On a chilly winter’s day in June 2002, a 19-year-old woman named Amber Haigh vanished without a trace in New South Wales. Amber, who had intellectual disabilities, disappeared from the Riverina region, leaving behind a five-month-old baby. Her disappearance stunned the community, especially given the shocking allegations that followed: Amber’s life had been tragically cut short by the father of her child, Robert Geeves, and his wife, Anne, who had allegedly killed her to take the baby.
Fast forward two decades, and the case has seen its share of twists and turns. Despite extensive investigations, a million-dollar reward for information, and a coronial inquiry, Amber’s body has never been found. In 2024, the mystery once again captivated public attention as Robert and Anne Geeves were tried for her murder in a high-profile trial. However, after weeks of testimony and hundreds of documents presented in court, the Geeveses were acquitted.
The verdict left a community shocked and Amber’s family devastated. Yet, the trial raised more questions than it answered, leaving the haunting mystery of Amber Haigh’s disappearance still unsolved.
Amber’s Troubled Childhood
Amber Haigh’s life was one marked by difficulty from the start. She grew up in Sydney, enduring a chaotic and abusive upbringing, with a father who was a violent alcoholic. Amber struggled with epilepsy and learning difficulties, and by the time she was a teenager, she was in search of stability and love that her home life simply couldn’t provide.
At the age of 14, she became pregnant by a cousin, leading to an abortion and further upheaval. Fleeing her troubled childhood, Amber moved to the small, rural community of Kingsvale in New South Wales, where she lived with her great aunt, Stella Nealon.
But even Kingsvale, a far cry from the chaos of Sydney, failed to provide Amber with the peace she sought. Life at her aunt’s home was rocky, with tensions between her and other relatives. It was during this period that Amber met Robert and Anne Geeves.
The Relationship with the Geeves Family
The Geeveses lived next door to Amber’s great aunt, and it was through their son, Robbie, that Amber was introduced to them. Robert and Anne Geeves were in their forties at the time, and while Robert worked as a laborer, Anne ran the family home. Their son, Robbie, was initially romantically involved with Amber, but over time, the dynamics within the family grew strange and uncomfortable.
By 2001, Amber had fallen pregnant, not by Robbie, but by his father, Robert Geeves. To the outside world, this unconventional arrangement seemed deeply unsettling, but the Geeveses insisted that the relationship between them and Amber had been consensual and even harmonious.
Prosecutors in the trial would later allege that Robert and Anne manipulated Amber into having Robert’s baby because they desperately wanted a child, having suffered several miscarriages and the heartbreak of a stillbirth. When Amber refused to give up custody of her baby, they allegedly murdered her to take her child.
The Trial: A Verdict That Shocked the Community
In 2022, two decades after Amber Haigh vanished, Robert and Anne Geeves were arrested and charged with her murder. Their trial gripped the country as prosecutors laid out their theory that the couple had “manipulated” Amber and ultimately “removed her from the equation” when she wouldn’t relinquish her child. The prosecution relied heavily on witness testimonies, as well as an agreement Amber had made with Robert, forcing him to promise not to take her baby. Amber had even written a will, ensuring her aunt would receive custody of the child in the event of her death.
The defense, however, painted a very different picture. They argued that the prosecution’s case was built on shaky evidence and that the investigation had been clouded by suspicion rather than facts. Robert Geeves’ criminal history—he had previously been acquitted of murdering an ex-partner and faced sexual assault charges—had biased the community and law enforcement against him.
The defense insisted that the Geeveses had merely helped Amber during a difficult time and that their relationship with her, though unconventional, was not criminal. They maintained that Amber had willingly entered into a relationship with Robert and that the couple had provided her with care and support. The last time they saw Amber, according to the Geeveses, was when they dropped her off at a train station, where she planned to visit her dying father.
Justice Denied?
Despite the disturbing accounts of Amber’s life, and the fact that she has never been found, Justice Julia Lonergan ruled that there was not enough evidence to convict Robert and Anne Geeves of murder. The judge concluded that while Amber had undoubtedly suffered abuse throughout her life, there was no concrete proof that the Geeveses were responsible for her death.
Justice Lonergan noted that the prosecution’s case had a significant flaw—there was no evidence to support the claim that Robert and Anne still wanted another child when Amber became pregnant. While the court acknowledged that Amber had likely been “attacked, abused, and made to feel unsafe,” it wasn’t enough to convict the couple. The Geeveses were acquitted, and after spending two years in prison awaiting trial, they were immediately released.
The Aftermath: A Community Divided
The verdict left Amber’s family and the Riverina community reeling. After two decades of uncertainty, they had hoped for justice, only to be left with more questions. One family member stormed out of the courtroom after the verdict, visibly upset. Others quietly broke down in tears, struggling to come to terms with the outcome.
What remains most painful for those close to Amber is that her body has never been found, and her fate remains a mystery. The million-dollar reward for information still stands, and her loved ones continue to seek closure.
Unanswered Questions
While Robert and Anne Geeves have been acquitted, the disappearance of Amber Haigh remains an unresolved tragedy. What happened to Amber on that fateful day in June 2002? Could the Geeveses’ story be true, or is there more to this mystery that has yet to surface?
Amber’s life was one of hardship and unfulfilled dreams. She was a young woman searching for love and security in a world that seemed to deny her both. Now, two decades later, those who knew and loved her are still waiting for answers that may never come.
Call to Action: The Search for Truth
If you have any information about Amber Haigh’s disappearance, now is the time to come forward. Even the smallest detail could provide the missing piece to this tragic puzzle. Contact Crime Stoppers and help bring closure to a family that has been waiting for justice for over 20 years. Amber’s story is far from over, and with your help, the truth might finally come to light.