Bumping up for Martha. In my opinion, those in her closer circle, not a stranger, are more likely involved. Whether someone whose behavior was inappropriate (such as an older male neighbor inviting children around), someone whose story changed, or someone who seemed to be covering for someone .
She was a precious girl (she reminds me of a dear child I know) and deserved to be safe and live her full life. I don't think she ran away, with all of the other suspicious aspects of the case.
I used to think it could’ve been a stranger abduction but I too believe it was someone close to her.
There was so much going on around Martha in 1985 and at least two known serial killers were active in that general area during the 1980s. It also seemed like the police never wanted to focus on any other possibility aside from the family being involved so I’ve been concerned the SJSO had a problem with tunnel vision back then.
The Lambert kids were all abused, neglected and treated horribly by the adults in their lives. That’s why I was always confused on how the cops knew David was lying to cover himself rather than just being terrified. I will get back to why I believe David never stuck to more than one story and lied.
My list of suspects has never really changed, it’s from years of gathering information from people who knew the Lamberts back then. I don’t share all of it to protect those who have come forward.
The list currently includes:
1.) David Lambert (brother)
2.) Raymond Lambert (brother)
3.) Howard Lambert (father or stepfather, unclear if Martha shares the same father as either of her brothers)
4.) Clifford Morgan (neighbor)
5.) James Kenneth Elmen Jr. (suspected serial killer)
6.) Darrell Lindsay (serial killer)
Martha was pretty much the only “normal” one in her family. Her parents were both alcoholics who fought and the children were often left to their own devices. If anyone cooked in that house, it was Martha. Those who knew her at school said she was very friendly but also quite shy.
A girl whose grandparents fostered Martha remembers playing with her when they had her at their home. She was sweet and just wanted love.
Martha definitely wasn’t lured or coaxed into a strangers car. Martha never accepted rides from anyone, not even people she knew. Someone I spoke with recalled seeing Martha walking alone on a street on one occasion and offered her a ride to her destination but she declined.
If she was kidnapped, it was by force and Martha would’ve put up a struggle with her abductor because she was known to scrap with people who gave her a hard time. By all accounts, no one heard any screams or sounds consistent with a struggle that night. It’s obviously possible she was taken at gun or knife point which might’ve scared her into complying but we can’t prove that obviously.
Now, back to why I believe David lied. I think David lied to cover not for himself but for someone else. David was know to be very impressionable and prone to suggestion. That’s why many people who knew him personally suspect he was put up to confessing to her death by someone else. That someone else I believe was another family member.
Some have said they suspect the mother due to her temper and alcoholism. While I could see that, I don’t think she was involved. If anything, I think Martha’s disappearance was a wake up call that caused her to see that her bad parenting and neglect ultimately led to the demise of her youngest child.
The drinking only increased after Martha’s disappearance, eventually culminating in Howard and Margaret’s divorce. In 1990, Margaret moved to Danville, Illinois and left her sons with Howard.
I cannot find any clarification on whether or not Howard is Martha’s biological father. No one really seems to know to be honest. It’s also unclear whether or not Martha and her brothers are half siblings. I can’t really find much on Martha’s actual birth and her family’s origins. All anyone can say is the Lambeet family was well known in St. Augustine and not for good reasons.
There’s been rumors and allegations that sexual abuse was occurring in the Lambert household. Some who knew the family believe Martha might’ve threatened to tell on someone and so she was killed to prevent that. A man who was a child and neighbor to the Lambert’s recalled seeing one of the brothers throwing pillow cases and sacks with unknown contents into a pond nearby. When questioned, the brother said it was dead animal parts.
Should be noted that for whatever reason, the Lambert’s had a bunch of dead dogs behind their property that were found when the police searched the area. The neighbor believes the contents of those sacks might’ve been Martha’s remains. The pond is gator infested so whatever was thrown it was undoubtedly consumed by them.
I’ve gotten mixed answers on whether this pond was ever searched or not. I was told at one point that it wasn’t, that they weren’t sure and then that they did search it at some point in 1986 only to find nothing. I’m not sure what to believe from the SJSO anymore and I take what they say with a grain of salt.
The general theory that locals hold is that someone who lived in Martha’s house killed her and then one or both of her brothers helped to dispose of her remains. This is all of course just speculation until proven.
The area where Martha disappeared has a lot of random spots and holes that could hide a body. I’m hopeful that someday, someone will find her accidentally or someone will finally reveal what happened to her. My gut tells me Martha isn’t very far from the spot her mobile home once stood 40 years ago.
Again, all of this is speculation and rumors that have floated around locals ever since 1985. Most of the people I spoke with were former neighbors of the Lamberts, former classmates of the three children, former law enforcement officers, as well as people might not have known the family but recall the events that came before and after Martha’s disappearance. If this is not allowed, mods by all means can remove.
