Mom of 3 Found Dead 2 Weeks After Disappearance
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NEED TO KNOW
- Ricky Lam, 40, has been charged with first-degree murder, concealment of a death and firearm possession by a felon
- Amber Schimmelpfenning, 36, was last seen on Sept. 9 and was a mother to three boys, ages 8, 11 and 14
- Lam was also named a person of interest in the 2024 disappearance of Nancy Bunly, 31
A missing North Carolina mother of three has been found dead — and a man named in another disappearance is now charged with murder.
Amber Marie Schimmelpfenning, 36, was last seen on Sept. 9, according to a Guilford County Sheriff’s Office press release. Five days later, deputies obtained warrants charging Ricky Lam, 40, with first-degree murder, felony concealment/failure to report a death and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Lam was already being held in Davidson County on unrelated charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest, and possession of a firearm by a felon, per jail records reviewed by PEOPLE.
On Friday, the sheriff’s office wrote in a press release shared to Facebook that detectives had located human remains believed to be Amber’s, which were sent to the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, along with her champagne-colored Chevrolet Avalanche.
Guilford County Sheriff’s Office
Amber’s father, Darwin Schimmelpfenning, described her as a devoted mom to three boys, ages 8, 11 and 14. He told FOX8 that she was “a very strong-willed, independent lady.”
“She’s not afraid of anything,” he told the outlet. “She usually doesn’t get herself into positions where she can’t get out. She’s usually a fairly good judge of character.”
Darwin said the discovery of his daughter’s body brought bittersweet feelings. “It was a relief to know that they found her,” he told ABC45. “I can say that it’s not over yet. Because there’s an ongoing investigation and there’s somebody else involved.”
PEOPLE reached out to Schimmelpfenning for comment but has not yet heard back.
Guilford County Sheriff’s Office
Lam was previously named a person of interest in the 2024 disappearance of his then-girlfriend Nancy Bunly, 31, who was last seen that September, possibly driving a black Honda Pilot, per WFMY, ABC45 and the Salisbury Post.
Three of Lam’s relatives were later arrested in that case on obstruction charges, per the outlets, but Lam himself was not charged in Bunly’s disappearance.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Guilford County Crime Stoppers (336-373-1000) or Detective A. Miller (336-641-5966), according to the sheriff’s office.
Credit to Nypost AND Peoples
