The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) continues to investigate the mysterious 2016 disappearance of Samantha Fiddler and is appealing to the public for help. Fiddler, a then 29-year-old aspiring wrestler, vanished on November 19, 2016, in Bartow, Florida.
Originally from Alberta, Canada, Fiddler had moved to Florida in March 2016 to pursue a career in wrestling and entertainment. During her time in Florida, she spent time in several counties, including Polk, Orange, Miami-Dade, Brevard, Broward, Osceola, and Seminole.
READ: Missing Ohio Hiker Vendula “Wendy” Rose Found Deceased In Alabama
FDLE Tampa Special Agent in Charge Mark Brutnell said, “Eight years have passed, and we’re still as committed to finding answers as ever. She left three children and her parents behind in Canada, and they deserve to know the truth. We are asking anyone who knew her and might have helpful information to contact us.”
Fiddler, also known by her aliases Lucy Morningstar, Samantha Steele, or Samantha Lloyd, was last seen leaving the Polk County Sheriff’s Office jail around 3:30 a.m. on November 19, 2016. She had been arrested on a failure-to-appear warrant but was released shortly after being processed. Witnesses reported she left the facility with other individuals, but she has not been seen or heard from since.
Fiddler’s online activity, particularly her frequent use of Facebook, abruptly ceased that same day. This silence was unusual, given her significant social media presence and her habit of staying in touch with her family and friends.
Fiddler’s family, alarmed by her disappearance, enlisted the help of a private investigator in Jacksonville, Florida. In 2018, after two years with little progress, the Bartow Police Department formally requested FDLE’s assistance. Since 2020, FDLE agents have conducted numerous interviews with individuals in both Florida and Canada, seeking leads that might shed light on Fiddler’s case.
READ: Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Seeks Public’s Help To Locate Missing Brandon Woman
Investigators have noted the particularly heartbreaking aspects of the case: Fiddler was a devoted mother whose children were her top priority. Her Facebook messages reveal her deep love and determination to provide a better future for them. Friends and acquaintances have described her as bubbly, exuberant, and full of life, someone who could light up any room she entered.
Fiddler has distinct features that could help in identifying her: a scar on her lip and several tattoos, including one on her foot and another on her back shoulder. Her family and investigators are particularly struck by the lack of activity in her life since her disappearance. She has not opened any new bank accounts, resumed her social media presence, or made contact with anyone she was close to.
FDLE is urging anyone with information about Fiddler’s whereabouts or the circumstances of her disappearance to come forward, even if their interaction with her was brief.
“We’re asking the public and Samantha’s friends and acquaintances to help us find her. She’s out there and she needs to be reunited with her family,” said Brutnell.
If you have information about Samantha Fiddler’s whereabouts, please call FDLE Tampa at (800) 226-1140.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Android Users: Download our free app to stay up-to-date on the latest news.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.