Police look for 14 yr old missing girl, Sidney Randell of AR/Sidney's Step Dad commits suicide & was/is the only suspect/Texas EquuSearch will take over all ground searches/5.20.13 Sidney's body found in river

LAWRENCE COUNTY —Police are looking for a teenage girl named Sidney Randell. The Associated Press reports authorities found the girl's stepfather dead Monday.

An Amber Alert was issued for Sidney Monday afternoon. It says she was last seen late Saturday night, and disappeared from Walnut Ridge.

She is 5'4", and weight 85 lbs. Her eyes are green and her hair is brown and just above her shoulder.

The alert says police fear for her safety.

Anyone who might know where Sidney could be should contact the Walnut Ridge Police Department or local law enforcement.
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An Amber Alert has been issued for Sidney Nicole Randell, 14, of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, who was last seen on late on March 10, 2013, wearing a brown Aeropostale jacket. Her stepfather, John Cornell, was the prime suspect in the teen’s disappearance. Disturbingly, two days after she was reported missing, he was found dead from a gunshot wound on a rural road outside the town. Police have not released any details of the shooting, but believe that Sidney may be in danger. Police have search the town and surrounding area with dogs and dive teams have searched bodies of water in the search for Sidney.

She is described as a white female, with green eyes and brown hair just past her shoulders, standing 5’04″ and weighing 85 pounds.

Anyone with any information is urged to call Walnut Ridge Police Chief Richy Thatcher at (870) 886-2525.
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Sidney Randell; inset: John Cornell

Friends of missing 14-year-old and #AmberAlert subject Sidney Randell sent us this updated image #ARnews [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (KTHV) -- Authorities in Lawrence County are still looking for a 14-year-old girl who vanished last weekend.

While the search continues for Sidney Nicole Randall, authorities are grasping for any lead that could spark her discovery. Crews focused their attention for a second day on a piece of farm land off of Lawrence County Road 438, where Monday authorities found the body of John Cornell-the girl's stepfather. Authorities said they believe he shot himself.

"We are down toward the Cloverbend area where Mr. Cornell had actually worked on the farm. We are searching different locations down by the farm," said Walnut Ridge Police Chief Richey Thatcher.

Walnut Ridge Police caught word of Randall's disappearance early Sunday morning when the girl's mother, Denise Cornell, called 911.

Denise Cornell told Police once she made the call to authorities, her husband John pulled up into their driveway, and she said when she told him about the girl's disappearance, he didn't believe her and left. Cornell wasn't seen again until Police found him 200 yards from his truck, lying in a ditch with a gunshot wound.

"We've had my detective and the Sheriff's Department detective with different gas stations around the area, different grocery stores, you know Wal-Mart, things like that, checking any video surveillance that we could get just to see if we could locate the last time Mr. Cornell was seen or if Sidney was with him," Thatcher explained.

A man in the area who said he worked with Cornell told THV 11 News that he was an avid hunter and fisherman, and seemed like an everyday guy.

Cornell's body was taken to the state crime lab for an autopsy

State police used a helicopter on Monday to look for Sidney. Search crews are now using four-wheelers, boats, and mules to aid with the search.

Authorities said they'll continue looking throughout the night.

According to Arkansas State Police, Randall was last seen around 10 p.m. Saturday wearing a brown Aeropostale jacket. She stands at 5 feet, 4 inches and weighs 85 pounds. She has brown hair just below shoulder length and has green eyes.

The Walnut Ridge Police Department fears she is in serious danger.

If you have seen Sidney Nicole Randall or know of her whereabouts, please contact the Walnut Ridge Police Department as soon as possible at (870) 886-3568.
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This reminds me of Brittany Wood..her Uncle killed himself the same day she went missing.

by Chelsea Hoffman

Was Sidney Randall Murdered by Dead Suspect?

March 13, 2013 07:05 PM EDT

Walnut Ridge, Arkansas teen Sidney Randall hasn't been seen since March 9, 2013 and is believed to have been kidnapped by John Cornell. It's now being reported that Cornell was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound about 200 yards from his vehicle in the same town of the teen's residence. Sidney still hasn't been located.

