A Lincoln County family is grieving the loss of the woman who was abducted in Clayton and tragically discovered dead in north St. Louis just a few hours later.
Michelle Hampton’s twin sister, Samantha Hampton, 37, is appealing to the community for assistance in locating the culprits, as she witnessed in sheer horror the abduction of her sister by two men.
She pleaded, “That’s my twin sister. Without her, I am nothing, and she was nothing without me. She means everything to me, and I desperately need assistance in identifying the person responsible for what happened to her.”
The St. Louis police announced on Thursday afternoon that they have located Michelle’s car following the shooting incident. Later in the evening, they confiscated a vehicle of interest. However, the investigators are still actively searching for a suspect.
Samantha recounted an unsettling incident that occurred on Wednesday morning around 7:15 a.m. when she had just dropped off her sons at Michelle’s house. To her shock, she spotted her sister sitting in her car with a masked gunman seated beside her, while another man trailed closely behind in a truck.
Samantha shared her heartbreaking experience of the final moments she spent with her sister. She expressed the profound sense of loss she felt when her sister was forcefully taken away from their home on Whitburn Drive, close to the St. Louis Galleria.
Samantha recalled the moment when she glanced at her sister. With the window rolled down, her sister passionately yelled, “Sam, no!”
Samantha recounted how she remained on the phone with 911 throughout the pursuit, bravely chasing after the suspects while the truck tailgated her, making dangerous attempts to force her off the road.
“I called 911 to report that a truck was trying to force me off the road,” she recounted. “The dispatcher asked if it was a case of road rage, but I quickly explained, ‘No, someone has taken my sister, and I’m trying to follow them.’ The dispatcher urged me to stop, but I refused, saying, ‘If I stop, my sister will disappear.'”
As Samantha bravely pursued her sister’s abductors, her heart raced with fear while her two terrified sons sat anxiously in the car beside her. Suddenly, a cold-blooded gunman opened fire, aiming directly at her vehicle.
Samantha and her sons emerged unscathed.
“She said that was the last time she saw her sister drive away.”
Michelle Hampton’s life was tragically cut short in a devastating event that took place in North St. Louis. It was not until 11 a.m., hours after the incident, that her lifeless body was discovered in an alley off Greer Avenue. The discovery of her death sent shockwaves through the community, leaving loved ones and residents grappling with the loss of a cherished individual. The circumstances surrounding Michelle’s untimely demise remain under investigation, as authorities work to piece together the events leading up to this senseless act of violence.
Authorities suspect that the crime was a deliberate act of violence, specifically targeted and not a random incident.
The family expressed that they do not believe this incident was random, but they are unsure of the identity of the suspects.
Samantha was in pursuit of her sister and spoke to dispatchers from both St. Louis County and St. Louis City. It was confirmed by the police that she was transferred between dispatchers, but Samantha expressed her frustration, stating that she was hung up on multiple times. According to Samantha, her family firmly believes that if the dispatchers had taken her pleas for help seriously and acted more swiftly, her sister’s tragic death could have potentially been avoided.
Throughout the entire ordeal, I was in constant communication with multiple 911 operators, urgently pleading with them to send help immediately. I stressed the importance of the situation, emphasizing that she needed assistance without delay. Despite their attempts to end the call, I persisted in my determination to ensure that help was on its way.
Both the St. Louis and Clayton Police departments are currently conducting investigations into this matter. If you possess any information pertaining to this crime, kindly reach out to CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS.
