ACTIVE SEARCH TX - Sheryl Ann Siddall / Odell, 57, Liberty County, 12 Sept 2023

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Search for missing woman leads to possible murder investigation

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A welfare check Monday morning for a missing Liberty County woman has led to an investigation into her possible murder, authorities say. Sheryl Ann Siddall, 57, of Horseshoe Lake Estates north of Romayor, last spoke to her family members on Sept. 12.

Since that time, her cell phone has reportedly gone silent, last pinging from a cell phone tower near her home. All of her belongings, including her purse and car, are still at her house on the 500 block of CR 2859, said Capt. David Meyers, a spokesperson for the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office.

Around 11:30 a.m. Monday, LCSO deputies were sent to Siddall’s home to check on her. They were greeted at the door by a man who told them he lives at the home with Siddall.

“He is claiming she went to Oklahoma to see her sister. He also claims he is buying the house from Ms. Siddall,” said Meyers.

The man, identified as Donald Lee Hassler, 52, reportedly gave deputies consent to search the property for Siddall. When the deputies entered the home, they immediately suspected foul play and exited.

“The deputies noticed what appeared to be blood in the kitchen area, so they backed out and called for investigators. When we arrived, we also found what we believe to be blood soaked into the plywood floor of the home,” Meyers said. A preliminary test at the scene revealed that the substance is likely blood.

Siddall’s home, like many others in her community, borders Horseshoe Lake.

“There is possible evidence showing something going from the house to the water, so I notified Game Warden Jake Noxon. He came out with his boat equipped with side sonar to search the lake. The Texas Rangers were invited out to the scene to help with interviewing Hassler, who is our suspect,” Meyers said.

Noxon searched the water for a couple of hours, but the search yielded no new information.

Hassler, who is on parole for charges of Theft of Property and Theft of a Firearm, was arrested at the scene on a charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. More than a dozen firearms were removed from the property. As Siddall has yet to be located, the only charge against Hassler at this time is the gun charge; however, more charges may be pending.

Authorities plan to return to the property Tuesday afternoon to search with cadaver dogs.
 
Personal belongings found in missing woman's home along with possible blood stain on floor, deputies say

LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas — Investigators searched Horseshoe Lake on Tuesday, about a week after a missing woman was last heard from. They said they thought she could be the victim of foul play.

[...]

Behind Siddall’s home, investigators found evidence suggesting that something was dragged into Horseshoe Lake, which borders Siddall’s backyard.

Texas Game Warden Jake Noxon searched the lake with a side sonar mounted on his boat but was unable to find anything.
 
Sept 19, 2023 article


[…]

When questioned, Hassler told investigators he was purchasing the home from Siddall and claimed that she told him she was leaving to visit her sister in Oklahoma. However, investigators said all of Siddall’s possessions, including her car and purse, were found inside the home. Her phone last pinged from a cellphone tower near her home.

[…]
 
SEP 24, 2023
The search for a missing Liberty County woman who hasn't made contact with her family since Sept. 12 resumed Sunday morning as detectives believe she may have been a victim of foul play.

That's when deputies said they found blood stains on the floor.

"As the deputy walked into the kitchen area, he observed what appeared to be blood stains on the floor in the kitchen, some on the cabinet and possibly a few on the ceiling," LCSO Captain David Meyers said.

[...]

  • Investigators said Hassler and Siddall had been friends for years.
  • A bloody knife and bloodstains were found in the home.
  • Investigators also found blood inside a boat that appears to have been dragged from her home to the lake.
  • Horseshoe Lake is 4 feet deep and 100 feet wide.
  • "The water is more shallow than normal, so it's more of a drop-off. It's not just a push-off. It is about a five-foot drop-off down to the water," Meyers said.
 
Last edited:
SEP 24, 2023
Investigators returned Sunday to the home and property of a Texas grandmother ...

The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office said it would be in the area all day on Sunday with cadaver dogs on land and sonar on the water “in hopes of a resolution,” according to KPRC.

[...]

Siddall’s family told investigators they didn’t know Hassler and had no knowledge of his relationship with Siddall. They also said she doesn’t have a sister in Oklahoma, although her daughter lives there.

[...]

... deputies found a butcher knife at the scene that appeared to have blood on it.

[...]
 
SEP 25, 2023
On Monday, dive teams from Baytown Police, Harris County Sheriff's deputies, Texas game wardens, Crosby Fire and Liberty County Sheriff's office zeroed in on a portion of Horseshoe Lake using sonar technology.

Less than a day before, cadaver dogs appeared to have found spots of interest beneath the water, just about a thousand feet away from Sheryl’s home, according to Liberty County Sheriff's Captain David Meyers.

Meyers said LCSO investigators will meet with the District Attorney's Office this week to determine the next steps of the investigation.
 