An Amber Alert is still in effect, but what are the odds that this young lady will be found before it's too late? It's been four days, and with each moment that passes the likelihood of finding her alive dwindles more and more—especially with the only suspect in her disappearance dead by suicide.

Searches are continuing into day five of the girl's disappearance, and a balloon release was held by Walnut Ridge community members to keep up hope. Unfortunately, investigators have little to share in the search for the girl as the investigation continues. Wherever Sidney Randall is, the suspect possibly hid her very well. Tips have been "coming in steadily" says law enforcement, many including information about Cornell and the places he liked to go.

If John Cornell murdered Sidney, then where would he have hidden her body? The tips coming in about his favored haunts are the first places that should be checked, because when crimes of this nature are committed, perps normally stick to where they feel most safe and comfortable. If he was an avid outdoorsman, anywhere he would be known to camp, hunt, or fish should be checked.

In the meantime, it's hopeful that some kind of good news comes to her loved ones.

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The father of a missing teenage beauty queen claims that she was abused by her stepfather and was planning to 'tell' of his behaviour.
Sidney Nicole Randal, 14, was last seen at her Arkansas home on March 4 after going missing in the middle of the night.
Her stepfather John Cornell, who was named as the main suspect in her disappearance, was found dead in an apparent suicide two days later.

As the search for the teenager continues, her biological father claimed that Cornell had abused Sidney, saying that he 'slugged her in the mouth'.
Victor Randall told KAIT-TV: 'She was scared of him.' He also said that his daughter 'was going to tell' of Cornell's alleged behaviour.

Describing Sidney as a 'sweet, caring person', her brother Ben said she was also 'keeping something'.
He added: 'She never did tell anybody but she was keeping something from everybody.'

Sidney was last seen at her home in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, on Saturday March 4 at 10pm wearing a brown Aeropostale jacket.
Her mother Denise Cornell woke at 3:30am but could not find her daughter or husband Cornell in the property.
When Cornell returned home without Sidney, Mrs Cornell called 911, before her husband once again left the house.
His body was found on Monday, having died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, approximately 200 yards from his truck.
Lawrence County Sheriff Jody Dotson said that Cornell had gone on a spending spree after collecting his tax return.
He purchased a computer, the gun that inflicted the fatal wound and a number of smaller items.
Mrs Cornell told KAIT-TV she believes her daughter was forced from the house, pointing to the fact that she left her makeup behind.
She added: 'She has an upcoming pageant in April, and that’s how I know she wouldn't have left willingly.'
An extensive police search has yet to find locate Sidney, described as 5'04" with green eyes and brown hair, having deployed helicopters, sniffer dogs and scuba divers.
A team of volunteers has renewed their search for the beauty queen, focussing on northeastern Arkansas.
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Suspect: John Cornell, who was named as the main suspect in her disappearance, was found 200 yards from his truck having died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound

This sure does not sound good for this girl!

WOW!!

WALNUT RIDGE, AR (KAIT) - The search for 14-year-old Sidney Nicole Randall continued on Thursday, with a Sonar team searching on Black River.

Some clothing was found along the river banks of the Black River, but Lawrence County Sheriff Jody Dotson said none have been positively identified as belonging to Sidney.
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A girl’s body found Saturday in the Black River near the line between Lawrence and Randolph counties has been identified as that of a 14-year-old missing since March 10, the Lawrence County sheriff's office said Monday.

The body of Sidney Nicole Randall, whose mother reported her missing after she couldn’t be found in their Walnut Ridge home, was found after a fisherman called 911 to report the body, which was floating in the river near Old Davidsonville State Park and was partially tangled in a treetop, Sheriff Jody Dotson said.

Lawrence and Randolph county sheriff’s deputies and state Department of Parks and Tourism authorities met the fisherman, who led them to the girl’s body, Dotson said.

Authorities recovered the body, which looked like that of a teenage girl, and contacted the state Crime Laboratory to help identify her and determine her cause of death, he said. Authorities couldn’t immediately tell whether the body suffered trauma, he said.

Arkansas State Police officials had issued a Morgan Nick Amber Alert for Sidney after authorities found the body of her stepfather on a farm road March 11 in Lawrence County.

Police said John Cornell, 35, of Walnut Ridge apparently had shot himself. A backhoe operator found Cornell’s body near his red Ford pickup just off Lawrence County Road 438.
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Horrible!!!!

