Emily Lambert, a 30-year-old third-grade teacher from Greenville, Texas, traveled to New Mexico for a weekend visit with her new boyfriend, Robert Earley. What began as a simple getaway quickly unraveled into a disturbing mystery. The couple spent the night drinking at a Carlsbad bar, where witnesses later recalled tension between them. Earley told investigators they argued, and Emily walked out alone into the cold night. She never returned.

When Emily failed to show up for work back in Texas, concern grew. Earley reported her missing the following day, but his account changed multiple times. What initially sounded like a lovers’ quarrel evolved into something far more sinister. Detectives uncovered inconsistencies, gaps in the timeline, and evidence suggesting Emily had never left the area around Earley’s motel. Surveillance, cellphone records, and witness statements began painting a chilling picture.

Two days after her disappearance, Emily’s body was found on a ranch in Loving, New Mexico. She had been violently beaten. The discovery forced Earley to revise his story yet again, eventually leading to a confession that revealed a brutal series of events he had tried to hide.

This episode walks listeners through the full timeline — the bar argument, the shifting statements, the forensic findings, and the unraveling of Earley’s lies. Through interviews, court documents, and law-enforcement accounts, Crimetastic pieces together the final hours of a dedicated teacher whose life was stolen by the person she trusted. The episode also reflects on the lasting impact on Emily’s family, her students, and the community that continues to honor her memory.