Liberty County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a missing person case that might lead to a murder investigation at a home on the 500 block of CR 2859 in Horseshoe Lake Estates north of Romayor, Texas. Monday morning, a Liberty County deputy was dispatched to the home for a welfare check after the family of Sheryl Ann Siddall, 57, notified the Liberty County Sheriff”s Office that they had been unable to locate her and she was not responding to phone calls. Family members told investigators that the last time they spoke to Siddall was on Sept. 12. When the deputy arrived at Siddall’s home, he was greeted by Donald Lee Hassler, 52, who gave consent for the deputy to search the home. As the deputy entered the kitchen, he found what is believed to be a blood stain on the plywood floor. Suspecting that foul play may be involved, the deputy immediately backed out of the room and called for investigators. Hassler told investigators he is purchasing the home from Siddall and he claims that she told him she was leaving to visit her sister in Oklahoma. However, all of Siddall’s possessions, including her car and purse, were found inside the home. Her phone last pinged from a cell phone tower near her home. 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 scan sonar mounted on his boat but was unable to find any additional evidence. This afternoon, investigators plan to return to the property to search it with cadaver dogs. Hassler is a parolee and was arrested on a charge of felon in Possession of Firearms. He was booked into the Liberty County Jail Monday evening. Bond information is not available at this time. He has not been charged with other crimes, but more charges may be pending.
