1996-09-17

Ngoc Van Tran is charged with murder in the shooting death of his wife, Mildred Diannia "Pam" Packer.

Packer, then 33, was last seen about 9 p.m. Sept. 17, 1996, in an Asian restaurant on Amarillo Boulevard with Tran. She had left her three children with family, who said they were immediately afraid for her safety when she didn't return that night, according to Amarillo Globe-News files.

When she had not returned for the children after two days, the family reported her disappearance to local law enforcement.

Packer's body was found about 5:30 a.m. Oct. 15, 1996, in the trunk of a maroon Oldsmobile parked outside of the Villa Apartments, now the Cross Timbers Apartments, 2601 N. Grand St., Amarillo Globe-News files show. She had been missing for four weeks.