It’s been 21 years since the Ramsbottom family's hopes were dashed after they received the news that their daughter Paula Wade and 3-year-old grandson Brandon went missing.
At first, Wade’s mother, Mary Ramsbottom, was happy her daughter would be moving close to the family residence in Florida due to a job transfer, she was elated. The homecoming had been anticipated since Wade had been living with her husband, whom she married soon after high school. A week later, Wade and Brandon disappeared without a trace.
On Oct. 14, 2002, Wade, who had been a manager at Sam’s Club, failed to show up to work. Since the 25-year-old mother had never missed a day at work in five years, concerned friends and colleagues invoked a welfare check at her apartment. Upon the arrival of authorities, Wade and her son were nowhere to be found except for her car keys, wallet, and purse. Investigators also found her glasses at the residence, which raised a red flag since Wade was almost blind and would not go anywhere without it.
According to authorities, at the time, Wade was estranged from her husband, who was stationed at the Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. Initially, the couple met while the Ramsbottoms were stationed in Europe. After the couple got married, Wade’s husband was transferred to South Korea while she lived with her sister. Later, they moved to Valdosta, Georgia, upon his return home.
From the onset, investigators met a dead end and promptly exhausted all leads. Hence, the case went cold. However, the Ramsbottom family had generated interest in the case over the years by spreading the word on social media, sharing flyers, and putting pressure on the police. It worked!
Recently, the FBI and the Valdosta Police Department have placed the case on its missing list and ordered a fresh look with age progression pictures of what Wade and Brandon would look like today.
“As of this time all leads and clues have been exhausted. A fresh pair of eyes, new thoughts, ideas, and hopefully fresh leads could be the break needed,” said Stephen Thompson, commander of the Valdosta Police Department’s Bureau of Investigation, reported USA Today.
If anyone has information that could blow this case wide open, please contact the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office at 770-216-3000 or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
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