By NC WANTED Staff

Posted: Mar 30, 2007
Updated: Mar. 30, 2009

CUMBERLAND COUNTY — SATURDAY NIGHT:  NC WANTED brings you the latest information on the death investigation of Pamela Mikels Waldher of Cumberland County.

NC WANTED airs Saturday night after the 10 O'Clock News on FOX50, and after WRAL's 11 O'Clock News on WILM-TV in Wilmington.

 Also, If you have information on this case, call NC WANTED toll free at 1.866.43.WANTED or click on "Report a Tip" Your identity can be kept confidential.

From the most recent reports by NC WANTED Staff

CUMBERLAND COUNTY:  On Wednesday, September 12, 2007, NC WANTED confirmed new information about the disappearance of a missing teenager profiled in recent weeks on the NC WANTED TV show and website.  Pamela Mikels Waldher attended Terry Sanford High School and was living in Fayetteville at the time of her disappearance.

NC WANTED has learned that Waldher, who was 16 when she disappeared, is no longer considered missing.

NC WANTED has also been informed that authorities delivered news to Pamela Waldher’s next of kin that her remains had been located on Fort Bragg.

Sources from Fayetteville Police Department tell NC WANTED that by comparing DNA, they have confirmed the remains belonged to 16 year old Pamela Mikels Waldher.

Pamela Waldher was last seen January 22nd, 2005.  She was initially reported as a run away on January 23.  She was later categorized as Missing and Endangered and was placed in the NCMEC database for missing and exploited children.

For more than two years investigators have worked tirelessly to piece together the bizarre circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

Though they hoped and prayed for her safe return, Pam’s maternal grandparents never believed she ran away from home. They say she would never go anywhere without contacting them. “If she would have left the house, first of all, she would have called us,” says her grandfather, Steve Waldher. Shortly after they found out she was missing, Pamela’s grandparents suspected they would never again see there granddaughter, who they raised from infancy until she moved to Fayetteville at age 14.

They suspected foul play from the beginning.

Pamela had been living in Fayetteville with her biological father, Beau Garcia, for only about 18 months prior to her disappearance. Pam had moved to North Carolina to be with Garcia at age 14. In the weeks leading up to her disappearance, Steve and Shaleen Waldher say Pam called several times indicating she wanted to move back to Washington. Two days before she is reported missing, Garcia admits he and his daughter had their worse confrontation ever. Garcia says he was supposed to do Pam’s hair for a dance but ran late and wasn’t able to help her prepare. “I didn’t think that I would ever see her that angry in my life,” he says. “She didn’t have anything really to say to me outsides the monosyllabic grunts or admonitions if you will.” Two days after the missing persons report was filed, Pam’s coat and back-pack were found on Fort Bragg off of Highway 87 and Nursery Road. Her coat was neatly folded on the ground with her back-pack placed on top. These items were discovered about 16 miles from her father’s home on Glen Canyon drive in Fayetteville, where she reportedly was last seen.

In February of 2005, Fayetteville police intensified their search for the missing teen. Officers and police dogs searched a half-mile area off Lake Valley Drive, closer to where Pam was living. Police concentrated on a wooded area that runs between the field and Beau Garcia's former house on Glen Canyon Drive. That area was searched again in February of 2007. Since Pam's disappearance, Beau Garcia has sold the house where he and Pamela were living together. But the area near Garcia's former house is considered a route the teen could have taken to reach the Fort Bragg land where her backpack and jacket were found. Police have never named an official suspect but consider Beau Garcia a person of interest. NC WANTED was able to confirm that in the months prior to her disappearance allegations were made that Garcia mistreated Pam. No charges were filed.

Hoping to spark leads, her family traveled to Fayetteville from Washington State to hold a vigil. Three weeks after she vanished, they offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to her whereabouts. Her picture was seen across the country, featured on Without A Trace, America’s Most Wanted and The CBS Morning Show. Investigators have found no evidence she was traveling to Washington state... or anywhere. The bright teenager had access to money, a phone card and frequent flier miles. But since the report of her disappearance, no account has been accessed.

When she disappeared, Pamela was a sophomore at Terry Sanford High in Fayetteville. She had a 4.0 GPA and was very involved with Forensics and German Club. She had dreams of attending Harvard or Yale and wanted to be a lawyer. “The last time we talked to her was after she won this debating contest, “ says her grandfather. “And she was just very excited… and she was just in a very upbeat mood.”

