FL MARTHA JEAN LAMBERT: Missing from St. Augustine, FL - 27 November 1985 - Age 12

3952DFFL - Martha Jean Lambert

3952DFFL - Martha Jean Lambert

The images on the right have been age-progressed to 24 and 29 years.

Name: Martha Jean Lambert
Case Classification: Endangered Missing
Missing Since: November 27, 1985
Location Last Seen: Elkton, St. Johns County, Florida

Physical Description
Date of Birth: March 26, 1973
Age: 12 years old
Race: White
Gender: Female
Height: 4'5"
Weight: 70 lbs.
Hair Color: Blonde, Shoulder Length
Eye Color: Blue
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Birthmarks on the front of her right thigh and on her upper left chest, Protruding front teeth

Identifiers
Dentals: Available
Fingerprints: Not Available
DNA: Available

Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: Matching two-piece bathing suit
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown

Circumstances of Disappearance
Martha Lambert, a 7th grade student at Ketterlinus Junior High, was last seen at her family's mobile home in Elkton, Florida on November 27, 1985. She spent time at a neighbor's residence after school, then returned to her home to have a small dinner with her brother. She has never been seen or heard from again. Martha's family life was troubled, she had spent much of her life in different foster homes. Her brothers had also ran away previously from their home. In 2009 Martha's brother confessed to accidentally killing her during an argument, then panicked and buried her in a 3-foot grave, at the old Florida Memorial College site near their home.

Lambert said he and his sister were fighting over $20. Martha slapped him and he pushed her back. She fell and landed on a piece of steel that went through the base of her skull, killing her. Lambert led police to the site, but no remains were found. Police dug up the area and brought in dogs during an extensive search in September 2009, but they couldn't find Martha's remains. The overgrown, wooded property had been cleared of buildings in the years since her disappearance. Because authorities believe it was an accident, because Lambert was 15 at the time and because manslaughter charges had a statute of limitations in 1985, he will not be charged and the case will be closed unless new evidence surfaces. He later recanted his statements and said he did not know what happened to Martha. Martha's mother believes she was kidnapped.

Investigating Agency(s)
Agency Name: St. Johns County Sheriff's Office
Agency Contact Person: Eugene Tolbert
Agency Phone Number: 904-824-8304
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 271329

NCIC Case Number: M-293192969
NCMEC Case Number: 601793
NamUs Case Number: 6278

Information Source(s)
NamUs
Life Daily

Admin Notes
Added: 3/19/19; Last Updated: 3/19/19

edited by staff to add media link

MARTHA JEAN LAMBERT - Missing from St. Augustine, FL since November 27th 1985 - Age 12 years

Martha Lambert, a 7th grade student at Ketterlinus Junior High, was last seen at her family's mobile home in Elkton. She spent time at a neighbor's residence after school, then returned to her home to have a small dinner with her brother. She...

www.crimewatchers.net

 

[Regina]

They screwed it all up by deciding to close Martha’s case with David’s confession which left more questions than answers. They also haven’t ruled out a kidnapping and no one even knows if Martha is dead. There were sightings of her but none were confirmed.

Re sightings, do you mean after she was known missing?

Seriously, there's so much wrong with the info surrounding of this case that I really don't know where I'd start. Basically, detectives comments throughout the years don't correlate with any of their conclusions...
Needless to say, the case should be reviewed and you know, to my knowledge, if a case officially closed, then- perhaps with redactions of private info, the public should have access to the entire case file.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Re sightings, do you mean after she was known missing?

Seriously, there's so much wrong with the info surrounding of this case that I really don't know where I'd start. Basically, detectives comments throughout the years don't correlate with any of their conclusions...
Needless to say, the case should be reviewed and you know, to my knowledge, if a case officially closed, then- perhaps with redactions of private info, the public should have access to the entire case file.

Is it officially closed? If so, then yes, the public definitely should have access. People should start clamoring for it.

 

[Mel70]

They screwed it all up by deciding to close Martha’s case with David’s confession which left more questions than answers. They also haven’t ruled out a kidnapping and no one even knows if Martha is dead. There were sightings of her but none were confirmed.

