Found Deceased TX - Michael Chambers, 70, Hunt County, 10 March 2017 #1

[LisaWL7TR]

Where are my manners? Welcome Pmerle! Your PaPaw sounds like an amazing man!

:welcome:

What perfectingpink said!
Thank You for joining and sharing with us. PaPaw's are very special : )

 

[Razz]

After seeing this video and the wooded area, it seems it would have been easy for someone to hide and see him go from the house into the shop and follow behind. Or maybe he had worked in the shop earlier and he inadvertently left it unlocked when he went to Wal-Mart and someone was waiting when he came back.

Strange that the door was locked behind him/them though

IMO

But why? What was the purpose of
an unknown perp following him into the shed and then taking him..... where?

It doesn't sound like a meth head. Whoever it was was pretty careful and deliberate. Closing up his shop, putting the garage doors down, turning off the lights and then locking the door ( probably by turning the little button or knob in the center of the doorhandle) and then leaving the keys behind.

The granddaughter (I'm having a hard time remembering her WS
name) wondered if the deadbolt was in place but how could it be
if they went out the door. Oh. Maybe they locked and deadbolted the door and went out through the garage doors.

And if they hurt MC and or incapacitated him why not go through his house and take stuff there? And his tools?

Why not make it look like a robbery gone bad.... but the scene doesn't suggest that. So what was the motive? If we can figure a motive,
maybe, just maybe we can find MC.

Also, can't the police retrieve calls,
texts and messages through the phone carrier? That could well be fruitful as he may have communicated with someone other than his wife that day. I'd check records for 2 months prior to his disappearance to see if there are some unknown phone numbers.



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[Razz]

I hope Pmerle00 can answer whether she had another key. Surely she did. But perhaps if she didn't she just felt strongly he must be in there and unable to open the door so she called 911.

I wonder how he opened the garage doors from the outside? Did he have to unlock those too?

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[1MommaBear]

Hi all. I don’t post much, mostly just lurk, but this and a couple of other cases have captured my attention lately.

Pmerle00, I’m so sorry that you and your family are going through this horrible situation. PaPaw sounds like a wonderful man, and I hope you find him soon.

Based on what we know from articles available online, and the information that Pmerle00 shared with us here on Websleuths, this is my theory (my opinion only!):

PaPaw went to Walmart and purchased makeup for his wife. He arrived home, got out of his truck, and locked it. He went into the house and placed the makeup on the bathroom counter and tossed the receipt in the bathroom waste basket. He left the house, locking it behind him, and went to his shop. Someone with the intent of robbing him was hiding nearby and saw him heading to the shop. PaPaw entered the shop, put his wallet and keys down, and started working on whatever task he had planned to work on (he might not have actually had time to start the task). The robber entered the shop (PaPaw does not lock the door to the shop when he is inside working) and confronted PaPaw, demanding cash. PaPaw handed over the cash that was in his wallet. The amount was not enough for the robber, who demanded more. PaPaw said that he didn’t have more, which angered the robber, who picked up a nearby wooden rod and struck PaPaw, thus the blood. The robber said that he was going to drive PaPaw to an ATM and that he must withdraw cash. PaPaw figured that there was no way he was going to withdraw a large sum of cash for the robber. (After all, he was a firefighter, who faced dangerous and deadly situations many times before, and he had the smarts and the skill to avoid it.) He said he’d grab his ATM card, but he instead grabbed his driver license because he had no intent of handing over a bunch of cash. (I believe he left his wallet and keys behind in the shop, thinking they’d be locked up and secure there for when he returned. His cell phone was still in his pocket, where he normally keeps it.) The robber forced him out of the shop and into a car (possibly threatening him with a gun?). I’m thinking that because PaPaw was a man of habit, and because he figured that some way he could get out of this situation, he locked the door behind him. (Firefighters are trained to remain calm and cool-headed under pressure, so I think PaPaw probably behaved in a manner consistent with that training.) The robber drove him to an ATM, and demanded that PaPaw withdraw cash. PaPaw, thinking that he could get out of this by this point, reached in his pocket and said that he only had his driver license. The situation was such that PaPaw could not summon help (possibly there was no one around to see or hear him?). The angered robber then forced PaPaw back into the car and decided that he had to kill him so that he could not identify/testify against him. The robber drove him to another location, killed him, and disposed of his body. (Gah. I’m sorry. I hate to write that.)

