Amanda Rodgers, a 35-year-old woman from Eldon, Missouri, was tragically found dead after a car accident in Miller County. Rodgers had been missing since she set out to collect her children and failed to arrive at her destination.
The Eldon resident was officially declared dead at 1:43 a.m. on Feb. 2, 2026, by Coroner Caleb Shelton. This announcement marked the conclusion of a weeklong search that led to the issuance of an Endangered Person Advisory.
Rodgers was last seen on Jan. 26 when she departed from Eldon to retrieve her children from the Camdenton area. Her absence at the pick-up point led to the initiation of a search operation by family members and local law enforcement.
An Endangered Person Advisory for Rodgers was issued at 3 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, by the Camden County Sheriff’s Office. At the time of her disappearance, she was driving a tan 2003 Chevrolet Malibu.
A deputy from the Miller County Sheriff’s Office, who was conducting a search operation, discovered the vehicle near U.S. 54 and Howser Road. The accident occurred in the Meads Flat area of Miller County, close to Montreal.
According to the Miller County Coroner’s Office, the vehicle was found off the road, hidden by a fallen tree, which made it difficult to see from the main road. The tree obscured the car from view, playing a role in the delay in finding the vehicle. The car had skidded off the road and flipped over after Rodgers failed to handle a curve, ending up in a wooded area concealed by the fallen tree.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol believes the accident took place on or around Jan. 26, suggesting Rodgers’ car had been hidden from view for about a week before it was discovered. The patrol is now investigating the accident in collaboration with the Miller County Coroner’s Office.
Accidents on rural highways like Highway 54, a key route through Miller County, can often go unnoticed for extended periods, especially when vehicles veer off the road and become hidden by natural features such as trees or the lay of the land. The highway’s curves require careful driving, particularly in winter.
Authorities do not suspect foul play in Rodgers’ death and believe the incident was accidental. Nonetheless, an investigation is ongoing in accordance with Missouri law, which necessitates an inquiry into all deaths under certain conditions, including those from car accidents, to establish the cause and manner of death and eliminate any suspicious circumstances.
The search for Rodgers involved a multi-agency collaboration, with the Camden County Sheriff’s Office working hand in hand with the Miller County Sheriff’s Office. This kind of coordination is common in missing person investigations, particularly when the missing person’s last known location and potential journey cross multiple jurisdictions.
Details about the fatal accident were released by the highway patrol following the discovery. The patrol’s crash reconstruction specialists will examine factors such as vehicle speed, road conditions, visibility, mechanical failures, and driver behavior to establish the sequence of events leading to the accident.
The Miller County Coroner’s Office has expressed its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ms. Rodgers during this challenging time.
Out of respect for the grieving family, the office has indicated that no further details will be released. This approach is typical in death investigations, especially in cases of accidental deaths, as authorities strive to balance the need for public information with family privacy concerns.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol, together with the Miller County Coroner’s Office, will continue their investigation to identify all contributing factors to the accident. The results may inform future safety recommendations for Highway 54, where the accident took place.