NamUs: #MP108577

Demographics & Physical Description
Name: Sheryl Ann Odell
Age: 57
Sex: Female
Race/Ethnicity: White/Caucasian
Height: 5'1" - 5'2"
Weight: 90 - 95lbs
Hair: Brown, mid-back length
Eyes: Brown
Jewelry: copper arthritis bracelet

Circumstances
Date of Last Contact: September 11th, 2023
Location: Cleveland, Texas/Romayor, Texas (Liberty County)
Sheryl was last seen on September 11, 2023, in the city of Romayor. The family last spoke with Sheryl via telephone on September 11, 2023. When a family member came to Sheryl's residence for a scheduled visit, Sheryl was not home. After an encounter with an unknown subject at Sheryl's residence, the family member called law enforcement for a welfare check. Upon law enforcement's arrival, there were suspicious circumstances. It is unknown what Sheryl was last seen wearing. Sheryl's vehicle, purse, and personal effects were still inside the residence.
 
Siddall’s family told investigators they didn’t know Hassler and had no knowledge of his relationship with Siddall. They also said she doesn’t have a sister in Oklahoma, although her daughter lives there.
This case sounds ominous based on what has appeared in MSM so far. Reports indicate her family has no knowledge of Hassler, or what he was doing at her home. The suspected blood stains in the house and elsewhere on the property would logically indicate violence took place at the scene.

Hassler, who is on parole for charges of Theft of Property and Theft of a Firearm, was arrested at the scene on a charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. More than a dozen firearms were removed from the property.
The fact that over a dozen firearms were located at the scene is another reason for concern. Do we know if any of these weapons belonged to Sheryl? If not, were they brought into the home by Hassler? Given his previous theft and firearm convictions this is a strong possibility IMO.
 
Last month, a relative discovered 52-year-old Donald Hassler living inside 57-year-old Sheryl Siddall's Horseshoe Lake Estates home. He reportedly said she had gone to Oklahoma to visit her sister. Relatives said she does not have a sister in Oklahoma. Her purse and vehicle were still at the home.

He said Siddall was selling him the house, according to investigators with the Liberty County Sheriff's Office. Relatives told ABC13 Siddall would never sell the home.

"This house meant everything to her," her niece, Amanda Turner, said
 
Last month, a relative discovered 52-year-old Donald Hassler living inside 57-year-old Sheryl Siddall's Horseshoe Lake Estates home. He reportedly said she had gone to Oklahoma to visit her sister. Relatives said she does not have a sister in Oklahoma. Her purse and vehicle were still at the home.

He said Siddall was selling him the house, according to investigators with the Liberty County Sheriff's Office. Relatives told ABC13 Siddall would never sell the home.

"This house meant everything to her," her niece, Amanda Turner, said
Noting:

... ABC13 is told additional charges, including forgery, could be filed as soon as Thursday.

An attorney representing Siddell, who authorities believe is dead, and her children have filed a petition on the family's behalf. They are accusing Hassler of forging documents to obtain Siddell's home. The documents are notarized.

ABC13 spoke to the notary on Wednesday. He said his involvement was also forged.
 
Based on what's been reported so far, IMO Hassler seems like the logical person to focus on in the search for Sheryl.

Hassler has prior convictions for weapons offenses, and over 'a dozen' weapons were found in Sheryl's home per media reports. So far there are no reports regarding how many, if any, of these weapons actually belonged to Sheryl.

In addition, we're now seeing reports of possible forgery regarding the sale of Sheryl's home, something her family indicated she would not have considered.
 
A Texas family has sued to regain the home of their missing mother, who authorities believe is now dead. Her children say a man found living in her house forged her signature on the property's deed.

Donald Lee Hassler, 52, was arrested last month by Liberty County Sheriff's deputies who found him living in the rural home of Sheryl Siddall. Authorities had gone to the house on Sept. 19, after her children requested a welfare check, saying they hadn't been able to reach their mother for a week.

Hassler answered the door, and allowed deputies to search the home, authorities said. But deputies immediately called for back-up after finding what appeared to be blood stains on a knife, floors and the ceiling, Liberty County Sheriff's Capt. David Meyers told reporters at the time.

Siddall's purse and car were found at the home, authorities said. Her cellphone was missing, deputies said
 
OCT 8, 2023
[...]

Hassler was recently arrested on unrelated weapons charges, though a forgery charge might follow.

While he is believed to be a potential suspect, he has not been formally charged in Siddall's disappearance.

Officials confirm Hassler has been served the civil petition in jail, but has not responded.
 
Siddall’s family told Houston ABC affiliate KTRK that she does not have a sister in Oklahoma. They also filed a petition in court against Hassler to cancel a deed on which they believe he forged Siddall’s signature and gave himself general power of attorney.

Hassler was arrested and charged with capital murder. He has been held without bond while authorities continue to search for Siddall.

 
OCT 13, 2023
Authorities detained Hassler at the Liberty County Jail on a charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, a parole violation, after a total of eight firearms were seized during the investigation, some of them discovered inside a box trailer belonging to Hassler and within his pickup truck.

After his arrest, Hassler reportedly pleaded the fifth and has not been forthcoming with information about Siddall’s disappearance.
 
After his arrest, Hassler reportedly pleaded the fifth and has not been forthcoming with information about Siddall’s disappearance.
MOO, but considering the media reports up to this point regarding his criminal background, the firearms discovered, and the circumstances of Sheryl's disappearance, I'm not surprised Hassler is refusing to provide information regarding her disappearance.
 

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