They should never have closed it until they found her body. NEVER! That seems like lazy tunnel vision. IMO. No matter who is responsible, I believe Martha is deceased. I don't put too much stock into sightings, As they for the most part cannot be confirmed. Like here.

 

[Regina]

I don't put too much stock into sightings, As they for the most part cannot be confirmed. Like here.

Since I don't know what sightings you're referring to, I can't speak specifically to those but generally speaking, for me, it depends on the circumstances. If the eye-witness knows the person, then I think it's likely it's reliable.

 

[Regina]

Is it officially closed? If so, then yes, the public definitely should have access. People should start clamoring for it.

Indeed, and if refused because it isn't closed, then given the history of the case, LE should hold a press conference in which they announce that it's unsolved.

 

[Mysteries 1974]

Is it officially closed? If so, then yes, the public definitely should have access. People should start clamoring for it.

No, the case has been reopened and a new detective assigned. He is looking into her disappearance with an open mind thankfully.

 

[Mysteries 1974]

They should never have closed it until they found her body. NEVER! That seems like lazy tunnel vision. IMO. No matter who is responsible, I believe Martha is deceased. I don't put too much stock into sightings, As they for the most part cannot be confirmed. Like here.

I also believe Martha is deceased and that foul play was involved. Although, it would be amazing if Martha turned up alive someday. I just hope whoever killed her decides to finally speak up and lead police to her remains. I don’t even care about charges at this point, I just want her found and this nightmare over.

 

[Regina]

No, the case has been reopened and a new detective assigned. He is looking into her disappearance with an open mind thankfully.

That's great!
Since when was it re-opened? (Sorry if I've missed this info.)

 

[Mysteries 1974]

That's great!
Since when was it re-opened? (Sorry if I've missed this info.)

No you are fine don’t worry . I was notified of its reopening from the detective himself when I called and inquired on why a new detective had been added to Martha’s NamUs contact page. The case was reopened earlier this year.

 

[Regina]

No you are fine don’t worry . I was notified of its reopening from the detective himself when I called and inquired on why a new detective had been added to Martha’s NamUs contact page. The case was reopened earlier this year.

Well perhaps by now, a local reporter should inquire about the case...

 

[Mysteries 1974]

Well perhaps by now, a local reporter should inquire about the case...

We will see about that. I’ve tried reaching out to local news, they never went through with writing an article though. Hopefully now it’ll be easier

 

[Regina]

We will see about that. I’ve tried reaching out to local news, they never went through with writing an article though. Hopefully now it’ll be easier

Well has the St. Augustine Record printed anything since their 2010 article Cold Case solved after 24 years? You know, even at the time, that heading wasn't accurate.
(By that I mean that it leaves out the Detectives believe part, lol!)

 

[Looking4you]

I know about "Hadden Clark". He's a sicko. Murdering Laura. Dressing in women's clothes, Wearing a wig walking from crime scene. They found wig hairs in Laura's brush. I read his Diary. It is extremely disturbing.

This ”person”, and the things he’s done make me feel like vomiting. just sick to my stomach.

 

[Mysteries 1974]

Well has the St. Augustine Record printed anything since their 2010 article Cold Case solved after 24 years? You know, even at the time, that heading wasn't accurate.
(By that I mean that it leaves out the Detectives believe part, lol!)

Nope, they have not posted anything since. They really should though. The case is very far from solved and it needs news attention

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Brother of missing St. Augustine girl confesses to accidentally killing her in 1985

ST. AUGUSTINE - Twenty-four years after the girl vanished near her home, authorities say they've closed the case of Martha Jean Lambert. Lambert's mother, though, isn't buying it. Margaret Pichon r…

www.jacksonville.com

Brother of missing St. Augustine girl confesses to accidentally killing her in 1985​

Twenty-four years after the girl vanished near her home, authorities say they've closed the case of Martha Jean Lambert.

Lambert's mother, though, isn't buying it. Margaret Pichon remains convinced Martha was kidnapped the day before Thanksgiving in 1985.

And Pichon certainly doesn't think her son David Lambert had anything to do with her daughter's death.

But the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office said Friday it was David Lambert's confession that broke open the county's longest-running missing person investigation.

Lambert now has told police he accidently killed her during an argument, then panicked and buried her in a 3-foot grave, Sgt. Chuck Mulligan of the St. John County Sheriff's Office said.

