KANSAS CITY — Skeletal remains located at a Nelson, Missouri, address have been identified as Amber Simpson, 41, a Kansas City woman who was last seen May 27 in the area of Kensington Avenue and East 23rd Street, according to the Kansas City Police Department.
How the case unfolded
Simpson was reported missing to Kansas City police on June 3, Capt. Jake Becchina, a department spokesperson, said in a news release. Investigators working the missing-persons case developed information that led them to a property in Nelson — a town situated between Kansas City and Columbia — where human skeletal remains were discovered. This week the remains were formally identified as Simpson’s, the department said.
The finding has prompted investigators to continue a death investigation and to seek additional leads from the public about Simpson’s activities in the days and weeks before she disappeared.
What police are asking from the public
Capt. Becchina urged anyone who had contact with Simpson around the first part of May in Kansas City to come forward. He said detectives are especially interested in information that might clarify the events that culminated in her disappearance.
"As part of the death investigation [detectives] are looking to hear from anyone that may have had contact with Amber around the first part of May in Kansas City and may have more information regarding the events surrounding her disappearance," Becchina said.
Authorities have provided contact points for anyone with tips:
- Kansas City Police Department Missing Persons Section: 816-234-5043
- Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers anonymous tips hotline: 816-474-8477
Timeline
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Last known sighting of Amber Simpson | May 27, 2026 — area of Kensington Avenue and East 23rd Street |
| Missing-person report filed with KCPD | June 3, 2026 |
| Skeletal remains located in Nelson, Missouri | Discovered during investigation (date not specified) |
| Remains identified as Amber Simpson | This week (per KCPD news release) |
Local context and investigative posture
This case touches two Missouri communities important to many Kansans: the east side of Kansas City and the smaller town of Nelson. Nelson sits roughly along the corridor between Kansas City and Columbia, and it is not uncommon for investigations to cross municipal lines in this region. Detectives have not released details about how they were led to the Nelson property or whether anyone has been arrested or charged in connection with Simpson’s death.
For families and neighbors, the confirmation that a missing person has been found deceased raises practical and emotional questions. The Kansas City Police Department’s missing persons unit typically coordinates with medical examiners, evidence technicians and prosecutors when remains are discovered, but officials so far have not released an autopsy timeline or further forensic findings in Simpson’s case.
What neighbors can do
- If you saw Amber Simpson in late April or May, or recall conversations or interactions with her during that time, contact the Missing Persons Section at KCPD.
- If you observed suspicious activity in the area of Kensington Avenue and East 23rd Street on or around May 27, note vehicle descriptions, license-plate numbers and exact times before calling Crime Stoppers.
- Preserve any digital records — text messages, social media posts, photos — that may include dates, locations or contacts linked to Simpson; investigators may request copies.
There are unanswered questions in this case that only public cooperation and continued investigative work can resolve. Kansas City police have signaled they are pursuing leads and welcome tips that could clarify the circumstances of Simpson’s disappearance and death.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kansas City Police Department’s Missing Persons Section at 816-234-5043 or the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers anonymous TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.
This report will be updated as authorities release more information.
