Mysteries1974
Martha Jean Lambert - Missing since 1985
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Chester Ralph Wetmore
Chester was last seen leaving his family's residence in Bradenton, Florida during the evening hours of May 26, 1986. He has never been heard from again.
James P. Barnes, a death row inmate in Florida, confessed to Chester's murder in the first episode of Werner Herzog's documentary miniseries, On Death Row, in 2012. A photo of Barnes is posted with this case summary. He was sentenced to death for the murder of Patricia Miller; he was already serving a life sentence for the murder of his estranged wife when he confessed to Miller's murder.
Six weeks after his first interview with Herzog, Barnes wrote Herzog a letter confessing to killing and burying Chester. He also confessed to the unsolved 1990 murder of Brenda Joyce Fletcher, correctly identifying the place where her body had been found. He has never been charged in either case, however, and is still awaiting execution.
Some agencies may list September 17, 1989 or May 27, 1986 as the date of Chester's disappearance. Some may classify his case as that of an endangered runaway.
Investigating Agency
Updated 2 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated April 18, 2018; middle name added.
- Missing Since05/26/1986
- Missing FromBradenton, Florida
- ClassificationEndangered Missing
- SexMale
- RaceWhite
- Date of Birth08/21/1971 (48)
- Age14 years old
- Height and Weight6'0, 145 pounds
- Clothing/Jewelry DescriptionJeans, a blue checkered shirt and boots.
- Distinguishing CharacteristicsCaucasian male. Blond hair, brown eyes.
Chester was last seen leaving his family's residence in Bradenton, Florida during the evening hours of May 26, 1986. He has never been heard from again.
James P. Barnes, a death row inmate in Florida, confessed to Chester's murder in the first episode of Werner Herzog's documentary miniseries, On Death Row, in 2012. A photo of Barnes is posted with this case summary. He was sentenced to death for the murder of Patricia Miller; he was already serving a life sentence for the murder of his estranged wife when he confessed to Miller's murder.
Six weeks after his first interview with Herzog, Barnes wrote Herzog a letter confessing to killing and burying Chester. He also confessed to the unsolved 1990 murder of Brenda Joyce Fletcher, correctly identifying the place where her body had been found. He has never been charged in either case, however, and is still awaiting execution.
Some agencies may list September 17, 1989 or May 27, 1986 as the date of Chester's disappearance. Some may classify his case as that of an endangered runaway.
Investigating Agency
- Manatee County Sheriff's Department
- 941-741-3248
- 941-747-3011
Updated 2 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated April 18, 2018; middle name added.
