On a November day in 1985, a young girl went missing from her Florida home. Too often, children go missing--feared to be abducted. In the United States, a child goes missing or is abducted roughly every forty seconds. Violence against children should never happen, but too often it does. On November 24, 1985, Margaret Pichon experienced her worst fears come true when her daughter Martha Jean Lambert did not return home and was feared abducted. At the time, Martha Jean was just twelve years old. Although the case was investigated, the fate of Martha Jean Lambert was never discovered--that is, until now.
Burnt Turkey
Like many couples, the parents of Martha Jean and her older brother David often fought. They fought on the day Martha Jean would disappear after her mother burnt the Thanksgiving turkey.
Money's Tight
Like many families, Martha Jean's struggled with bills. So, a burnt turkey wasn't necessarily an easy fix. With little money to spare, Thanksgiving was likely ruined.
The Kids Take a Hike
When their parents would fight, Martha Jean and her brother would often venture out of the house and hang out at a nearby abandoned college.
Hanging Out
Florida Memorial College was a vacant ruin that many kids would visit to hang out and get away from it all.
The Mystery Begins
After arriving at the abandoned college, David Lambert told authorities that he and his sister split up. He explored the college grounds and assumed that she did the same.
Time to Go Home
As the day progressed, David went looking for his sister so they could head home. As he crossed and recrossed his steps, he simply couldn't find her.
Martha Jean Could Not Be Found
David had scoured the whole campus but there was no sign of his sister.
Searching the Neighborhood
David returned home and told his parents that he could not find Martha Jean. The ruined turkey was forgotten as the family took to the streets to search for Martha Jean.
Calling in the Police
Martha Jean's parents knew something was wrong. They called the police. They knew Martha Jean would not stay out late and should have returned home.
Suspected Kidnapping
As police questioned the family's neighbors and the community, they could not find any information about the girl's disappearance. Martha Jean's mother was convinced that she was kidnapped.
Police Left Puzzled with No Answers
Although police were inclined to think, too, that Martha Jean could have been abducted, they could find no trace of her or her abductor. No one had appeared to see or hear a thing that could provide them with any leads.
No Trace of Martha Jean
Eventually, police realized they had a cold case on their hands. They hand no leads to help them find the missing girl.
Divorce
Tension and despair may have been too much for the parents of Martha Jean. In the 25 years since their daughter went missing, the couple divorced.
A Son Moves On
According to the family, David was never the same after the disappearance of Martha Jean. He went his own way after his parents split up.
A Surprising Tale
25 years after the death of his sister, David Lambert entered the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. He said he had news for them.
A Secret
David, now 38 years old, told the sheriff he had a secret and he wanted to get it out.
Confession
David told police that his sister was dead.
Afraid
David told police it was all an accident. He had been too scared to tell them the truth of what happened at the abandoned campus.
David Talks
David told the police that he and his sister left their home as previously stated after the burnt turkey episode. They went to a nearby store to buy some candy.
David's Story Continues
David told police that they took their candy to the abandoned college campus just as he told them. They needed some fresh air and thought they'd do some exploring to get their minds off things.
A Photo and Tears
Police pulled out a file of the case, revealing Martha Jean's picture. David began to cry.
An Argument
As he cried, David spilled out the story of an argument with his little sister.
Argument over Twenty Bucks
According to David, he had given Martha Jean $20. But she wanted more. That was the genesis of their argument.
He Said No
Having already given money to his sister, David told Martha Jean no. He could not lend her any more cash.
A Swing
David said his sister became upset when he gave her no money. She punched him in the nose.
A Shove
David, like Martha Jean, had been upset with all that had happened that day. After receiving the blow, David shoved his sister. The push would change their fate forever.
A Fateful Fall
After David pushed her, Martha Jean fell backwards, striking her head on the ground.
A Terrible Accident
David told police that Martha Jean's head hadn't just hit the ground. It struck a chunk of metal protruding from the ground.
Nothing He Could Do
Although David said he yelled for help, he saw blood pouring from his sister's head. He could not save her, but he was scared to report the truth. He buried her in a shallow grave.
A Mother's Disbelief
Police believed David's confession, decided not to charge him and closed the case. Martha Jean's Mother, who said David makes up stories, still believes her daughter was abducted. Her remains have never been found.
Article Writer
Don’t let her focus on food-related quizzes fool you, Peg is a pro in many arenas. Even though she spends most of her free time whipping up delicious cookies and concocting new recipes for easy but impressive gluten-free cakes, Peg’s brain holds a vast collection of knowledge about everything from baby animals to what you need to know to graduate from different school grades. While she’s the first to admit everything she reads doesn’t necessarily stick in her head, Peg keeps her mind fresh by reading the Financial Post and Globe and Mail on the regular, and coming up with fantastic ideas for new quizzes. She’s a secret fan of gossip, too, so watch out for her intense celeb topics!
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