Help Sought Finding Sherry Arnold

The FBI is asking land owners in North Dakota and Montana to help find the body of missing Sidney teacher Sherry Arnold.

Williston Police Chief Jim Lokken, along with Sidney Police Chief Frank DiFonzo and Williams County Sheriff Scott Busching, held a press conference Monday at the Williams County Law Enforcement Center, Williston.

Chief Lokken began with thanking the public in the efforts to find Sherry Arnold.

“They have been, from the beginning, a very important component to this investigation.” said Lokken, “of not only Sidney residents but those of Williston and all of the surrounding area.”

Chief Lokken read the following letter released Sunday night by FBI regarding developments in the investigation into the disappearance of Sidney resident Sherry Arnold:

“The FBI, the Sidney Montana Police Department, the Williams County Sheriff’s Office, and the Williston, North Dakota Police Department are requesting assistance from North Dakota and northeastern Montana property owners in the case of missing Montana school teacher Sherry Arnold. Based on investigative evidence gathered over the last few days, it is believed that Ms. Arnold may be deceased; her body has not been recovered.

Law enforcement is requesting North Dakota property owners in Williams County, McKenzie County, Mountrail County, and extreme northeastern Montana check shelter belts and vacant farmsteads on their land for disturbed soil. The surrounding grassy area may also appear to be matted. A shelter belt is a line of trees that protects soil from the wind. Ms. Arnold’s body may be buried in a shelter belt that contains mature or rotted trees.

It is important to note, law enforcement is only requesting help from property owners and is not requesting volunteers to come search. Property owners are advised not to put themselves at risk. Property owners who discover something unusual are asked not to disturb the site and immediately contact the Williams County Law Enforcement Center at 701-774-9191.

Chief DiFonzo also thanked the public for their efforts in the investigation.

“Our concern is to get Sherry back to her family,” stated DiFonzo, “They are doing as well as can be expected. Thank you to all involved.”

The 43-year-old wife and mother went missing Saturday, Jan. 7, at approximately 6:30 a.m., while on her morning run on the truck route in Sidney.

Sidney school officials posted a statement online Friday saying they learned of Arnold’s death that day. The statement provided no details.

On Friday, authorities announced they had one man in custody in North Dakota and that another was being questioned in South Dakota. The next day, Sidney Police Chief Frank DiFonzo stated that two men were being held in Williams County, on suspicion of aggravated kidnapping.

Authorities say the two men in custody in connection with the investigation are 47-year-old Lester Vann Waters, Jr. and 22-year-old Michael Keith Spell, both of Parachute, CO. They are in the Williams County Correctional Center in Williston, awaiting extradition to Montana.

It is not clear why these men were in the Sidney area.

Until Sunday, authorities did not confirm if they had recovered Arnold’s body but did say after the arrests that there was an ongoing search.

“Based on investigative evidence gathered over the last few days, it is believed that Ms. Arnold may be deceased; her body has not been recovered,” the FBI said in a statement Sunday.

In the days after Arnold disappeared, hundreds of volunteers, as well as law enforcement authorities and National Guard members combed the town and surrounding countryside without success.

The only clue that has been publicly released was that one of Arnold’s running shoes was found along her running route.

The FBI joined the investigation mid-week and a few days later, an anonymous tip led investigators to the two men. Officials have not, however, said how or exactly when and where they were arrested.

A prayer vigil to remember Arnold was held at the Sidney High School Friday evening. Nearly 200 community members, including staff and students, gathered at the high school gym to show their support.

Arnold and her husband, Gary Arnold, have five children combined from prior marriages. Two live at home and attend the same school system where Sherry Arnold worked for the past 18 years.