James Allan Chambers is a 28-year-old man who went missing and was murdered in 2014 in Fayetteville.
James Allan Chambers’ murder had gained a lot of media attention a few years ago.
Now, the case is once again in the limelight after NBC Dateline announced a special episode that explores the Chambers’ missing and murder story in detail.
The episodes include exclusive interviews with Chambers’ parents and private investigators and attorneys who had worked on the case.
The special episode is two-hour long and will air Friday on NBC dateline at 9 p.m.
Who Is James Chambers From Fayetteville NC?
James Chambers was a civilian construction worker at Fort Bragg. He was settled in Fayetteville.
He was in a relationship with his former girlfriend when he went missing. His girlfriend was the last person to see him alive on August 15, 2014, at his Fayetteville home.
Chambers also worked as a lifeguard during the weekend. He had gone out with his murderer Howard Adrian Ashleman to a weekend job at a lake out of town when he was killed.
So, what exactly went wrong between Howard and James?
James Chambers Missing & Murder Case Explained
James Chambers’ parents reported him missing after he stayed out of contact with them for several days.
According to The Fayetteville Observer, Chambers’ former girlfriend claimed she last saw him leave with Howard Ashleman for his weekend job.
Ashleman and Chambers had some disputes regarding some undisclosed issues which took a turn for worse during the short trip in Ashleman’s vehicle.
Ashleman later confessed he fired into the cab to scare Chambers but the bullet hit him. Chambers died on the spot. He initially burned and buried Chambers’ body but later dug it up.
He then dismembered his body and threw it into the Cape Fear River.
But, Ashleman could not be arrested at the time due to insufficient evidence against him. Chambers’ body was still missing so the authorities had no concrete proof to tie him to the case.
Ashleman moved to Florida and married a woman with whom he shared the details of the murder. he had joined a religious group and felt guilty for the crime.
His wife informed the police of his confession and the authorities later negotiated with him to surrender in 2017.
It was difficult to negotiate with Ashleman but they finally booked him in on Feb 12, 2018. He was convicted of second-degree murder eight days after his arrest.
Ashleman was sentenced to at least 15 years and six months in prison. Meanwhile, Chambers’ remains are still not found.
James Chambers Family: Where Are His Parents Now?
Needless to say, James Chambers’ family was completely devastated after his death.
His parents, Rachel Wellhouse and James Chambers Sr. had lost their other child and Chambers’ brother to muscular dystrophy in 2008.
Since then, the family had an emergency code word “Marco” which meant they had to contact the other ASAP.
So, when Chambers failed to contact them even after his mother used the code, she got worried and filed a missing complaint.
His parents said they got some closure after Ashleman’s arrest and confession but are still searching for their son’s remains. They hope to give him the funeral he deserves, reported TheCinemaholic.
Moreover, Chambers’ parents are now separated and are living separate lives with their respective families.