Autopsy shows missing Weeping Water woman died of exposure to the cold

NEBRASKA CITY – The Otoe County Sheriff’s Office reports that Amber Tjaden, 48, of Weeping Water died of cold exposure on an unplowed county road.

Tjaden had been reported missing after leaving her home Jan. 27, two days after 14 inches of snow blanketed most of the area. She was discovered on Feb. 5 after a citizen reported seeing a vehicle that matched missing persons reports on the side of a minimum maintenance stretch of C Road, about six miles north of Unadilla.

A sheriff's office press release says Tjaden was located outside, near the vehicle.

The autopsy report says foul play is not suspected.

Chief Deputy Michael Holland told the Associated Press that there were no signs of trauma on Tjaden's body or anything to indicate anyone else was involved in her death.