Sheryl Ann Odell, also known as Sheryl Ann Siddall, was a 57-year-old White woman whose disappearance on September 11, 2023, from the Cleveland and Romayor area of Liberty County, Texas, developed into a disturbing homicide investigation. Sheryl lived in the Horseshoe Lake Estates community, a rural neighborhood north of Romayor, where she enjoyed being near the water.
A mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, she was remembered by loved ones as an energetic, outspoken woman who enjoyed fishing, spending time with her family, and being outdoors. When communication with Sheryl abruptly stopped in September 2023, her family became increasingly concerned. What initially appeared to be a missing-person case soon exposed evidence suggesting that something violent had happened inside her home.
Family members last spoke with Sheryl by telephone on September 11, 2023, although some early law enforcement reports listed September 12 as the last date of contact. When a family member arrived at Sheryl's residence for a scheduled visit and discovered she was not there, concern quickly escalated. An encounter with an unfamiliar individual at the property prompted a request for a welfare check. On September 18, 2023, deputies with the Liberty County Sheriff's Office responded to Sheryl's residence in the 500 block of County Road 2859. They encountered Donald Lee Hassler, an acquaintance of Sheryl who claimed that he lived at the property and was purchasing the house from her. Hassler told investigators that Sheryl had traveled to Oklahoma to visit her sister. However, authorities discovered inconsistencies in his explanation, including information indicating that Sheryl did not have a sister living in Oklahoma. Her daughter reportedly lived in that state.
The circumstances surrounding Sheryl's disappearance became even more troubling when deputies entered her residence. Inside the kitchen, they noticed what appeared to be blood on the plywood floor and cabinets. Investigators subsequently discovered additional evidence suggesting that violence had occurred. Sheryl's purse, wallet, identification, vehicle, and other personal belongings remained at the residence, making it increasingly unlikely that she had voluntarily left for an extended trip. Her cellphone had last connected to a tower near her home before going silent, and investigators were unable to locate the device. With no confirmed sightings or reliable communication from Sheryl, detectives began treating her disappearance as a possible homicide rather than an ordinary missing-person investigation.
As investigators examined the property, they uncovered more suspicious evidence. Authorities reported finding a bloody knife, human bloodstains inside the home, and indications that something had been dragged from the residence toward Horseshoe Lake, which bordered Sheryl's backyard. Investigators also discovered blood evidence inside a boat associated with the property. These findings raised serious concerns that Sheryl might have been harmed inside the residence and that someone had attempted to move or conceal evidence afterward. Law enforcement officers searched the surrounding water using specialized equipment, including sonar technology, while search teams and cadaver dogs examined the shoreline and nearby wooded areas. Despite extensive efforts, the initial searches failed to locate her.
During the investigation, detectives focused their attention on Hassler, who had reportedly known Sheryl for approximately two years. Authorities learned that he was a convicted felon on parole and discovered multiple firearms associated with him during searches of the property, his pickup truck, and a trailer. Hassler was initially arrested on a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. As investigators gathered additional evidence, he became the principal suspect in Sheryl's suspected murder. In October 2023, authorities announced a capital murder charge against him, even though Sheryl's body had not yet been recovered. Investigators maintained that the evidence supported their belief that she had been killed and that her disappearance was not voluntary.
The investigation brought together numerous law enforcement agencies and volunteer search organizations. The Liberty County Sheriff's Office received assistance from the Texas Rangers, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas EquuSearch, Texas Search and Rescue, local police and fire departments, and specialized dive teams. Searchers repeatedly examined Horseshoe Lake and the surrounding community, hoping to discover evidence that could establish Sheryl's whereabouts. For her family, the uncertainty was devastating. They faced the possibility that she had been murdered while continuing to hope investigators would eventually find her and provide answers. As the months passed without a recovery, the search became a prolonged effort to determine what had happened and where her remains might be located.
A significant development occurred on March 22, 2024, when two motorists traveling along County Road 2132, near the community of Rye in northern Liberty County, noticed stray dogs beside the roadway. While attempting to help the animals, they approached a drainage ditch near a culvert and discovered what appeared to be human skeletal remains in the water. The motorists immediately contacted authorities, bringing investigators to a location several miles from Sheryl's residence. Given the ongoing investigation and the proximity to the Romayor area, detectives considered whether the remains could belong to her. The remains were recovered and transferred for forensic examination, including DNA analysis, to establish the person's identity.
On July 15, 2024, the Liberty County Sheriff's Office publicly confirmed that the remains recovered in March belonged to Sheryl Ann Siddall. Forensic DNA testing had established her identity, bringing an end to the months-long uncertainty about her whereabouts. During a press conference, law enforcement officials described the extensive investigative efforts that had led to the identification. Authorities did not publicly disclose her precise cause of death, explaining that the information remained connected to the criminal proceedings against Hassler. Although the confirmation meant Sheryl's family finally knew she had been found, it also brought the heartbreaking realization that she would not be returning home.
Following the identification, Sheryl's family publicly expressed gratitude to the investigators, volunteers, forensic specialists, and community members who had assisted throughout the search. A close family member described her as a lively and spirited person who brought laughter and affection into the lives of those around her. Sheryl enjoyed fishing, spending time on the water, and being with the people she loved. Her family also recalled her affection for her dog, Pup, and the memories created at her home. Their statements emphasized that Sheryl was much more than the victim of a widely publicized criminal investigation. She was a loved and valued member of a family whose lives had been permanently altered by her death.
The criminal case reached a major conclusion on December 12, 2024, when Donald Lee Hassler accepted a plea agreement in connection with Sheryl's murder. During proceedings in the 75th State District Court in Liberty County, before Judge Mark Morefield, Hassler received a 50-year prison sentence for the September 2023 killing. He also pleaded guilty to an attempted escape from the Liberty County Jail. Sheryl's family attended the sentencing and delivered emotional victim impact statements, confronting Hassler about the suffering his actions had caused. The sentencing marked a significant step toward justice following more than a year of searching, investigating, and waiting for answers.
Sheryl's case began with a sudden and unexplained loss of contact in September 2023, developed into a homicide investigation after investigators discovered evidence of violence inside her home, and ultimately concluded with the recovery and identification of her remains and the imprisonment of the man responsible for her death. Although the available public reporting does not establish every detail of her final moments or disclose the exact cause of death, the investigation established that her disappearance was the result of a violent crime. Her remains were recovered in March 2024, officially identified in July 2024, and her killer was sentenced in December 2024. For Sheryl's loved ones, these developments provided long-awaited answers, but they could never restore the life that had been taken. Her story remains a heartbreaking example of how an ordinary missed conversation and an unexpected absence can reveal a tragedy, while also reflecting the determination of a family and investigators who refused to stop searching until Sheryl was found and justice was pursued.Last Seen: Sep 11, 2023