Members of the school and community, as well as the Ohio Chapter of Texas EquuSearch, came together Saturday afternoon for a farewell tribute to the life of Walnut Ridge 14-year-old Sidney Nicole Randall.

Whether funeral goers came to mourn Sidney or to show support to her family and friends, all were uplifted despite the tragic circumstances.

Sidney had last been seen on the night of Saturday, March 9, and her body was found in Black River on Saturday, May 18. Walnut Ridge Police Chief Richy Thatcher said his department is waiting on a final report from the Arkansas State Crime Lab on her cause of death.

The funeral service, with an estimated crowd of some 450 people, was held at the Walnut Ridge School's Sharum Gymnasium. Two groupings of chairs on the gym floor were reserved for family members, pallbearers, eighth-grade classmates and friends, as well as Walnut Ridge School faculty. Seating on both sides of the gym was available for others.

Attendees wore bright colors at the request of Sidney's family. The Rumblin' Around the Ridge bikers group wore T-shirts of pink, Sidney's favorite color.

A slideshow, with photos of Sidney's life, played as funeral goers took their seats. Bright ribbons and programs and cards with Sidney's photo were given to attendees. The cards stated, "The Family of Sidney Randall thanks you for your support during their time of mourning."

Speakers were Jake Guenrich, associate pastor of First Baptist Church, Glenn Smith, pastor of United Free Will Baptist Church, and David Rader, of Cincinnati, Ohio, representing Texas Equusearch, a renowned organization that helps with missing person cases.

Guenrich and Smith both presided at a candlelight vigil held just after Sidney's disappearance, and they have continued to minister to her family since that time. Rader and other members of the Ohio Chapter of Texas Equusearch spent a week here in March organizing and conducting search efforts.

"Amazing Grace" was played as family members entered from the rear of the gym.

"On days like these, the strong are made weak, and the most joyful are deeply saddened. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sidney's family and friends during these dark days," began Guenrich, the first speaker. On behalf of the family, he thanked everyone for the kindness, prayers and support. He shared Sidney's obituary and gave a prayer.

Texas Equusearch member David Rader told how mountain people joined the flatlanders to find Sidney, and in the process the community was made better.

Rader thanked Lawrence County Sheriff Jody Dotson and Walnut Ridge Police Chief Richy Thatcher and their teams for working together with their search team. "Everyone had the same goal, to bring Sidney home. We knew she would be found."

Rader also said it was noteworthy that Sidney's service was held on May 25, which is National Missing Children's Day.

"Holes in the Floor of Heaven" was one song played at the service. Another song was "Sissy's Song," by Alan Jackson, with these lyrics, "She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels. By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees. And she walks with Jesus and her loved ones waiting. And I know she's smiling saying, 'Don't worry 'bout me ...'"

"Let not your hearts be troubled," Pastor Glenn Smith read from John: Chapter 14.

On behalf of the family, Smith also praised "so many who need to be thanked today," including volunteers, searchers and donors for their time and prayers. "Now, finally, Sidney is home. Thank you," he said.

"This tragedy was so powerful in bringing this community together," he continued. "We serve a God who makes good follow tragedy ... Sidney didn't come home in the way we wanted ... but good follows evil. Sometimes we must wait."

"This one in a million tragedy may propel us to do something better," he said.

Pastor Smith had previously met with 10 or 12 friends of Sidney and shared several responses and conclusions from that discussion.

"Sidney was just a one in a million friend."

"She was the friend who didn't let her friends have a bad day."

"A rare friend with a beautiful smile."

Smith said, "Sidney used that beautiful smile to do what God intended us to do: help make other's lives happy."

He concluded his remarks by asking, "How are you responding to this nightmare?"

"God can take our helpless situation and make a miracle," Smith said. He added that keeping Sidney's smile and her love and care for one another is a way to keep her legacy alive.

"How do we overcome evil with good?" Smith said one answer is to "turn to Jesus."

"Let us ask God to help us turn this around to make this a better community," he concluded.
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Funeral goers watch as Rumblin' Around the Ridge bikers prepare to escort Sidney Randall's family to Black Rock for a private burial.

This is the saddest thing!