Couple Reunited With Families After 21/2-Year Disappearance
Posted
Michael Anderson-manderson@timesuniononline.com
PIERCETON – A couple who had been missing for 2-1/2 years has been found in North Carolina. Amanda Owens, 29, Warsaw and Jeremiah Eckert, 36, Pierceton, had been missing since April 2014. Linda Davis, Eckert’s mother, said she was excited to see her son again. “I don’t think anyone expected it to end this way. I’m so happy,” she said. Eckert left with Owens, his girlfriend, after not showing up for a scheduled detention in the Kosciusko County Jail. A warrant was issued for his arrest. In June 2014, Owens’ family reported her missing to the Warsaw Police Department. On Oct. 12 of this year, Davis reported her son missing to the Pierceton Police Department. Davis said she waited to report him missing because she feared the repercussions of her son’s warrant. Two weeks after Davis reported Eckert missing, Pierceton Police Chief Tim Sammons was able to track the couple down to the small community of Whittier, N.C. Owens’ family traveled to North Carolina to be reunited with her. Eckert will be returned to Kosciusko County in the next few days to face his pending criminal charges. “When I got the news yesterday, it was wonderful,“ said Bryce Owens, Amanda’s brother. “We spent 2-1/2 years not knowing if she was alive or dead.” In a statement, Sammons said that he solved the case using a mixture of “old-fashioned” police work and modern comprehensive law databases. Davis said she can’t thank Sammons enough for his hard work on the case. Sammons said he was happy that each family can now have closure, “It is unfortunate that other missing person cases don’t end positive especially after 2-1/2 years,” Sammons said in the release. He stated the case may bring hope to other families who are still waiting to have their loved ones returned home. Kosciusko County 911 Communication Center dispatchers, WPD, Indiana State Police, North Carolina BMV and the Jackson County North Carolina Sheriff’s Office assisted with the investigation.
