Big Story Follow UP

Authorities release few details in Sherry Arnold case, ask for help finding body

Posted: Jan 16, 2012 10:39 PM by Amanda Venegas - KTVQ
Updated: Jan 19, 2012 10:36 AM

BILLINGS - North Dakota and Montana authorities believe missing teacher Sherry Arnold is dead and buried on a property in extreme northeast Montana or around the Williston area. The Williston Police Department, Williams County Sheriff's Office and the Sidney Police Department held a joint press conference Monday in Williston, but few new details were released.

Law enforcement is asking property owners to check shelter belts and vacant farmsteads on their land for disturbed soil. The areas of northeastern Montana include northern Richland County, as well as Roosevelt and Sheridan Counties. Law enforcement is also requesting North Dakota property owners in Williams County, McKenzie County, Mountrail County, and southern Divide County to search their properties for any sign of Arnold. The FBI has reason to believe that Sherry Arnold's body may be buried in a shelter belt that contains mature or rotted trees.

Investigators say if you see anything unusual to please call the Williams County Law Enforcement at 701-774-9191. The FBI wants people to know, they do not need volunteers to search.

Lester Waters Jr. 47, and Michael Spell, 22, of Parachute, Colorado are behind bars on a no bond warrant at the Williams County Correctional facility, facing aggravated kidnapping charges out of Montana.

At this point, authorities are revealing very little information on the Sherry Arnold case and say they do not want to jeopardize the investigation.

Sherry Arnold went for a jog the morning of January 7 and never returned home. Authorities were able recover her running shoe along Ninth Ave., commonly known as the Truck Route, where thousands of semi-trucks and vehicles travel down everyday.