Real Name: Kimber Tice
Case: Lost Daughter
Location: Amarillo, Texas
Date: 1958
Case[]
Details: Lavar Bates was interviewed in an update about the capture of murderer John Mooney, who was a coworker at his place of business. He had a daughter named Kimber Tice that he never knew about.
In 1958, twenty-two-year-old Lavar fell in love with eighteen-year-old Peggy Atwood of Pampas, Texas. He worked in construction and was temporarily employed in Amarillo. Every weekend, he made the sixty-mile drive to her house so that they could spend time together. Several months after they first met, she drove to Amarillo and made a surprise visit to him. While there, she saw a picture of another girl on his dresser. She was furious so she left him. At the time, she had no idea that she was pregnant with his child.
The next day, Lavar's company transferred him to Colorado; he never saw Peggy again. Eight months later, she gave birth to Kimber. When she was older, she learned the truth about Lavar. She and Peggy thought about searching for him, but with so little information to go on, they eventually gave up.
Extra Notes: This case was never featured on the show; its update occurred on September 19, 1990. Lavar was interviewed for the 3rd Anniversary Special which aired on February 11, 1990.
Lavar and Kimber reunited
Results: Solved. On July 4, 1990, Peggy was watching the rebroadcast of the 3rd Anniversary Special when she recognized Lavar. She contacted the telecenter and was put in contact with him; he now lives in Phoenix, Arizona and is married with two other children. He and Kimber spoke on the phone shortly afterward, and on August 10, they were reunited at her house in Amarillo.
Sadly, Lavar died on May 25, 2001.
Links:
- Dad meets daughter through show - August 13, 1990
- TV show reunites father, daughter - August 13, 1990
- TV Show Helps woman Meet Father
- Lavar Bates on Find a Grave