Pamela Carter, a 24-year-old woman from Des Moines, Iowa, was reported missing on July 10, 1990. Her mother had last seen her in late June, and her disappearance left the family searching for answers. Sadly, her decomposed body was discovered nearly a month later on August 8, 1990, in a wooded area near the Des Moines River Bridge on Euclid Avenue. The case, classified as a homicide by strangulation, remains unsolved more than three decades later.
Discovery of Pamela Carter’s Body
Pamela’s body was found after an anonymous caller alerted WHO-TV Channel 13, stating that there was a black woman’s body near the bridge. The caller also ominously hinted that “there will be many more,” raising concerns that this was not an isolated incident.
Upon locating the remains, Des Moines police confirmed the identity of the victim as Pamela Carter. Dental records were used to make the identification. The state medical examiner, Dr. Thomas Bennett, ruled her cause of death as strangulation, confirming that Pamela had been murdered.
Mysterious Call and Threat
The anonymous call was not only key in finding Carter’s body but also contained a chilling message. The caller accurately described Pamela’s appearance before the police had publicly released details, stating she was a black woman, about 5’5″, and around 134 pounds. The caller’s ominous warning about more deaths to come left the police unsure about the seriousness of the threat. Although law enforcement expressed caution, they did not dismiss the possibility of further danger to the community.
Strangulation Confirmed as Cause of Death
On August 18, 1990, Dr. Bennett confirmed that Pamela Carter had been strangled and had likely died about a month before her body was found. This timeline placed her death close to when she was last seen in late June. Police believed that Carter was murdered elsewhere and her body dumped in the wooded area near the Des Moines River. The precise location, a spot just south of the bridge, was not far from where another body was discovered nearly a decade later.
Second Body Found Near Same Location
In June 2000, a second body was found near the Des Moines River in a location eerily close to where Pamela Carter had been found. This time, the victim was a 13-year-old black girl from Des Moines. Police have not publicly stated whether there is a connection between the two cases, but the proximity of the locations and the similar circumstances have raised questions about possible links.
About Pamela Carter
Born on September 13, 1965, Pamela Y. Carter was just 24 years old at the time of her death. The U.S. Social Security Death Index lists her date of death as sometime in June 1990, aligning with the timeline established by the medical examiner. Despite the passage of time, her murder remains unsolved, leaving her family and the Des Moines community without closure.
Information Needed to Solve the Case
Pamela Carter’s case remains open and unsolved. Des Moines police are still seeking any information that might help solve this tragic homicide. If you have any details regarding the murder of Pamela Carter, please contact the Des Moines Police Department Detective Bureau at (515) 283-4864. Your help could be the key to bringing justice to Pamela and her family.
Related Sources and Articles
- Des Moines Police Department – Correspondence with Iowa Cold Cases on July 10, 2009
- RadioIowa – “Few details released in Des Moines murder,” June 7, 2000
- Cedar Rapids Gazette – Articles from August 11 and August 18, 1990, discussing the anonymous caller and the confirmation of strangulation
- Findagrave Memorial – For Pamela Y Carter
- United States Social Security Death Index – FamilySearch records indicating Pamela Carter’s death in June 1990
Conclusion: Pamela Carter’s Murder Awaits Justice
Despite the efforts of law enforcement and the community, Pamela Carter’s murderer has never been caught. The haunting phone call, the discovery of her body, and the subsequent finding of another victim in a similar location all point to a larger mystery that continues to puzzle investigators. With the passage of time, cold cases like Pamela’s often need the public’s help to uncover new leads. Anyone with information, no matter how small, is urged to come forward.
Pamela Carter’s life was tragically cut short, and her family still seeks justice for the crime that stole her from them. Let’s work together to bring answers to this unsolved murder.
