NC AMBER SCHIMMELPFENNING: Missing from High Point, NC - 9 Sept 2025 - Age 36 *Found Deceased*

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Local Navy veteran volunteers to help search for woman involved in missing person homicide investigation​

Vernon Shurtz said he's been using sonar technology and underwater search tools hoping his determination in search efforts brings the Schimmelpfenning family answers​

Bethany CatesGUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. —

The Guilford County Sheriff's Office is still searching for the body of 36-year-old Amber Schimmelpfenning, a mother at the heart of a missing person homicide investigation.

Local Navy veteran Vernon Shurtz said after spending years in the Navy doing mission-oriented work, it was time to now use his talents to give back to the community.

“It’s having a mission in life to go out there and do this and bring answers,” said Shurtz.

Shurtz said he volunteers his time, working hand-in-hand with investigators to piece together the whereabouts of the victim and evidence that could lead to results.

“Every time I go out and I do a search for the day, the very next morning I send off a report, here’s all the places, I searched," said Shurtz.

With Amber Schimmelpfenning's case specifically, he said he is checking the depths of retention ponds and bodies of water to find abandoned vehicles or images of a body.

“We start looking at bodies of water because that’s the quickest and easiest way to conceal a vehicle as well as a body in a vehicle," said Shurtz.

Amber's father, Darwin Schimmelpfenning said he can only image where his daughter is right now.

“I have this awful vision of what she’s looking like right now,” said Darwin. “I hope that someone comes forward soon.”

While Darwin holds on to hope to seek closure for his daughter, Vernon Shurtz is working to make a difference in this case.

"Hopefully we'll able to find them, bring them home and give the families the ability to heal and to mourn properly," said Shurtz.

Amber Schimmelpfenning was last seen Sept. 9.

The Guilford County Sheriff's office have charged Ricky Lam with her murder

'It’s having a mission in life to go out there and do this and bring answers': Local Veteran aids in search efforts

Vernon Shurtz said he's been using sonar technology and underwater search tools hoping his determination brings the Schimmelpfenning family answers

www.wxii12.com

'What did they find that makes them so sure that she’s dead': Grieving father speaks out

Darwin Schimmelpfenning says there is still more pieces to this unsettling puzzle of his daughter's disappearance in Guilford County, but his main focus right now is the three children she leaves behind

www.wxii12.com

 

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GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) — The family of missing Guilford County woman, 36-year-old Amber Schimmelpfennig, who the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office said is the victim in a homicide case, is speaking out.

“Just find her, and we’ll all go about with our lives … Wherever she’s at, she didn’t deserve to be there, and we all know where she’s at. We can hope, pray, but it’s not going to change. Nothing. Somebody saw her or Ricky shooting her. That’s a fact,” said Darwin Schimmelpfenning, Amber’s father.

This week, the sheriff’s office identified Ricky Lam as a suspect.

Her dad first learned she was missing when he got a call from her boyfriend last Tuesday, who was worried when she didn’t come home.

“She’s usually a fairly good judge of character,” Darwin said.

Darwin describes his daughter as a mother devoted to her three sons, ages 8, 11, and 14.

She was a pet groomer and passionate about her job. She had wanted to work with animals from a young age.

“She’s a very strong-willed, independent lady … She’s not afraid of anything … She usually doesn’t get herself into positions where she can’t get out,” Darwin said.

Her dad first learned she was missing when he got a call from her boyfriend on Sept. 9, who was worried when she didn’t come home.

That same day, around midnight, deputies were called to Blackberry Ridge Drive after a call reporting suspicious activity.

Amber’s father said she went there for her car to be repaired.

Now, Ricky Lam is charged with first-degree murder.

“Ricky did it, and they obviously have evidence, or they wouldn’t have locked him up for it. What that evidence is, I don’t know, but I don’t care … Just make sure you prosecute him,” Darwin said.