I believe this is a money-motivated crime, and that the suspect either knew PaPaw, or knew of him (possibly through the car club/car restoration hobby). The suspect knew that PaPaw was doing well financially, and would either have cash on him or access to cash.

I know that nothing of value was stolen, but sometimes criminals just want cash. When they steal things, they run the risk of being caught with those things, tying them to the crime. They also run the risk of being caught while trying to sell the items for cash, which it what they really want. Even though everyone knows that ATMs have cameras, I’m still amazed by the number of robberies that take place at ATMs.

Pmerle00, can I ask you a few questions?

1) Does this theory sound plausible based on your knowledge of PaPaw and the situation?
2) Do you know if the investigators have reviewed surveillance footage of nearby ATMs (both walk-up ATMs and drive-thru ATMs)? If they haven’t, could you ask them to do so?
3) Is PaPaw’s property such that someone could park a car out of view, such that PaPaw may not see it when he drives up to his house? (Even if it’s not possible to conceal a car from view, the suspect may have had an accomplice waiting nearby.)

All of the above is my opinion only! Please feel free to poke holes in my theory, as I'm sure I've missed some things.

 

[ocgrad]

Hi all. I don’t post much, mostly just lurk, but this and a couple of other cases have captured my attention lately.

Pmerle00, I’m so sorry that you and your family are going through this horrible situation. PaPaw sounds like a wonderful man, and I hope you find him soon.

Based on what we know from articles available online, and the information that Pmerle00 shared with us here on Websleuths, this is my theory (my opinion only!):

PaPaw went to Walmart and purchased makeup for his wife. He arrived home, got out of his truck, and locked it. He went into the house and placed the makeup on the bathroom counter and tossed the receipt in the bathroom waste basket. He left the house, locking it behind him, and went to his shop. Someone with the intent of robbing him was hiding nearby and saw him heading to the shop. PaPaw entered the shop, put his wallet and keys down, and started working on whatever task he had planned to work on (he might not have actually had time to start the task). The robber entered the shop (PaPaw does not lock the door to the shop when he is inside working) and confronted PaPaw, demanding cash. PaPaw handed over the cash that was in his wallet. The amount was not enough for the robber, who demanded more. PaPaw said that he didn’t have more, which angered the robber, who picked up a nearby wooden rod and struck PaPaw, thus the blood. The robber said that he was going to drive PaPaw to an ATM and that he must withdraw cash. PaPaw figured that there was no way he was going to withdraw a large sum of cash for the robber. (After all, he was a firefighter, who faced dangerous and deadly situations many times before, and he had the smarts and the skill to avoid it.) He said he’d grab his ATM card, but he instead grabbed his driver license because he had no intent of handing over a bunch of cash. (I believe he left his wallet and keys behind in the shop, thinking they’d be locked up and secure there for when he returned. His cell phone was still in his pocket, where he normally keeps it.) The robber forced him out of the shop and into a car (possibly threatening him with a gun?). I’m thinking that because PaPaw was a man of habit, and because he figured that some way he could get out of this situation, he locked the door behind him. (Firefighters are trained to remain calm and cool-headed under pressure, so I think PaPaw probably behaved in a manner consistent with that training.) The robber drove him to an ATM, and demanded that PaPaw withdraw cash. PaPaw, thinking that he could get out of this by this point, reached in his pocket and said that he only had his driver license. The situation was such that PaPaw could not summon help (possibly there was no one around to see or hear him?). The angered robber then forced PaPaw back into the car and decided that he had to kill him so that he could not identify/testify against him. The robber drove him to another location, killed him, and disposed of his body. (Gah. I’m sorry. I hate to write that.)

