A Nevada mother searching for her missing daughter made a devastating discovery when she checked the location of her daughter’s phone and saw it was at the Clark County Coroner’s Office.
Cheri Brown said she had been trying to reach her daughter, 33-year-old Amber Brown, for hours on June 19. When repeated calls went unanswered, she used phone location tracking in an effort to find her. Instead, the signal led her to the coroner’s office in Las Vegas.
Cheri said the moment she realized what the location meant, she broke down.
Authorities later confirmed that Amber, a nurse, had been struck by a vehicle while crossing the street at approximately 5 p.m. She was transported to a hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
Police arrested the driver at the scene, identifying him as 37-year-old Angel Franco Merida. A 14-year-old passenger who was inside the vehicle at the time was not injured.
Although Amber’s name was not initially released by police, her identity was later confirmed through official records and family statements.
As Cheri mourns the loss of her daughter, she is also grappling with the possibility that the man accused of causing her death may never face trial.
Merida appeared before a judge shortly after the incident, and bail was set at $50,000. He later posted bond and was released from custody. Court records indicate that he was subsequently taken into custody by federal immigration authorities and deported to Guatemala.
Cheri expressed frustration and disbelief over the situation, saying she believes Merida should be returned to face the legal consequences of his actions.
She said that her daughter’s life should not be diminished by the suspect’s immigration status and that justice should not be avoided simply because he is no longer in the country.
Amber’s death has left her family devastated, with Cheri describing the loss as unimaginable and the lack of accountability as an added burden during an already overwhelming time.