Search for missing woman on hold
ROMAYOR – Following two weeks of searches and numerous agencies assisting the Liberty County Sheriff ’s Office in the hunt for any sign of Sheryl Siddall, things appear to have slowed to a crawl.
According to LCSO Capt. David Meyers, his team, and other investigators who have aided local officials are still hoping to find clues that might unturn any evidence of what happened to the woman over two weeks since she was reported missing by her family.
“ Right now, we’re on hold,” Meyers said.
According to Meyers, they are far from giving up hope and are looking to schedule another extensive scale search of the area, but as for the timeline as to when, he did not know.
“ I’m not saying that we’re giving up, but at this point in time, we’re working on other things and setting up another scheduled big search,” Meyers said.
Siddall, 57, was reported missing by family after they had not heard from her since Sept. 11, and authorities arrived at her home in Horseshoe Lake Estates on Monday, Sept. 18, when officers came across Donald Lee Hassler, 52, at her home.
Hassler, currently jailed on a parole violation for a felon possessing a firearm, told deputies that Siddall had left town, although her personal effects and car remained at her home.
During that encounter, Hassler granted authorities access to the home, where they discovered signs of foul play. At that time, investigators were brought in and found dried blood in the house and on a boat located on the property.
The investigation, while officially one for a missing person, has been treated as if it was a murder investigation from early on, with agencies believing they would discover a body in the area adjacent to the home, which includes Horseshoe Lake.
Last week, Meyers was asked by local news agencies if Hassler could be charged with murder, although there is nobody. He explained that, while possible, any decision of that nature would be left up to the office of Liberty County District Attorney Jennifer Bergman.
“ We’re supposed to be meeting with the DA this week,” Meyers said.
Meyers believes there is some information that will shed some more light on the investigation but was not ready to release that to the public.
According to Meyers, his department and other area agencies like Texas Search and Rescue, Texas EquuSearch, Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Wardens, and the Baytown Dive Team have searched the area numerous times since the investigation began.
Anyone with any information into the disappearance of Siddall is asked to contact the LCSO at 936- 336-4500.