
Doesn't the fact that there is no evidence of the baby seem important!! I would think that people in the area need to be on the lookout for someone that might have a child in there possesion who would be almost a year old now. Someone who did not have a child before or a women who showed no signs of a pregnancy!! ANYONE SUSPICIOUS. I am so sorry for the familys loss. May god bless you.
Posted by: HI on Jun 24, 2008 at 08:56 AM
I can not believe this is the story WSAZ came up with. 4 Sentences? Put a little time into it, a little thought, a little foot work, a little heart. This was someone daughter, sister, niece, granddaughter,soon to be mother. RIP Amber and may god take care of the little one.
Posted by: cass on Jun 24, 2008 at 03:00 AM
I am so sorry that the worst is true. I went to school with her and her sister and I'm out of words to express my condolences. I can't believe this is actually true! This really makes me afraid to be out alone in my own hometown. I hope the family will be able to help each other get through this.
Posted by: christy on Jun 24, 2008 at 02:27 AM
the only thing we were told by the police is that there was no evidence of a baby present, so we have no idea, it will takes weeks before we can get her remains for a funeral, so apparently more tests are being done
Posted by: AreYouSerious??? on Jun 24, 2008 at 12:36 AM
What no baby? Why is this not being reported? This child could be alive and in the murders hands!!!
Posted by: Mel on Jun 24, 2008 at 12:20 AM
Each state is different on fetal deaths. The baby has to be born, then die, to be considered a homicide. If this wasn't the case, abortion would be considered a homicide. The baby has to take a breath. Sad, but true. As for the remains of the baby, that is a mystery. I hope they find who is responsible. Thank God Ohio has the death penalty!
Posted by: W.V. Family on Jun 24, 2008 at 12:10 AM
Our thoughts are with the family of this young lady. May GOD give you strength and help you thru this in days and years to come.
Posted by: Christy on Jun 23, 2008 at 11:56 PM
I am ambers family, and my response to these comments are : It took over a month to get DNA back and no there were no evidence of a baby found at the site, we have no other information yet
Posted by: jamie and magan on Jun 23, 2008 at 11:26 PM
WE ARE SO VERY SORRY ABOUT YOUR LOSS,WE WILL PARENTLY THEY HAD NO HEART .REST IN PEACE AMBER!
Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 23, 2008 at 10:53 PM
this is sad. the family can finally get closure in the case but not the way they want it. my thoughts and prayers go out to her entire family
Posted by: valerie on Jun 23, 2008 at 10:18 PM
my prayers go out to this familey.now maybe they can find out who done this awful thing just maybe now the family can now find closure god bless
Posted by: TheTruth on Jun 23, 2008 at 10:11 PM
You are an idiot! They used DNA to confirm the identity of this woman. They already know who Leah Hickman was. You are a stupid ippie who breaks the law and is mad because you were ether arrested or got a ticket for it. Tell me I am wrong you hippie!
Posted by: Seriously? on Jun 23, 2008 at 10:02 PM
To anonymous, it took the HPD one week to find Leah Hickman. It took the Ohio officers almost one year to find this poor girl. Neither case has been solved yet. Some people are so quick to bash the HPD without even thinking about what they are saying. All they've done in this case is to ID the girl, nothing more.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 23, 2008 at 09:53 PM
I am so very sorry to hear that.
Posted by: Faye on Jun 23, 2008 at 09:14 PM
How sad. I was hoping and praying that her and her baby would be found alive. I am so sorry to the family. I will be thinking of you. Hope they find and punish who done this awful thing to Amber.
Posted by: mother on Jun 23, 2008 at 09:02 PM
What happened to the baby? if she was 7 mo.into her pregency their should of been a baby or the remains of one!!! I!am so sorry for this family May God be with all of you...
Posted by: Jennifer on Jun 23, 2008 at 08:51 PM
I'm sorry to hear that this family's question of "where is Amber?" has been answered with such a heartbreaking answer. I wish her family the best of luck with finding her killer(s) and I hope they get the justice that they deserve.
Posted by: anonymous on Jun 23, 2008 at 08:29 PM
WOW - that's amazing. It only took a few weeks to get the DNA results back on this person, and tell us who she is. In the Leah Hickman case, we've been waiting for months and months for answers to DNA questions. HHHHMMMMMM - Huntington Police - NOW what's your excuse for not solving Leah's murder???????
Posted by: Rob on Jun 23, 2008 at 08:12 PM
7 months pregnant, that would make it a double homicide. When captured, hang the culprit early in the morning and let his/her body swing until the sun goes down.
Posted by: putnam co on Jun 23, 2008 at 08:10 PM
Wish this child could have been brought back alive,it is very sad i will keep the child and her family in my prayers god bless every one of you.
Posted by: anonymous on Jun 23, 2008 at 08:02 PM
This is terribly sad for the family. I hope that the family finds out who did such a terrible thing to this young woman and her unborn child. This is just a terrible thing that happened. GOD BLESS THE FAMILY!
Posted by: LILLIE6 on Jun 23, 2008 at 07:54 PM
I KNOW AMBER'S FAMILY LONG BEFORE AMBER WAS BORN, THEY ALL DESERVE TO HAVE THE ANSWER TO WHAT AND WHO TOOK HER FROM THEM. STILL IN THEIR MINDS ALSO WOULD HAVE TO BE THE BABY, WAS THERE ANY PRESENCE OF THE BABY. BONNIE, JERRY AND FAMILY ---GOD AND YOUR FRIENDS ARE WITH YOU.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jun 23, 2008 at 07:41 PM
What about the baby, were it's bones there as well??
Posted by: COAL GROVE on Jun 23, 2008 at 06:53 PM
HOW SAD GOD BE WITH THE FAMILY.
 
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