Shapammala Buckner
Case Information:
Shapammala Latrisha Buckner vanished at the age of 20 from Houston, Texas, on May 21, 2017. She disappeared from her apartment in the 13000 block of Northborough Drive under deeply alarming circumstances that point heavily to a coordinated act of foul play.
Loved ones, who affectionately refer to her as “Pam,” have endured nearly a decade of silence while desperately pressing for investigative updates. The local community has rallied behind her family, conducting multiple physical searches alongside specialized recovery teams to locate the young woman.
Case Details:
Pam was a soft-spoken and positive 20-year-old woman residing at the Forest Pointe Apartments on Northborough Drive. At the time of her disappearance, her boyfriend, Stephan Bell (who utilized the online moniker “Twitch”), was away serving on active Army orders overseas, leaving her alone in the residence.
Tensions peaked when several of the boyfriend’s relatives, including his sister, EJ Adkins, and his brother, Tray Bell (who also goes by Marcello), arrived at the apartment—an environment where Pam had previously expressed feeling intensely unsafe.
Despite her verbal objections to her boyfriend over the phone, Stephan instructed her to let his family members inside under the guise of retrieving personal belongings.
Timeline of Events:
- May 21, 2017: Shapammala Latrisha Buckner objects to letting her boyfriend’s relatives inside their Northborough Drive apartment before she ultimately complies on his instructions.
- May 21, 2017 (Afternoon): An altercation escalates into physical violence, prompting Pam to barricade herself in a bedroom and send frantic text messages to her aunt begging for an immediate ride.
- May 21, 2017 (Evening): A concerned neighbor hears the violent disturbance, checks on Pam, and contacts the Houston Police Department to dispatch emergency assistance for a welfare check.
- May 21, 2017 (Night): Responding officers arrive at the scene, knock on the apartment door, and abruptly leave the premises without gaining entry after receiving no answer.
- May 21, 2017 (1 Hour Later): Pam’s aunt arrives at the complex where Tray Bell answers the door, claims Pam has already left the area, and conceals that her phone and keys remain inside.
Investigation:
The initial response by local law enforcement stalled when responding officers failed to breach or successfully clear the apartment during the active domestic disturbance call.
Detectives faced immediate roadblocks as the Bell family alleged that Pam had simply walked away from her life to pursue a relationship with another man.
Online public interest and independent researchers later uncovered troubling histories regarding the brothers, including allegations that Stephan feared a domestic violence report would jeopardize his military career.
Texas EquuSearch later joined the investigation, coordinating ground sweeps across regional fields and urban sectors, but failed to locate any physical trace of the missing woman.
Community Response:
In the years following her disappearance, advocacy groups and community members have worked closely with Pam’s relatives to ensure her name is not forgotten. Lantern-lighting vigils and balloon releases are held consistently on the anniversary of her disappearance.
True crime advocates and local media outlets continue to circulate her story digitally to bypass the administrative silence surrounding the active file. Also, volunteers remain dedicated to distributing flyers across Harris County.
Family Statements:
“She was very soft-spoken, very positive, sweet person. She would never harm nobody, so for somebody to harm her or do anything to her wouldn’t make any sense,” stated her cousin, Monica Revis.
“The scary part to find out if something other than just missing, and we all know what that end is, so you never want to get that news. People don’t just disappear; not getting any answers from law enforcement is the hardest part,” shared her uncle, Billy Revis.
Physical Appearance:
Pam is described as a Black female who possessed a notably tiny build and a very soft-spoken, quiet demeanor. At the time of her 2017 disappearance, she was 20, stood 4′ 11″ & weighed 100 pounds.
No official descriptions detail her clothing on the night she vanished because her personal wardrobe, shoes, and daily essentials were discovered completely untouched inside her room. Investigators have not released specific updated information regarding any scars, marks, tattoos, or dental records.
Current Status:
The disappearance of Shapammala remains classified as an active, unsolved missing persons investigation, though her family strongly suspects foul play.
The case continues to linger in the cold case logs of local and federal databases as search advocates push for a comprehensive grand jury review.
Her family maintains unwavering hope for resolution, vowing that their public fight for answers will not stop until she is brought home.
Contact Information:
Anyone possessing information regarding the whereabouts of Shapammala is urged to contact the Houston Police Department Missing Persons Unit at 832-394-1840.
Anonymous tips can also be routed through regional crime stopper hotlines or submitted directly to the Texas Department of Public Safety Missing Persons Clearinghouse at 800-346-3243.
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