"They want it closed," Pichon said of the Sheriff's Office. "They can't find a body."

Pichon is right about the body. Lambert led police to the site, but no remains were found.

Because authorities believe it was an accident, because David Lambert was 15 at the time and because manslaughter charges had a statute of limitations in 1985, he will not be charged, Mulligan said.

Authorities reopened the cold case last summer, interviewing potential witnesses and people close to the family, including Pichon and David Lambert. The brother has long told police he and Martha were playing at the old Florida Memorial College site near their home when she left to play somewhere else. And that was the last he saw of her.

But last summer, according to authorities, Lambert changed his story about what happened to the seventh-grader on Nov. 27, 1985. He told police she died in an accidental fall and that he buried her at the former college.

Police dug up the area and brought in dogs during an extensive search in September, but they couldn't find Martha's remains. The overgrown, wooded property had been cleared of buildings in the years since her disappearance.

After they found nothing, detectives talked to Lambert again. This time, he provided more details.


Lambert said he and his sister were fighting over $20, Mulligan said. Martha slapped him and he pushed her back. She fell and landed on a piece of steel that went through the base of her skull, killing her, Lambert told investigators.

He said he panicked and dug a grave to bury his sister, Mulligan said.

Detectives called Pichon this week and told her the case was closed.

"I told them, 'No, the case is not going to be closed,' " Pichon said Friday evening in front of a convenience store near where she now lives.

Pichon said Lambert "makes up tales to look like he's involved," in things, as a way of getting attention.

Pichon said detectives separated her from her son during interviews and she doesn't believe he confessed.



Mulligan said police are convinced Lambert is telling them the truth and that it is not uncommon for families to disagree in these types of cases.

"We certainly understand the complexity and the difficulties these situations bring on a family," Mulligan said. "These are his words."

 

[Mel70]

This is NOTHING new. He's been lying, Sending LE on wild goose chases. Which includes digging where he said he buried her since the beginning. Hecsaid she died accidentally way before last summer. It was that they went to an abandoned school. Argued over $20. Pushed her, She fell, Hit her head. She died, He buried her on property being escavated to build a new college. LE dug to find her. I became very involved in this case W/Mysteries1974. I think about Martha quite often. ALL Paul has done is make it more muddled and difficult!

 

[GrandmaBear]

This is NOTHING new. He's been lying, Sending LE on wild goose chases. Which includes digging where he said he buried her since the beginning. Hecsaid she died accidentally way before last summer. It was that they went to an abandoned school. Argued over $20. Pushed her, She fell, Hit her head. She died, He buried her on property being escavated to build a new college. LE dug to find her. I became very involved in this case W/Mysteries1974. I think about Martha quite often. ALL Paul has done is make it more muddled and difficult!

Article original 2010, updated in August of this year and nothing exactly but the same old sh*t.

You do NOT close a case when you do NOT have a body and cannot prove this is what happened. Who in the HE77 do they they think they are trying to CLOSE an OPEN case which apparently they have, a long time ago in fact. You are LE and your job is to keep it open and work on it UNTIL she is found and answers come.

You are right it is nothing new and is like reading the same old sh*t which it is other than they trying yet again to saying they have reason to call it closed. BULLSHEET.

I'm not sure what happened but I know is story CANNOT be confirmed, her body has not been found and in no way can I buy it as they seem to. If they buy it, then open up the records and ALL the work they did(?) on her disappearance since it's closed right...?

There's so little interest here the reporter couldn't even do a brand new article. I suppose because there IS NOTHING NEW... And LE does not want to find answers and only want it off their books and apparently always have wanted that.

Even IF he did something, and I'm not saying he did, he isn't giving them the truth as to where she is and what happened to her imo. They can't verify it whatsoever and SO the case should remain OPEN. They need to lose their jobs, the ones saying this answered it and is enough because it is NOT.

 

[Mel70]

Article original 2010, updated in August of this year and nothing exactly but the same old sh*t.

You do NOT close a case when you do NOT have a body and cannot prove this is what happened. Who in the HE77 do they they think they are trying to CLOSE an OPEN case which apparently they have, a long time ago in fact. You are LE and your job is to keep it open and work on it UNTIL she is found and answers come.

