Where is Amber Smith now? Whereabouts of the survivor explored ahead of Dateline on NBC
In 2013, Amber Smith survived a brutal assault in Fort Collins, Colorado, leaving her with severe injuries, including a fractured jaw and brain hemorrhage. Her case gained national attention and was featured on Dateline in the episode Left for Dead. NBC will re-air the episode, narrated by Keith Morrison, on Friday, December 20, at 9/8c.
Amber Smith displayed resilience by facing her attacker in court and has since focused on helping others. Now living in Fort Collins, Colorado, she works as an addiction counselor, turning her traumatic experience into a source of strength.
DNA evidence led to the arrest and conviction of her close friend, Stefan Moon, for the attack, with Amber testifying firmly against him.
The incident that shook Amber Smith's life
On 31 August 2013, Amber Smith was discovered gravely injured in Cottonwood Glen Park, Fort Collins, Colorado. The police had found her after several calls from people who reported hearing a woman screaming for help. Upon arrival, Officer Dane Stratton found Amber bound head to toe with red duct tape, with her entire body exposed and battered.
Amber had suffered horrific injuries, including a broken jaw, brain trauma, and evidence of sexual assault. Despite her critical condition, she identified herself but could not recall many details of the attack. Amber vaguely remembered drinking with friends at Rossborough Park earlier that evening but did not remember how she ended up 1.5 miles away.
The first investigation was not easy. There were no witnesses and no solid leads, and Amber Smith could not recall much of what happened. With time, the case went cold, and Amber and her family had almost no hope of finding the person who had attacked her.
The breakthrough that led to justice
A breakthrough in 2017 came when Amber's housemate, Stefan Moon, was arrested for pawning a stolen bicycle. Being that this is a felony case, standard procedure meant his DNA would be taken and matched with evidence recovered from the red duct tape used during the attack.
Stefan and Amber Smith were close friends. At the time, Stefan and Amber lived in the same house. Stefan did not tell Amber about the trauma she had gone through. Stefan was arrested because of the DNA evidence gathered. Stefan Moon was arrested and charged with second-degree kidnapping, first-degree assault, and sexual assault.
Stefan was in 2019 convicted and handed 128 years in jail. Amber had to confront her attacker in court as she gave powerful testimony during the case, which ultimately led to his conviction.
Life of Amber Smith after the conviction
Amber refused to call herself a victim after the conviction; instead, she chose to rebuild her life and rediscover her purpose from her experiences. In 2020, Detective Siobhan Seymour, who worked on Amber’s case, revealed that she was pursuing a Certification in Addiction Counseling.
Amber Smith’s goal was to support individuals struggling with substance abuse and help them turn their lives around. She also worked to provide for herself and her son, whom she has always described as her greatest motivation. Amber remains a private person and prefers keeping her personal life out of the limelight.
Sources indicate that she is staying in Fort Collins, Colorado, and is committed to being a good mother who cares for her son as well as contributing to a better community.
Amber Smith's story is one of resilience and hope. Despite enduring immense trauma, she sought justice and now channels her strength into empowering others through addiction counseling. Living a quiet life with her son, Amber continues to inspire others with her perseverance and ability to turn pain into purpose.
