The case against a Battle Creek man charged with the felony murder of his longtime girlfriend is proceeding despite not locating a body.
Amber Griffin, a 27-year-old mother of two, was reported missing in June of 2020 by her boyfriend Derek Horton and mother. To date, she has not been located despite numerous attempts to search for her by law enforcement and volunteers.
Derek Horton (provided by Battle Creek Police Department)
A preliminary hearing was held on Tuesday in Calhoun County District Court. Five witnesses testified in the virtual hearing. Among those testifying were Amber’s mother, a human resources administrator from Amber’s place of employment, a hardware store owner, and two Battle Creek police officers, according to WOOD. One officer recalled speaking with Horton in the days after Griffin’s disappearance. He said there was a dried liquid resembling blood on several places on a car at their shared home.