You are right it is nothing new and is like reading the same old sh*t which it is other than they trying yet again to saying they have reason to call it closed. BULLSHEET.

I'm not sure what happened but I know is story CANNOT be confirmed, her body has not been found and in no way can I buy it as they seem to. If they buy it, then open up the records and ALL the work they did(?) on her disappearance since it's closed right...?

There's so little interest here the reporter couldn't even do a brand new article. I suppose because there IS NOTHING NEW... And LE does not want to find answers and only want it off their books and apparently always have wanted that.

Even IF he did something, and I'm not saying he did, he isn't giving them the truth as to where she is and what happened to her imo. They can't verify it whatsoever and SO the case should remain OPEN. They need to lose their jobs, the ones saying this answered it and is enough because it is NOT.

Exactly! You DON'T close an open case!!! Paul is a LIAR!!! I have gone back and forth on if he was responsible or not. ALL he has done is made it MORE difficult! NOTHING he has said they could verify. I've gone as far as I could as far as leads. It's very frustrating Yes, Mysteries1974 really put a lot of work into this case. It is very complicated. IDC!!! YOU DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER!!!! IT'S A COLD CASE!!! YOU DON'T CLOSE IT!!!

 

[GrandmaBear]

Exactly! You DON'T close an open case!!! Paul is a LIAR!!! I have gone back and forth on if he was responsible or not. ALL he has done is made it MORE difficult! NOTHING he has said they could verify. I've gone as far as I could as far as leads. It's very frustrating Yes, Mysteries1974 really put a lot of work into this case. It is very complicated. IDC!!! YOU DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER!!!! IT'S A COLD CASE!!! YOU DON'T CLOSE IT!!!

Just like your exactly! to me, same back at ya. You know I agree wholeheartedly. I don't really have an opinion that's hard one way or the other of who did what to her, if kidnapped, etc. and that's rare for me, or if the brother did something, BUT you are right, it hasn't helped and hasn't resulted in finding her or even being able to corroborate any of it. Whatever happened, they do NOT know and they CANNOT know and they haven't found her.

And you do not CLOSE a case when you don't have that. As you said it might become a cold case but you DO NOT close it and almost all cops/LE are not so dumb as to say that or try to say they have but not this bunch. Ya know most at least say to the families or the public it's kind of went quiet but it's open and IF something comes up, and we are still on it when we can be, we will be on that new tip, etc.

They have closed AND/OR keep TRYING TO CLOSE it and get it to stop for them... For a LONG time now too.

It's unsolved, she has not been found, and you can't corroborate his story but if you think you can or have more, then it's time to RELEASE it then isn't it to show the public and the family what you have and how it was enough to close it????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mel70]

Just like your exactly! to me, same back at ya. You know I agree wholeheartedly. I don't really have an opinion that's hard one way or the other of who did what to her, if kidnapped, etc. and that's rare for me, or if the brother did something, BUT you are right, it hasn't helped and hasn't resulted in finding her or even being able to corroborate any of it. Whatever happened, they do NOT know and they CANNOT know and they haven't found her.

And you do not CLOSE a case when you don't have that. As you said it might become a cold case but you DO NOT close it and almost all cops/LE are not so dumb as to say that or try to say they have but not this bunch. Ya know most at least say to the families or the public it's kind of went quiet but it's open and IF something comes up, and we are still on it when we can be, we will be on that new tip, etc.

They have closed AND/OR keep TRYING TO CLOSE it and get it to stop for them... For a LONG time now too.

It's unsolved, she has not been found, and you can't corroborate his story but if you think you can or have more, then it's time to RELEASE it then isn't it to show the public and the family what you have and how it was enough to close it????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The family. Well, She was in and out of foster care. She was very small for 12 years old. Which is not unheard of when it comes to some children in abusive, Neglectful situations. They are known to have stunted growth. When they are stabilized, They start to grow. Her mother said they were "The best of friends". I seriously doubt that. Her father was much older, And said to be an abusive alcoholic. I have definitely considered that he may have been responsible for her disappearance. "Jimmy Hoffa's" Case is STILL open! 1975!!! This is completely unacceptable!!!!!!!!!