Cold Case: The murder of 10-year-old Amberly Mendoza

Several questions are still unanswered 23 years after the chilling murder of Amberly Mendoza.

Amberly was just ten-years-old when she was sexually assaulted and then murdered in her bedroom on March 8, 1996, according to the Yuma Police Department.

” It’s been one of those homicides that have really affected the community because it has been so long. I mean it was 1996, ” said Sergeant Lori Franklin, YPD .

Dianne Umphress explained the last night of little Amberly’s life, her family was having a gathering at their home. Umphress added the next morning her mother found her lifeless body.

” You never really move past it. It’s always back there and you’re always wanting those questions answered for the family, who did this? Why did they do it? Those are questions that even though it doesn’t bring closure it gives answers to them and those are questions that I would love to see for them and other people that love her,” said Umphress .

Umphress remembers the day the news broke.

“I was a stay at home mom when that happened and I had a son who lived just one street over. I remember it scared me to death to think that something like this could happen in our community,” explained Umphress .

The Yuma Police Department has been on the case since that chilling day with detectives have revisiting the case every few years.

“There have been several people interviewed, a lot of people have been interviewed reference this, but nothing to the point where any charges could have been filed,” explained Sgt. Franklin, Yuma Police Department.

If you have any information on this case call YPD at (928) 373-4700 or to remain anonymous call 78-CRIME.