Investigation Still Open For Missing Maury Co. Woman
Posted: Feb 6, 2008 01:19 AM
CHAPEL HILL, Tenn. - Almost four years, a Maury County girl disappeared without a trace.
It's hard for Amber Cates' family to imagine almost four years have passed since the last time anyone has seen her.
Sunday was her 20th birthday.
At 16, Cates was originally considered a runaway, but as time passed authorities felt something had happened to her.
Her sister Brenda James had legal custody of her when she went to her mother's house for a visit.
According to police, she left her mother's house with James Gordon.
Gordon said he left Amber Cates in the company of man known as California.
Maury County Sheriff's detectives felt they made a break in the case when they found California in September.
He was serving time at the Talladega, Ala., federal prison.
Detectives didn't get a lot of information out of him, but he's still considered a person of interest.
There are few tips in the case.
"We all thought she would show back up when she turned 18, let us know something that she was okay, but that didn't happen," said a sister.
Since her disappearance, Amber' Cates' Social Security number has not been used. There is also no record of her getting a job.
Detectives said she may have changed her identity.
Even though she is 20, she has been placed again on the National Exploited and Missing Children's watch list.
She is one of two girls currently missing from Maury County.
Posted: Feb 6, 2008 01:19 AM
CHAPEL HILL, Tenn. - Almost four years, a Maury County girl disappeared without a trace.
It's hard for Amber Cates' family to imagine almost four years have passed since the last time anyone has seen her.
Sunday was her 20th birthday.
At 16, Cates was originally considered a runaway, but as time passed authorities felt something had happened to her.
Her sister Brenda James had legal custody of her when she went to her mother's house for a visit.
According to police, she left her mother's house with James Gordon.
Gordon said he left Amber Cates in the company of man known as California.
Maury County Sheriff's detectives felt they made a break in the case when they found California in September.
He was serving time at the Talladega, Ala., federal prison.
Detectives didn't get a lot of information out of him, but he's still considered a person of interest.
There are few tips in the case.
"We all thought she would show back up when she turned 18, let us know something that she was okay, but that didn't happen," said a sister.
Since her disappearance, Amber' Cates' Social Security number has not been used. There is also no record of her getting a job.
Detectives said she may have changed her identity.
Even though she is 20, she has been placed again on the National Exploited and Missing Children's watch list.
She is one of two girls currently missing from Maury County.