This October Pam would be celebrating her 19th birthday, preparing for college and planning her future. But instead celebrating her life, her family will hold a memorial service. They had planned the ceremony prior to the discovery of her remains. Knowing she is gone they have an unnerving sense of closure but without the facts surrounding her death, they are still haunted with questions. What really happened to Pam? Was she a victim of foul play?

RELEASE TO NC WANTED FROM FAYETTEVILLE PD: Fayetteville Police Detectives, Fort Bragg Law Enforcement Officials and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have identified remains found on the Reservation of Ft. Bragg as those of missing 16-year-old Pamela Waldher.

Pamela was reported missing on January 23, 2005 in her home on Glen Canyon Drive. Her book bag and coat were found a few days later on Ft. Bragg in Harnett County.

Pamela’s case is now considered a Death Investigation.

Detectives have notified Pamela’s family. The family has asked that the media respect their privacy and refrain from calling and/or visiting their homes at this time.

Due to the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation, additional information regarding the discovery of the remains and this case will not be released at this time.

All media inquiries should be directed to the Fayetteville Police Department’s Public Information Officer at (910) 433-1896.

From Previous NC WANTED Staff Reports

CUMBERLAND COUNTY:  Pamela Mikels Waldher was last seen January 22 of 2005 in Fayetteville. 

Questions about her disappearance remain unanswered.  Is Pam a runaway?  Is she the victim of foul play?  Why would a 4.0 GPA student from Terry Sanford High run away and not use her bank card, cell phone or frequent flier miles?   Why would Pam not contact her maternal grandparents in Washington state, whom she loved dearly and telephoned almost every day?  Why was she fleeing her living situation in Fayetteville?

NC WANTED is examining her mysterious disappearance.  The show airs on Saturday nights, after WRAL's 10 O'Clock News on FOX50.

Background on Pamela's Story-

When Pam was first reported missing by her biological father - Beau Robert Joseph Garcia, II ("Beau") - authorities labeled the teenager as a potential runaway. Beau told police he went to Pam's bedroom and saw she was gone. He said he noticed several items missing, including her backpack, shoes and contact lenses.

Pamela had only been living in Fayetteville with her biological father for about 18 months prior to her disappearance. For most of her young life, Pam was raised by her maternal grandparents in Washington state. In the weeks and days leading up to her disappearance, the grandparents were getting phone calls from Pam indicating that she wanted to move back.  Her tumultuous relationship with Beau had been flaring up and the two had recently tangled in their worst confrontation ever.

After learning Pam was missing and didn’t have her medication, police elevated her status to 'Endangered Missing' and an Amber Alert was issued.  An urgent search began from North Carolina to the West Coast.  Within three hours after her disappearance, her grandfather Steve Waldher offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to her whereabouts. Fliers and posters were distributed as family and friends frantically searched, pleading for her safe return.

At a candlelight vigil, her grandfather commented, "When I come here and see the people, I have hope. I am not giving up hope." 

But hope fades as each day passes.

Within days of her disappearance, investigators found Pamela’s backpack and clothing at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, less than 20 miles from her home. They searched the area with trained dogs and other special methods, but no additional evidence was found.

Investigators have found no evidence she was traveling to Washington state... or anywhere. The intelligent teenager had access to money, a phone card and frequent flier miles. But since the report of her disappearance, each account has not been accessed.

In February of 2005, Fayetteville police intensified their search for the missing teen. Officers and police dogs searched a half-mile-square area off Lake Valley Drive, closer to where Pam was living.  Police concentrated on a wooded area that runs between the field and Beau Garcia's former house, which was located in a cul-de-sac on Glen Canyon Drive.  Since Pam's disappearance, Beau Garcia has sold the house where he and Pamela were living together.  But the area near Garcia's former house is considered a route the teen could have taken to reach the Ft. Bragg land where her backpack and jacket were found.  The wooded area could also be a location for foul play.

When she disappeared, Pamela was a sophomore at Terry Sanford High in Fayetteville. She had a 4.0 GPA and was very involved with Forensics and German Club. Standing at 5’7”, she has a slim build, weighing only 115 pounds. She has blue eyes and brown hair with a small scar on her right knee. She may be wearing contact lenses.

If you have any information in this case, call the NC WANTED Hotline at 1-866-43-WANTED or click on 'Report A Tip.'  Your identity and information will be kept confidential.  Please make the call if you know something.