Amber’s father said Lam was no stranger. He was her acquaintance.

Darwin said Lam occasionally helped her as a handyman. In April 2025, Lam was charged with misdemeanor child abuse and assault after court documents say he slapped a 14-year-old in the face, leaving a busted lip.

Amber’s father said that the child was Amber’s son.

Her father said that after that incident, she wanted nothing to do with Lam.

“He would threaten her on the phone,” Darwin said. “I just … never knew anybody that was that violent, that would act on something like that. “

Amber’s family said the case feels far too familiar.

They pointed to Lam being considered a person of interest in the disappearance of Nancy Bunly, who disappeared nearly one year ago in Davidson County.

“It was almost déjà vu when this happened. It was almost like the same circumstances,” Darwin said.

In addition to wanting her body found, Amber’s loved ones’ biggest concern at this moment is her three sons.

Their father died from a heart attack three years ago, and they had a close relationship with their mother

Family speaks after missing Guilford County mother of 3 declared victim in homicide

GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) — The family of missing Guilford County woman, 36-year-old Amber Schimmelpfennig, who the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office said is the victim in a homicide case, is spe…

myfox8.com

 

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https://myfox8.com/news/storylines/amber-schimmelpfenning/body-of-missing-guilford-county-mother-of-3-found-father-confirms/

PIEDMONT TRIAD, N.C. (WGHP) — The body of Amber Marie Schimmelpfenning, a missing 36-year-old mother of three who was declared the victim of a homicide, has been found, her father, Darwin Schimmelpfenning, confirmed to FOX8.

Suspect identified​

At around 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 9, the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 1200 block of Blackberry Ridge Drive in High Point when they were told about “suspicious activity.”
Following multiple interviews and a search of the area, deputies found a crime scene and collected evidence.
Amber Schimmelpfenning was last seen on Sept. 9 at around 12 a.m. Detectives were not able to find her, and the case escalated into a missing person/homicide investigation.
On Sept. 14, 40-year-old Ricky Lam was charged with murder in connection with Amber’s disappearance. He was also charged with concealing/failing to report a death and possessing a firearm as a felon.

Ricky Lam (Guilford County Sheriff’s Office)
Lam was in custody in Davidson County at the time on unrelated charges.

Family speaks​

Darwin Schimmelpfenning describes his daughter as a mother devoted to her three sons, ages 8, 11 and 14.

Amber Marie Schimmelpfenning
“She’s a very strong-willed, independent lady. She’s not afraid of anything. She usually doesn’t get herself into positions where she can’t get out,” Darwin said.
Her dad first learned she was missing when he got a call from her boyfriend last Tuesday, who was worried when she didn’t come home.
The same day, around midnight, deputies were called to Blackberry Ridge Drive after a call reporting suspicious activity. Amber’s father said she went there for her car to be repaired.
This week, the sheriff’s office identified Ricky Lam as a suspect, and, now, Lam is charged with first-degree murder.
“Ricky did it, and they obviously have evidence, or they wouldn’t have locked him up for it. What that evidence is, I don’t know, but I don’t care. Just make sure you prosecute him,” Darwin said.
Amber’s father said Lam was no stranger. He was an acquaintance, who Darwin said occasionally helped her as a handyman.
“She’s usually a fairly good judge of character,” Darwin said.
In April 2025, Lam was charged with misdemeanor child abuse and assault after court documents say he slapped a 14-year-old in the face, leaving a busted lip.
Amber’s father said that the child was Amber’s son. Her father said that after that incident, she wanted nothing to do with Lam.
“He would threaten her on the phone,” Darwin said. “I just never knew anybody that was that violent, that would act on something like that. “
Amber’s family said the case feels far too familiar.
They pointed to Lam being considered a person of interest in the disappearance of Nancy Bunly, who disappeared nearly one year ago in Davidson County.
“It was almost déjà vu when this happened. It was almost like the same circumstances,” Darwin said.