I believe this is a money-motivated crime, and that the suspect either knew PaPaw, or knew of him (possibly through the car club/car restoration hobby). The suspect knew that PaPaw was doing well financially, and would either have cash on him or access to cash.

I know that nothing of value was stolen, but sometimes criminals just want cash. When they steal things, they run the risk of being caught with those things, tying them to the crime. They also run the risk of being caught while trying to sell the items for cash, which it what they really want. Even though everyone knows that ATMs have cameras, I’m still amazed by the number of robberies that take place at ATMs.

Pmerle00, can I ask you a few questions?

1) Does this theory sound plausible based on your knowledge of PaPaw and the situation?
2) Do you know if the investigators have reviewed surveillance footage of nearby ATMs (both walk-up ATMs and drive-thru ATMs)? If they haven’t, could you ask them to do so?
3) Is PaPaw’s property such that someone could park a car out of view, such that PaPaw may not see it when he drives up to his house? (Even if it’s not possible to conceal a car from view, the suspect may have had an accomplice waiting nearby.)

All of the above is my opinion only! Please feel free to poke holes in my theory, as I'm sure I've missed some things.

This has alot of merit. Even if he didn't make it to an ATM. He may have admitted he only had his DL before they got there as he tried to talk the robber down. He may have smartly left his Keys and wallet where they were knowing they were now locked out and would have to wait for the wife to get home.

 

[SavetheQueen]

This has alot of merit. Even if he didn't make it to an ATM. He may have admitted he only had his DL before they got there as he tried to talk the robber down. He may have smartly left his Keys and wallet where they were knowing they were now locked out and would have to wait for the wife to get home.

Or left them knowing that if they were found, people would realize that he was missing.

I like this theory. "Oh, darn. I grabbed my license instead of my ATM card."


*All statements are that of my own opinion unless otherwise specified.*

 

[LisaWL7TR]

I have a question and I apologize if asked and answered before. So many dear people missing.

Question is-How long had Michael Chambers/Papaw been retired?

 

[1MommaBear]

I have a question and I apologize if asked and answered before. So many dear people missing.

Question is-How long had Michael Chambers/Papaw been retired?

"Chambers retired from Dallas Fire-Rescue in 2008."

https://www.firerescue1.com/dallas-fire-rescue/articles/204292018-Police-Missing-retired-Dallas-firefighter-may-have-been-taken-from-home/

 

[Razz]

Or left them knowing that if they were found, people would realize that he was missing.

I like this theory. "Oh, darn. I grabbed my license instead of my ATM card."


*All statements are that of my own opinion unless otherwise specified.*

A plausible theory for sure. But since ATMs allow only a certain amount of money to be withdrawn,
I would think allowing the robber that amount would be a reasonable exchange for his life.

Also, it would have been midday when area businesses around the ATMs would be busy and MC could have taken off or called for help.

I still like the theory that he put the leftover cash from Wal-Mart into his pocket. The d.l? I'd be interested to know if he purchased a decongestant.

He'd also want to sort the bills from the coins. If he was in a hurry or there was a long line behind him, he may have jammed it all into his pocket. I've done that w/ my purse
instead of placing my money in it's proper place in my billfold. Sometimes it's just faster and easier.

Why would Pawpa bring his billfold out to the shed unless he normally kept it in his pocket and then store it in a special place in the shed?
Was he afraid it could be stolen if someone broke into the house while he was out in the shed?

I'm thinking he may have stopped for lunch somewhere. Maybe a favorite cafe?

This perp would have to know MC if he hid himself in the woods. First they'd have to know his address and 2. They had to know he wouldn't be out all day. (Otherwise they could be waiting in those stinking woods all day).

