Community invitied to Idaho Missing Persons Day as 25th anniversary of Amber Hoopes disappearance nears
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IDAHO FALLS — After 25 years since her disappearance, the family members of Amber Hoopes and local law enforcement will gather this Saturday, marking Sept. 12 as Missing Persons Day in Bonneville County.
Hoopes went missing on Sept. 14, 2001, when she was abducted from her grandparents’ home in Lincoln, and a suspect was later identified.
Deputies with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office chased the suspect to Big Hole Mountains, where a shooting occurred that resulted in the death of a K9 and the suspect, who took his own life after being struck once. The suspect had also been involved in another kidnapping in 2002.
Hoopes was never found and remains missing 25 years later.
As the anniversary of her disappearance approaches, it has now become synonymous with Idaho Missing Persons Day to remember Hoopes and other missing individuals.
“Idaho Missing Persons Day reminds us that missing adults and children alike deserve urgency, visibility and compassion,” Audra Burgener, aunt of Hoopes, wrote. “It is also a day focused on education—because awareness, instinct and community involvement can save lives.”
On Aug. 20, in a joint proclamation by Bonneville County Commissioners and Idaho Falls Mayor Lisa Burtenshaw, officials officially marked Sept. 12 as Missing Persons Day.
In years past, Missing Persons Day has helped spread awareness, education and prevention tools in the community. It also serves as a day to remember the families of missing loved ones who are still waiting for those cases to be solved.
According to Idaho’s Missing Persons Clearinghouse, 182 cases remain open, including 11 involving unidentified people.
In years past, the Sheriff’s Office has asked community members with information about Amber Hoopes or other missing persons to contact their local law enforcement agencies. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through East Idaho Crime Stoppers at www.IFcrime.org.
For those interested in attending the event this Saturday, it will be outside the Bonneville County Courthouse, 605 N. Capital Avenue, and will start at noon.