A body recovered from the Scioto River in Ohio over the weekend was identified as missing woman Amber Evans.
Evans, 28, vanished on Jan. 28 after getting into an argument with her boyfriend.
Evans’s mother Tonya Fischer told WBNS that her daughter sent her a text message that evening that read, “I love you and I’m sorry.”
Her father Brian Peters told Refinery29 prior to the body being found: “At this point, she just vanished from downtown. I am not one to speculate but things just don’t add up.”
“I have a real hard time believing that she was suicidal or severely depressed but, who knows? Maybe she hid it well. … I know always dealing with negative situations and constantly fighting for something can take its toll,” he added.
He added that the argument “could be nothing more than a conversation.”
A search for Evans turned up little evidence until the body was found on March 23.
It was identified as the missing woman on March 24.
“While this is not the outcome we hoped for, we understand this brings closure for the family. Our thoughts & prayers go out to them,” the Columbus Police Department said in a statement.
Evans was involved with the group Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) Columbus.
“Anyone who knew Amber knows that she was extremely disciplined and dedicated to struggling for a better world. She treated everyone with dignity and when you spoke, it always felt like she truly was listening. She was a fighter and we will continue her legacy,” said Tynan Krakoff, lead organizer for the group, in a statement.
According to Evans’s Facebook page, she was also the director of organizing and policy at the Juvenile Justice Coalition.
After the body was identified, Fischer took to Facebook to ask for privacy.
“I’m coming on here as a mother … who has just found out that I lost my firstborn child,” Fischer said during an emotional Facebook Live video, according to WSYX. “I love you all, and you all know I’m more than willing to accept all that you have to give … but just give me a moment. Just a moment. Give my family a moment.”
Prior to the discovery of the body, police said that there was no evidence of foul play. Evans’s vehicle was found near downtown Scioto and her purse was locked in the trunk.
River conditions had delayed the search, police said.
“Searching with K9 unit, our dive team has done limited searching in the river. Unfortunately, the water is fast. It’s moving quickly. There’s heavy debris. Our helicopter is flying over the area routinely looking for things we may have missed,” Columbus Police Special Victims Bureau Commander Alex Behnen told WBNS in mid-February.
He said police had spoken with at least 10 people who knew Evans and searched electronic devices as part of the investigation.