I wonder if he didn't cut a finger and soon realized he was going to need more than a towel to stop the bleeding and it would require him going into the house.

Perhaps he left the shed, forgetting for a minute that he'd left the door knob in the locked position. He locked himself out and instead of bothering his wife at work or getting a locksmith or busting the door down, he took a walk.

As there don't appear to be sidewalks where he lives, he had to walk on the road shoulder. Maybe someone came by and sideswiped him on the road. Maybe they pulled him off the side of the road, made sure he was well hidden and took off.

For some reason, I think he's fairly close to home. But maybe in an unfamiliar field on the side of the road.

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[Pmerle00]

What are their ages if you don't mind me asking.

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70 and 60, I think.

 

[Pmerle00]

Someone would know if he had eaten something. Did he always clean up and wash the dishes afterward? Maybe he had company for lunch?

Maybe someone picked him up for lunch? Did this ever happen? Since cash was missing, maybe he stuck some dollars in his jeans.

But...he would have locked himself out of the shed. But, perhaps that's easy enough to do. Did that ever happen?

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I'm not sure about his habits daily after lunch. I know when we would have dinner over there he tended to have things cleaned up pretty quickly. Let me ask another family member and get back to you.

Locking himself out of the shed hadn't happened that I am aware of.

He was wearing sweats, and really is very particular about where his money gets put away, so I doubt he would just put money in his pocket all willy nilly.

 

[LaneGirl]

Pmerle00 thank you for coming back. I think it is important for a family member to be there to get more attention. Did a websleuth staff reach out to you to get verified? Because I perhaps didn't communicate properly

I so hope we can help bring pawpaw home! Many are dedicated on here to help!

 

[Pmerle00]

Is the shop in the backyard where you have to go through the house or over/through a fence to access it?

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No, the shop is free standing and accessible the same as the house.

 

[Pmerle00]

Pmerle00 thank you for coming back. I think it is important for a family member to be there to get more attention. Did a websleuth staff reach out to you to get verified? Because I perhaps didn't communicate properly

I so hope we can help bring pawpaw home! Many are dedicated on here to help!

They haven't reached out to me yet. I did email. Some days it's hard for me to get online, but I'll keep coming back here and answering as much as I can! I've said the same on facebook as well.

 

[Pmerle00]

Pmerle00, I'm so sorry that you and your family are having to go through this.
The little bit of surveillance video is unclear (to me) whether he had his wallet there at Walmart. I see him reach into his front pocket. Have you seen a longer version so that you can verify if he had the wallet at the store?

There's more to the surveillance than shown on the media. He did have his wallet.

 

[Pmerle00]

Anything that contains pseudophedrine in it, yes. Anything like Benadryl, etc., no.


*All statements are that of my own opinion unless otherwise specified.*

Good thinking... Is there some way to run his license number through somewhere to see if it has been used for that? I'd like to ask the sheriff for specific action when possible.

 

[LaneGirl]

They haven't reached out to me yet. I did email. Some days it's hard for me to get online, but I'll keep coming back here and answering as much as I can! I've said the same on facebook as well.

Ok my apologies I reached out to Tricia the owner but perhaps I didn't so something correctly.

Please keep coming back, folks here are super helpful.

 

[Pmerle00]

Did she have children prior to the marriage with your Papaw?

No. Papaw had 2 daughters with his first wife. He and Becca have 2 sons.

 

[LaneGirl]

They haven't reached out to me yet. I did email. Some days it's hard for me to get online, but I'll keep coming back here and answering as much as I can! I've said the same on facebook as well.

Ok thanks. I reached out to Bessie mod today incase Tricia didn't get my pm yesterday.

Thanks again!

 

[Pmerle00]

I wonder how much blood was found in the shed. A lot, a little bit? Is there a sink in the shed where he could have washed up?

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There is a concerning amount, but not a fatal amount. There is a sink, but the blood trail leads to the door, not the bathroom.