Woman last seen at her home in 2024, NC cops say. Now boyfriend accused in death

A man has been indicted in connection with the disappearance and killing of his girlfriend, North Carolina officials said.

In September 2024, Nancy Bunly, 31, of Lexington, went missing after last being seen at her home by her live-in boyfriend and father of her newborn baby, Ricky Lam, according to a Sept. 30 Facebook post by the police department.

After investigating, officers believed Bunly was hurt, officials said.

After “processing physical and digital evidence” along with “countless hours conducting interviews,” officers made three arrests in connection with her disappearance, officials said.

In December 2024, Van Ly Lam, 51; Viencham Lam, 49; and Jonathan Lam, 30; were arrested on charges of obstruction of justice, officials said.

On Sept. 29, officers learned of evidence that indicated Bunly was killed by Ricky Lam and officials granted true bills of indictment on all who were arrested in December, officials said.

Ricky Lam is now being charged with murder and concealment of a body, officials said. Van Lam, Viencham Lam and Jonathan Lam were charged with felony accessory after the fact to murder and concealment of a body, officials said.

“We as Nancy’s family are both saddened and shocked by the news today and are all trying to process this as murder charges imply that the small hope we had held out that somehow Nancy was being held against her will somewhere and could be rescued someday is now gone,” Bunly’s family told WFMY News 2.

The family said it has been “the most stressful and heartbreaking year,” and they hope Bunly will be found.

The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information to call 336-243-2400, officials said.

Previously, Ricky Lam was accused of killing 36-year-old Amber Marie Schimmelpfenning in Guilford County, according to the sheriff’s office. Schimmelpfenning was last seen Sept. 9.

“Detectives were unable to locate her,” the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office said Sept. 17 on Facebook. “The case quickly escalated into a Missing Person/Homicide investigation.”

Ricky Lam was charged with murder, failure to report a death and felon in possession of a firearm in connection with that case.

Police and deputies did not disclose a connection between the two cases. McClatchy News reached out to police for more information Oct. 1 and did not immediately hear back.

Lexington is about a 60-mile drive northeast from Charlotte.

This story was originally published October 1, 2025 at 2:22 PM with the headline "Woman last seen at her home in 2024, NC cops say. Now boyfriend accused in death."