Posted: Jan 21, 2012 12:33 PM by KTVQ (Billings)
Updated: Jan 22, 2012 1:59 AM
Sherry Arnold's disappearance and presumed death is now the subject of a feature article in People magazine.
The article detailing the story of the missing Sidney High School teacher was posted on the magazine's website on Friday night.
The story features a picture of Arnold and her husband Gary, and chronicles the mystery that has people in Sidney on edge.
The story details the multi-state search, and the two men being held in Williston, North Dakota waiting to be extradited to Montana to face charges of aggravated kidnapping.
The article states: "Family members have been told that one of the men has confessed to killing Arnold, but they're still desperately waiting to hear how and why."
Authorities have released little details in the investigation. They do believe Sherry Arnold is dead and have asked landowners between Sidney and Williston to look for disturbed soil on their property.
The People article notes that many people in the area have been quick to blame the crime on a regional boom in oilfield jobs that has drawn many outsiders to the region, noting that the parking lot outside the Williston, N.D., Walmart has been turned into a makeshift homeless camp of wall-to-wall trailers.
It adds that Sidney schools superintendent Dan Farr, himself a former oilfield roustabout, cautions that residents shouldn't rush to judgment against the oil workers.
Here is a timeline of the investigation into Arnold's disappearance:
January 7th: Sherry Arnold, a 43 year old teacher in Sidney, Montana is reported missing after failing to return from a morning jog.
January 7th: A search begins for Arnold which includes 100 people, including 40 members of the Montana National Guard and two planes searching by air.
January 7th: Authorities recover one of Arnold's jogging shoes in northeast Sidney along Ninth Avenue. A substance which has not been identified by law enforcement was found on the shoe.
January 9th: The Montana Department of Justice issues a Missing Persons Alert for Arnold.
January 10th: The Federal Bureau of Investigation becomes involved in the investigation into Arnold's disappearance due to proximity to North Dakota and potential of kidnapping.
January 11th: A tip line is set up by investigators for information leading to the whereabouts of Sherry Arnold (406) 433-4027. Also, a "Help Find Sherry Arnold" page on Facebook garners thousands of visits.
January 12th: Formal search efforts are suspended until authorities receive new information.
January 12th: Arnold added to the FBI Missing Persons List.
January 13th: The Sidney School District posts on their website that it had informed students and teachers that Sherry Arnold is dead. The school says they were informed by Arnold's family.
January 13th: A press conference is held by Sidney police in conjunction with the FBI. Sidney Police Chief Frank DiFonzo said a 47-year-old man is in custody in Williston, North Dakota, and a 22-year-old man had been detained for questioning in Rapid City, South Dakota, both in connection with Arnold's disappearance.
January 13th: Hundreds pour into the gym at Sidney High School for a memorial vigil.
January 14th: Sidney Police Chief Frank DiFonzo confirms that the two men in custody have been arraigned on charges of aggravated kidnapping and are being held at the Williams County Jail in Williston, North Dakota.
January 15th: The two men held on charges of aggravated kidnapping are identified as 47-year-old Lester Waters Jr. and 22-year-old Michael Spell. Both men are most recently from Parachute, Colorado.
January 16th: Montana and North Dakota law enforcement, as well as the FBI, ask landowners in eastern Montana and western North Dakota to look for disturbed soil on their property. Authorities say they believe Arnold is deceased but they have not recovered a body. They believe her body may be located near a shelter belt of trees.
January 17th: The original citation issued to Waters and Spell from the Sidney Police Department is released. The citation sets the time of the alleged kidnapping at 6:40 a.m. at 900 East Holly Street, which is located along the truck route Arnold may have been jogging.
January 17th: Waters and Spell appear in District Court and bond is set at $2.5 million dollars for each man. The men do not agree to be extradited to Montana, so a formal extradition hearing must be scheduled.
January 18th: An arrest warrant and complaint are released. If Waters and Spell are found guilty of aggravated kidnapping they could face life imprisonment or the death penalty.
January 19th: Court records from Colorado reveal that suspect Michael Spell had been granted court permission to travel to Texas for a family emergency only two days before Arnold's disappearance.