A missing North Carolina mother of three has been discovered dead, and a man involved in another disappearance has been charged with murder.
Amber Marie Schimmelpfenning, 36, was last seen on September 9, according to a press release from the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office. Five days later, deputies obtained warrants charging Ricky Lam, 40, with first-degree murder, felony concealment/failure to report a death, and felony possession of a firearm.
According to jail records reviewed by PEOPLE, Lam was already in custody in Davidson County on unrelated charges of methamphetamine possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest, and felon possession of a firearm.
On Friday, the sheriff’s office announced via Facebook that detectives had discovered 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.
Amber’s father, Darwin Schimmelpfenning, described her as a devoted mother of three boys aged 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 publication. “She usually avoids getting herself into situations from which she cannot escape. She’s usually a decent judge of character.”
Darwin described his reaction to discovering his daughter’s body as bittersweet. “It was a relief to know that they had found her,” he told ABC 45. “I can say it isn’t over yet. Because an investigation is ongoing, and someone else is involved.
PEOPLE reached out to Schimmelpfenning for comment but has yet to hear back.
Lam was previously identified as a person of interest in the 2024 disappearance of his then-girlfriend Nancy Bunly, 31, who was last seen in September driving a black Honda Pilot, according to WFMY, ABC45, and the Salisbury Post.
According to the outlets, three of Lam’s relatives were later arrested in the case on obstruction charges, but Lam was not charged with Bunly’s disappearance.
The sheriff’s office asks that anyone with information contact Guilford County Crime Stoppers (336-373-1000) or Detective A. Miller (336-641-5966).
