For years this has been one of the cases that has most interested in. I would like to know if there are anymore leads or updates or people's theories?

Here is the main thread discussing that case: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=113162&highlight=Tammy+Lynn+Leppert

You'll find lots of theories and discussion there. As for me, I think Tammy was suffering from a mental health issue. We know she was delusional and paranoid, but I don't know if she would qualify as schizophrenic or not (a real possibility though). Either way, I don't think Tammy's paranoia was based in reality.

Tammy was one of those pageant kids that are exploited by their controlling parents (in this case her mom). If Tammy did indeed have some emotional problems then her mom certainly didn't make things any better. They should have taken her to a psychiatrist, but this was the early 80's and the stigma of mental illness was huge. (Yes, I realize they took her to the hospital, but it was only a 72 hour observation. If the patient isn't suicidal, they have to let them go).

Another issue is she was so beautiful with everything going for her that people have a hard time accepting that someone like her could be very mentally ill. This results in a sort of bias to which even psychiatrists can succumb. I think her mother and her friends were all guilty of this bias and couldn't believe that she was a very sick young woman.

This isn't the first case of such a thing happening on UM. I can think of several similar cases such as Maria Armstrong who was another very pretty young woman that exhibited similar behavior (and was actually diagnosed with schizophrenia). Maria ended up killing her boyfriend and going on the run. Cindy James is another good example of someone suffering paranoid delusions that had zero basis in reality (while probably not schizophrenic, some believe Cindy had multiple personalities).

To me this is the simplest explanation. Whenever someone is very vague and says things like "they are after me" without providing details or any evidence, I tend to lean toward the simplest explanation (i.e. it's in their head).

Bottom line: Tammy was let down by everyone in her life and it resulted in her death -- likely to the hands of a random stranger who took advantage. It's a very sad story that is a lot more common than it should be.

I always thought that Tammy witnessed something that traumatized her. I never thought she was mentally ill.

Just wondered if it was ever verified whether she could have witnessed a murder. Did anyone else report having seen one or a person missing?

I always thought that Tammy witnessed something that traumatized her. I never thought she was mentally ill.

That wouldn't explain her thinking her own family was poisoning her food as well as her delusions about the neighbors, etc. Apparently even her own mother suspected something was wrong with her because she took her to the psych ward.

It just seems to me that her behavior is not representative of what a normal person would exhibit if they had witnessed a murder. Yes, there is something called PTSD, but her behavior suggests something more than that to me.

That wouldn't explain her thinking her own family was poisoning her food as well as her delusions about the neighbors, etc. Apparently even her own mother suspected something was wrong with her because she took her to the psych ward.

It just seems to me that her behavior is not representative of what a normal person would exhibit if they had witnessed a murder. Yes, there is something called PTSD, but her behavior suggests something more than that to me.

I agree.

A suicide wouldn't be out of the question.

That wouldn't explain her thinking her own family was poisoning her food as well as her delusions about the neighbors, etc. Apparently even her own mother suspected something was wrong with her because she took her to the psych ward.

It just seems to me that her behavior is not representative of what a normal person would exhibit if they had witnessed a murder. Yes, there is something called PTSD, but her behavior suggests something more than that to me.
Tammy didn't think it was her family that was trying to poison her. I don't know how well she knew her neighbours. Every little thing made her paranoid. Somebody was out to "Get Her". Yes, she was in a psych ward for an evaluation, but the doctors couldn't find much wrong with her. Maybe she calmed down once she was in that facility. Maybe she thought "They" wouldn't find her in there. She witnessed something, whether it was murder, money laundering, a drug operation, etc. She could have been drugged/forced into making pornographic movies for all we know.

I talk to someone in her family and they think that the fbi and witness protection program has something to do with her missing.

I talk to someone in her family and they think that the fbi and witness protection program has something to do with her missing.

whoa, that's interesting. I think the general consensus here is that she was murdered shortly after her disappearance, but this gives us some hope she could still be alive and healthy.

I talk to someone in her family and they think that the fbi and witness protection program has something to do with her missing.

I wonder if they have any evidence of this or are they merely speculating? I don't totally discount the idea (since her body has never been found), but I am skeptical. Today she would be about 49 years old, so her being alive is a real possibility. However, I just don't think it's the most likely theory.

I talk to someone in her family and they think that the fbi and witness protection program has something to do with her missing.

Why the hell would her mother then go on national television and beg for answers and the fbi wouldn't step in and at least tell her she was safe?

That's a bogus theory, especially from a family member.

Why the hell would her mother then go on national television and beg for answers and the fbi wouldn't step in and at least tell her she was safe?

That's a bogus theory, especially from a family member.


I could be wrong, but I do believe that the authorities can deny that a person is in the WPP even to close family members. I don't believe this is what happened to Tammy, though.

I wonder if they have any evidence of this or are they merely speculating? I don't totally discount the idea (since her body has never been found), but I am skeptical. Today she would be about 49 years old, so her being alive is a real possibility. However, I just don't think it's the most likely theory.

100% agree. HUGE skeptic.

Tammi more than likely witnessed something she shouldn't have seen. when she went for her psych evaluation she was cleared of any drugs in her system and her doctor said he believed everything she was saying. she may have been partying way too much , but one thing i think she isn't is delusional or a liar. on the set of the movie she had a nervous breakdown due to a violent scene according to the producer. which in itself tells she was traumatized and reacted out if fear. This brought on extreme paranoia and anxiety. I have had episodes of panic attacks from incidents in my past. They come and go. even if someone i know wants to play fight or constrict me, it becomes a trigger and i let them know to calm down and i get very anxious. this has even happened with my husband. Now its better because i can talk about it which Tammi never did according to the segment. I understand how she may have felt, even though we may have not have experienced the same trauma.

I talk to someone in her family and they think that the fbi and witness protection program has something to do with her missing.

Care to elaborate?

Care to elaborate?

I think the family has been pretty vocal that she witnessed some shady drug deals and the FBI/Witness Protection intervened and made her "disappear."

I don't know... the more I look at Tammy's case, the more I believe she wasn't schizophrenic (which some have theorized), but rather schizoaffective, which is similar but fits the description of Tammy's behaviors a bit better.

I've been pretty vocal that I believed Christopher Wilder was involved in her disappearance. I still believe that, although his crime spree didn't start until a year later. In any case, I believe she is likely deceased and the victim of foul play. Her mental episode essentially made her a walking target.

I am re-reading the boards on Tami. I just think she had a mental break and was killed shortly after her drop off at the bank. Whether struck by a car in the middle of the night (if she took off walking somewhere. Although, seem like their would have been a sighting) or at the hands of someone. It would be nice to find out she is alive and well living another life though...