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Written by: E. George
Published October 29, 2024 @ 1:05 PM ET
LOWNDES COUNTY, Ga. – Officials are renewing an investigation into a 22-year-old cold case regarding a missing Valdosta woman and her toddler son.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Atlanta Field Office, and the Valdosta Police Department are pursuing new leads in the mysterious disappearance of Paula Ann Wade and her three-year-old son, Brandon Lee Wade.
The pair was reported missing when concerned co-workers traveled to the Wades’ apartment after Paula, 26 years old at the time, never showed up to work on October 14, 2002. They spotted her vehicle parked outside, but she and her son were gone.
The police department has worked on the case for years, but answers never materialized.
Paula’s sister, Mary Ramsbottom, stated, “It is a nightmare that never ends. Someone out there knows something. Maybe 22 years ago, they overlooked a small detail that could be the missing piece to the puzzle. That is all we need – someone to come forward, no matter how small the tip is. You can remain anonymous with NCMEC or the FBI. My parents spent years not knowing where their daughter and grandson were, facing an ambiguous loss every day. It has been painful to celebrate significant milestones without Brandon, including his recent 25th birthday in July. There is a hole, a big piece missing, and I need someone to come forward with the missing piece.”
NCMEC and Gas Station TV are circulating age-progressed photographs of how the Wades likely appear now, 22 years later (with Paula appearing roughly 45 and Brandon 23). The images are being displayed in over 2,800 gas station locations throughout Georgia and Florida.
The FBI’s new missing persons posters indicate that Paula may now wear corrective eyeglasses and use an asthma inhaler.
Anyone with any information regarding the Wades’ disappearance, no matter how trivial it may seem, is encouraged to contact authorities immediately. You can call NCMEC at 1-800-843-5678, the FBI – Atlanta Field Office at 770-216-3000, or the Valdosta Police Department at 229-242-2606.
You can also submit an anonymous tip by visiting tips.fbi.gov.