On July 20, 1978, Sheryl was sent by her mother to a nearby grocery store, about four blocks from their home, to buy some items. She was last seen between 7:15 and 7:30 p.m., standing across the street from the store, in front of a gate to a fenced-in four-block area condemned in the 1950s.
She was barefoot, wearing a sweatshirt and yellow shorts, and it remains unclear whether she entered the store. Her family moved out of Picher days after her disappearance, possibly due to the trauma or unrelated reasons.
Conflicting accounts exist regarding her personality. Her teachers noted she had a temper and misbehaved, potentially needing guidance, and she had allegedly discussed running away with a local man described as a "junk dealer."
However, one of her nine siblings described her as "happy-go-lucky" and "very friendly," suggesting a more positive disposition. The family was confirmed to be impoverished, with reports of an abusive father who misused alcohol, which may support the teachers' observations.
Initially, authorities theorized that Sheryl might have run away to stay with her married sister in Galena, Kansas. However, her sister and brother-in-law denied seeing her, and the sister was on a trip at the time of the disappearance, making this lead unlikely.
The case is classified as an endangered missing person, with foul play suspected, given the unusual nature of a runaway disappearing without trace for over 46 years.
A significant suspect in her case is Karl Lee Myers, a known serial killer with a criminal record since 1965, including charges for the 1977 murder of Ellen Deann Rowden (acquitted, but later convicted of other murders, dying in prison in 2012). Myers had a history of attacking girls Sheryl's age, but no direct evidence links him to her disappearance, leaving this as a speculative lead.
Over the decades, various leads have been pursued, including the examination of bones found near Tar Creek in 1983, which were confirmed not to be Sheryl's.
The case has been documented on The Charley Project and listed in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) under case MP99217 (NamUs).
In 2023, a significant development occurred when authorities sought DNA samples from Sheryl's relatives to compare with the remains of Grimes County Jane Doe, found in Texas on October 29, 1981.
This Jane Doe, estimated to be between 13 and 19 years old, had red or auburn hair, matching Sheryl's description, and was right-handed, with a height of 5'1 to 5'4 and weight around 110 pounds.
Given Sheryl's listed height of 4'0 and weight of 60 pounds, some speculate her height may have been underestimated, as 4'0 is unusually short for her age.
Debbie Stubbs, Sheryl's older sister, submitted a DNA swab to a Texas laboratory, and the process used a "genome sequencing technique" to compare the samples, with results expected within 10 days.
However, on March 15, 2023, the DNA test came back negative, confirming the remains were not Sheryl's, as reported by FourStatesHomepage.com. This development dashed hopes of closure but highlighted the ongoing efforts to resolve the case.
The number to report a tip on a missing person to the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) is 1-800-522-8017 and officials urge anyone who might have information on Sheryl's disappearance to call. You can remain anonymous.
