Since Amber was homeless and alone during those final weeks of her life, she turned to prostitution to make money to survive. She was last seen by others attending a party on February 1, 1997, where she drank a large amount of alcohol at a seedy motel.

The motel was located in Rolling Meadows and included older men as guests, and it was with one of these men that she was seen leaving with. The witness that reported this had no idea that this would be the last time they laid their eyes on their friend.