‘Any day now’: Community hopeful that search for Jepsy Amaga’s remains will be fruitful
Celeste Springer
TELLER COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) confirms their search alongside the FBI of rural grounds in Florrisant is related to the murder case of a Southern Colorado woman.
On Monday, KRDO13 was the first to tell you about an investigation underway near Chapparral Trail and Chateau West Drive. CSPD says that they are searching for human remains. Neighbors nearby said that crews were using an excavator and were there for days.
At this time, CSPD says they haven’t found any remains yet, but their search is tied to the Jepsy Amaga murder case. CSPD says while they haven’t found anything, they also say they haven’t exhausted leads from what they say was a credible tip.
Jepsy went missing in 2019 at the age of 26 years old. Friends and family reported her missing after she had not been heard from.
According to our previous reports, she moved to Colorado Springs from the Philippines after falling in love with her husband and getting married.
Her husband, Dane Kallungi, was arrested in the summer of 2021 for her murder. According to arrest records, he reportedly confessed to his ex-wife that he strangled Jepsy and buried her near Florissant. His defense claimed he was pressured into “falsely confessing.“
A jury found him guilty of murder in 2023, and he was sentenced to life without parole.
Jepsy’s mother, Margie, was unable to be in town for the trial because she lives in Hong Kong, and friends say her visa was denied four times.
“I feel better knowing that they’re out there looking for her because, since he was arrested and convicted, it’s honestly felt like I’m the only one in Colorado looking for her,” said Britney Hartman, who has been searching for Jepsy since Jepsy’s mom reached out to her after her disappearance.
Hartman says she is cautiously optimistic, adding that being able to bring Jepsy’s remains back to her mother would be the ultimate dream.
“That’s all I’ve ever wanted is to get her home. I let her mom know during the trial and after he was convicted that when and if she’s ever found, I will personally get on that plane with her to get her home,” shared Hartman.
She says as soon as she heard police were searching again, she immediately called Jepsy’s mom.
“Now that it could potentially be any minute, any day now, it’s definitely got her [mom] emotional. It’s bringing up a lot of that past emotion of not being able to be here, feeling like she didn’t do enough for her daughter,” said Hartman, “but also that she might be able to finally bring her home.”
It’s unclear what new tip or information has led police to a specific location in Florissant this week to search for Jepsy’s remains.