As a team of volunteers and a multitude of law enforcement officials search for a Jackson County woman last seen Wednesday afternoon, Jackson County Sheriff David Lucas (pictured above, right) told area media that there is no person of interest in the case.
“We have no one in custody, and we do not have a person of interest at this point,” the sheriff said at a Thursday morning press conference.
Sydney Claire Sutherland (pictured above, left), 25, was last seen between 2:30 and 3 p.m. Wednesday, jogging in the area of Jackson County Road 41 and State Highway 18. Lucas said that information came from a UPS driver who told authorities early Thursday morning.
Sutherland’s residence is on Highway 18 between Newport and Grubbs. Sutherland is known to walk or jog a loop in that area — County Roads 41, 42, 43, and Highway 18.
Lucas said authorities are concentrating the search in that area because of information from the public and pings from her cellular account. The sheriff’s department has been in touch with Sutherland’s cellular carrier and Apple. He said Sutherland was carrying her iPhone and wearing her Apple Watch at the time. Her vehicle and other personal items were still at her home.
The sheriff also said Jonesboro police are following up on a visit to a gym in the city that Sutherland made earlier Wednesday. Officials are also seeking videos from surveillance cameras along the route from Jonesboro to her residence, Lucas noted.
“We’re working every aspect we can think of. From the social media side to the physical side,” the sheriff said. “We’re not ruling anything out.”
However, Lucas did rule out a rumor posted on social media regarding a truck with Texas tags with two males.
“That information did not come from law enforcement,” Lucas said. The sheriff said following rumors posted on social media takes authorities away from the main search.
Lucas said the search for Sutherland started late yesterday and concluded around 2 a.m. due to safety concerns. Officials resumed searching around 7:30 Thursday morning.
The sheriff noted a variety of law enforcement and other agencies are helping in the search along with officials from the county’s emergency management office and volunteers. Authorities from the police departments of Newport, Tuckerman, Trumann, and Jonesboro are participating. U.S. Marshals, FBI agents, and the Arkansas State Police have also assisted. And a state police helicopter and two helicopters from Survival Flight of Batesville are searching the area from the air.
Sutherland is 5 foot, 3 inches and 103 pounds and has blonde hair and brown eyes.
If you have any information concerning Sutherland’s location, please call the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at (870) 523-5842.
Get up-to-date local and regional news along with the latest sports and weather every weekday morning by listening to Gary B. on Ozark Newsline, broadcast from the First Community Bank Newsroom on Arkansas 103.3. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on 93 KZLE, Outlaw 106.5, and yourfm 99.5. Have a news tip or event to promote? Email White River Now at news@whiterivernow.com. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Add don’t forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
