ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - The father of Lacambria Toomer’s child has been indicted in connection with her disappearance, nearly four years after the Albany woman was last seen.

Ryan Cooper faces charges of:

• Felony murder
• Malice murder
• Aggravated assault
• Possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime
• Concealing the death of another person.

Toomer was first reported missing in August 2022.

‘I still don’t have the closure part’

Toomer’s mother, Melassia Thornton Caldwell, said she is glad the case is moving forward, but said the indictment has not brought her peace.

“I’m still hurting on the inside, even though we got the justice part,” Thornton Caldwell said. “But I’m still hurting because I don’t have the closure part, because I still don’t know where her remains lie.”

Investigators doubted Cooper’s account

Investigators believe Cooper was the last person to see Toomer. He reportedly told investigators he dropped her off at a truck stop in Cordele, but investigators said they do not believe that account to be true.

Albany Police Lt. Kalandria Peterson, who has worked the case since the beginning, said securing the indictment was not easy.

“Very rarely have we been able to pursue a no body homicide case, and that’s typically what we call this,” Peterson said. “Once I gave her the news and she broke down and cried, I almost wanted to cry with her because it’s been a long road.”

Family braces for possible trial

Toomer’s family said they are leaning on each other as the case moves toward a possible trial. Her grandmother, Lucile Moses, and cousins Timothy Denmark and Tisheba Dunning said they are focused on supporting Thornton Caldwell and Toomer’s children.

“She needs all the support she can get,” Denmark said. “They need everyone they can get because they got to relive this whole thing all over again.”

Toomer’s family said they believe someone knows where her remains may be. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Albany Police Department.

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