January 20, 2025 | By: Aaron Cox

This story is part of a collaborative project between Project: Cold Case and the University of North Florida’s Applied Journalism class.

After the summer of 1988, Pamela A. Gambles felt she was ready to raise her three children, Malcolm, Monique, and Gerallunda, together independently. The decision was made and agreed upon to release custody of the children back to her, of which the legal guardians were her parents. After the summer together, Pamela brought the kids back to her parents’ home in Lake City, and she returned to her home. The plan was for the kids to pack and exchange goodbyes with friends and family, and then Pam would join the family on her middle child, Monique’s birthday, August 11th. Between the kids’ drop-off and her return, she went out with a group of friends. Unknowingly, it was the last time she would see her family. Any possibility of living with their mother full-time was taken from the children. Pamela’s body was found in a wooded area off of County Road 131 and Bunn Road in Lake City, Florida, on August 12, 1988. She was 31 years old.

Pamela was described by her brother, Nathan, as being “very trusting.” This was something he always warned her about, and her kids grew up to be the opposite due to the tragedy that happened to their mother. Pamela had her easygoing, happy-go-lucky, and trusting side, but she was also protective over her siblings, especially her younger sisters. Her sister Judy called Pamela her rescuer, who would always patch up her clothes when she fell and got rips or holes. Pamela would even sew her own clothes as a child.

Pamela was a blend of life, joy, and energy. Her favorite hobbies were singing and doing puzzles. She did not care what kind of puzzle it was; she was down to doing it. She would do all the puzzles and games in the newspaper. Her siblings said she would sing and draw all the time as a child. Judy said her sister had a love for expressing herself artistically, either through writing poetry, singing, or free-hand drawing.

The sisters would always be dressed alike by their mother, who would sew dresses and clothes for them that matched. Judy looked like Pamela and joked that Pamela must’ve been pretty because she looked a lot like her. Pamela was full of joy, and she spread it to everyone she encountered. This kept her friend group constantly growing and changing throughout her life, and she befriended everyone she met. She passed this joy onto her children during her life by just treating every day like it was a blessing and an opportunity.

Although she was not the primary provider for her children, she still made an impact and made sure she had a special relationship with all of them. Malcolm is the oldest and first male grandchild in the family, Monique is the middle child, and Gerallunda is the youngest. Although Malcolm was 15 when his mother was murdered, he said, “She’s still my first love.” Monique said that her mother lives through her. Gerallunda was the baby, and her mother spoiled her.

Pamela was a free spirit and very enthusiastic, according to her children. At one of Malcolm’s baseball games, she was cheering from the audience. “That’s my baby!” And shouting play-by-play team encouragement to the point of almost getting removed from the stands. Pamela was the extrovert of the family and was not afraid to talk to people or include them in the group. Malcolm said his mother was like a social butterfly or a sponge, being able to see good in everyone and just absorb the world.

In high school, Pamela was on the softball team, and she was known to be very athletic. This is a side of her that her kids are just recently getting to enjoy and know about through her high school friends. Pamela earned a nursing certification from Lake City Community College. If she ever worked as a nurse, it is unknown. Their mother was taken from them when they were so young and their grandparents are deceased, so they continue to learn about her through childhood friends and family.

Pamela loved Thanksgiving and Christmas when she was a child. She would always bake a cake on Thanksgiving and involve her sister Judy in the process. On Christmas she would try and wrap everyone’s presents for them. As she grew older holidays were not treated as anything special with Pamela because she treated each day like it was special. Every time she saw her kids; it was as if it was a holiday to celebrate and do something with them.

On August 8, 1988, Pamela had just dropped her kids off with a plan to celebrate Monique’s upcoming birthday in Lake City at her parent’s home where the kids resided. She went into a store with a group and on her way out, she split off from the group and walked alone. She was found early on the 12th in Columbia County wrapped in a blanket and plastic wrapping. Police said she had been assaulted, beaten and strangled.

Pamela’s children were left with a huge piece missing from their lives. Their joy, both in emotion and in who Pamela was, was taken from them. Her parents could feel it in their guts according to Pamela’s children, even before they were told what happened by police. Their grandparents sat them down to discuss their mother missing Monique’s birthday. Saying this time was different. Monique just recently started celebrating her birthday at her siblings’ encouragement because although it is a reminder of her mother’s death, it is a day of joy because her mother brought her into the world with love, and she lives through her. Monique feels a special attachment to her mother and has taken up the mantle of being the free spirit in the family.

Malcolm and Gerallunda are very protective and learned to guard themselves because of their mother’s murder. This even pushed Malcolm into a career in law enforcement. The whole family remembers Pamela as the loving free spirit she was, and they all feel this when they get to talk about her. Through sharing stories and talking together, the family gets to remember Pamela and honor her.

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Anyone with information related to Pamela Gambles’ unsolved homicide is asked to contact the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office at (386)752-9212. To remain anonymous and possibly be eligible for a reward, contact Crime Stoppers of Columbia County at (386)-754-7099 or dial **TIPS from your mobile device.

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