Police investigation ‘ongoing’ in Kauai woman’s 2010 death

Question: Whatever happened in the investigation of the death of the Hawaii State Teachers Association Kauai office manager/secretary?

Answer: Amber Ellis Jackson, 57, was reported missing on June 23, 2010, and her body was found by a pig hunter in a remote valley in Anahola on July 3, 2010.

Kauai Police Department detectives have charged no one and are continuing to investigate the murder.

"Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, we are unable to reveal any person(s) of interest or suspect(s) at this time," police spokeswoman Sarah Blane said in an email.

Jackson’s friends — the Amber Jackson Justice Group — have asked Kauai police to seek outside assistance and "fresh eyes" from other groups specializing in murder probes.

Blane said Kauai police have used outside expertise throughout the investigation, including investigative specialists, forensic analysts and professionals involved in forensic/DNA testing, and that the FBI has been involved.

Blane said cold-case homicides are reviewed and thoroughly re-examined to look for new evidence, and the department’s cold-case unit has received two grants, each for $96,500.

"The funds have been used primarily to procure the assistance of forensic analysts and laboratory testing services," Blane said.

There have been 22 cold cases on Kauai since 1978, according to Kauai police.

In addition to working as an office manager, Jackson was a real estate agent and owned and managed a lettuce-growing business on Hawaii island.

"This whole situation is such a nightmare," said Whitney Waite, who with his wife sold the lettuce business to Jackson. "She was an incredible person, a hard worker, dependable."

Teri Ceplo, who was Jackson’s friend for about 10 years on Kauai, said she last saw Jackson on a Tuesday when they went on a hike near her house to a trail along the mountains known as the Sleeping Giant.

Ceplo said when Jackson didn’t show up for a dinner that week, she began to worry.

Jackson’s purse and cellphone were found in her car in her driveway at Kapahi.

"For four years to go by? It’s just heartbreaking," Ceplo said. "Our focus is trying to get outside help."

Friends say they want to make sure Jackson’s death is remembered.

"I just hope this isn’t a situation where somebody gets away with it," said Tom Perry, director of the Kauai office of the Hawaii State Teachers Association.

The Amber Jackson Justice Group is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the murder of Jackson.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Kauai Police Department, 808-241-1711; investigative services, 808-241-1696; or Crime Stoppers, 808-241-1887.

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This update was written by Gary T. Kubota. Suggest a topic for “Whatever Happened To…” by writing Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-210, Honolulu 96813; call 529-4747; or email cityeditors@staradvertiser.com.