Mother’s Day Package “Mailed The Day She Disappeared”

Amanda Eller. PC: Sarah Haynes / FindAmanda Facebook page.

By Wendy Osher

New information has surfaced in the search for Amanda Eller, a missing Maui woman who was last seen on Wednesday, May 8, 2019.  A Mother’s Day package was reportedly mailed the day she disappeared, and was received by the pet sitter of her parents yesterday, according to updates posted on the Findamanda Facebook page.

In the post, a description of its contents was detailed: “It was filled with beautiful items and a lovely letter which included Amanda’s love for her family and excitement about her future. What is most important about this package is that it was mailed the morning of Wednesday, May 8th – the day she disappeared. The package had a print at home label but it was dropped to the Haʻikū Post Office, and scanned at the receiving counter at 10:19 a.m.”

Video footage was reportedly obtained of a vehicle matching Eller’s leaving the building at 10:21 a.m., according to the post.

Additional video is now being sought from residents and businesses along the route from the Hāna Highway to the Haʻikū Post Office, and the Haʻikū Post Office to the Makawao Forest Reserve.  Searchers hope any additional footage could help to determine if Eller was the driver, if she was alone, what she was wearing, what direction her vehicle may have gone and if she was being followed.

As of Monday afternoon, the incident was still being classified by Maui police as a missing person case.  Maui Now sought comment from police today and will update this post if additional information is received.

The 35-year-old physical therapist and yoga instructor was last seen by her boyfriend, Benjamin Konkol, who said Eller was meditating when he left for work at around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 8, 2019.  Police say her Toyota RAV4 was found in a parking lot of the Makawao Forest Reserve on Thursday, May 9, 2019. In an earlier statement, Maui Fire Department officials said the vehicle was confirmed to have been there since around noon on May 8th.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Amanda Eller is asked to immediately call the Maui Police Department at (808) 244-6400 or 9-1-1 in an emergency.   Volunteer organizers say there is a $10,000 reward being offered for Eller’s safe return and encouraged those that have information to either call Maui police or CrimeStoppers at (808) 242-6966, if they want to remain anonymous.

Press inquiries and updates for the volunteer search effort were initially being fielded by Sarah Haynes, who led a press conference on Sunday as family members of the missing woman arrived on island.

A Go Fund Me account that was set up yesterday has already raised $35,036 toward a new $50,000 goal.

Today’s volunteer search at the Makawao Forest Reserve starts at 7:30 a.m. and continues until 6 p.m.