Samantha Lambert case still unsolved five years later
Samantha was found dead on Feb. 17, 2019, in a ditch near Moyer and Schisler roads outside Cooks Mills
More than five years ago, Samantha Lambert’s body was discovered in a ditch at the side of a road in rural Welland. Her mother, Yvonne Lambert, is still seeking answers to some of the most important questions surrounding her death.
Among the most pressing is how the 19-year-old St. Catharines woman died.
Samantha was reported missing Sept. 4, 2018, and was found dead on Feb. 17, 2019, in a ditch near Moyer and Schisler roads outside Cooks Mills, Welland.
“It’s been a nightmare for me, I can’t even imagine what it was like for Samantha,” her mom said.
“It’s just not having answers, and someone should pay for what they did to my little girl, it hurts my heart.”
Niagara Regional Police Insp. Steve Magistrale, in charge of investigative support services in the force’s homicide unit, said Samantha’s case remains open, so it is difficult to “share a tremendous amount of details.”
One detail still missing is how she died.
Samantha’s remains were identified Feb. 26, 2019, following a postmortem exam in Toronto on Feb. 21.
“The circumstances surrounding her death are still under investigation,” said Magistrale.
“She went for a post-mortem and the cause of death is still undetermined.”
Yvonne described her daughter as “a joy for everybody to be around,” with a good heart, who was a genuinely caring and helpful person.
Described as someone who lit up the room, who was well loved by friends and family, Samantha enjoyed every aspect of life, said Yvonne, from family to helping strangers, and volunteering at a food bank in St. Catharines.
She believes her daughter was a victim of human sex trafficking, a growing problem in Niagara and Canada which the NRP has devoted
greater resources to combatting.
Yvonne said prior to Samantha’s disappearance she started displaying characteristics of someone being groomed for trafficking, including changes in behaviour and hanging around “a different crowd” largely consisting of older men.
“She was never allowed to come and see me without them there,” she said.
Samantha told her mom they worked as speedy drivers, an unofficial inexpensive taxi service.
Yvonne said during that time Samantha’s behaviour changed dramatically.
“Things just went from bad to worse and it became apparent she was addicted to drugs, heroin specifically,” she said.
“It just went crazy, and within six months she was gone.”
Yvonne said the last time she saw her daughter alive was just before she disappeared. Samantha was accompanied by a couple of men, who did not enter her home, said Yvonne.
“I reported her missing in the fall of 2018, she was found as an angel by somebody walking their dog, and it became more of a nightmare because Samantha was not coming home to me the way I’d hoped,” she said.
Magistrale said the homicide unit is working “to bring some type of closure” to Samantha’s case, as there has been much talk in the community, and he’s sure someone knows something.
“We know there are people in the community with information to assist us in guiding this investigation to a conclusion in the hope of bringing closure for Yvonne and family and friends,” he said.
“Whether it’s a homicide or anything, we’re one tip away from solving it and there’s people in the community who have that information, and we’re hoping people step forward and assist us in bringing closure to this case.”
Looking back, Yvonne said, she wishes she had noticed the signs earlier, and advised other parents to pay attention.
“Meet people they say are their friends, trust your gut. If it feels wrong, then it probably is,” she said.
Anyone who has information can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara anonymously.