Remains of Mother and Son Missing Since 2011 Believed to be Found, TYLER COUNTY, April 1, 2013 - The search for Lettie and John Fisher, Jr., who were reported missing in September of 2011 may have ended Sunday, March 31, 2013. An investigative team from the Tyler County Sheriff's Office, Texas Rangers, Department of Public Safety Dive Team and Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Wardens from Tyler and Jasper Counties responded to a report by a man who said he had found human skeletal remains. Fishing equipment and a prosthetic leg were found in the same location near Lake Steinhagen in the Dam-B Community.
After the man's report was confirmed by local game wardens on Sunday morning, the investigative team traveled by air boat to the edge of Dam-B Lake and went in by foot carrying the necessary equipment needed for investigative purposes.
The scene was located and processed by the investigative team members. Thirty six items of evidence were collected at the scene. Positive identification of the human skeletal remains will be forth coming through DNA testing and forensic process.
Lettie Marshall Fisher, age 79, 5 ft. 3 inches, 148 lbs., race black.
Missing Mother and Son Sought by Authorities, LIVINGSTON, October 4, 2011 - On the morning of September 19, 2011, Lettie Fisher and her son, John Fisher, Jr. were last seen by a family member at their home located off US-287 in West Polk County. Through investigation, it was learned that 79 year old Lettie and her 32 year old son, John, had driven to Lufkin Memorial Medical Center (in Lufkin) for a doctor's appointment. Video surveillance cameras show the two leaving the hospital at around 11 am. The video shows what clothes the two were wearing when they left the hospital. Detectives later found what appeared to be the same clothes at their home off US-287. This lead detectives to believe that the two drove back to the home and changed clothes.
A witness reported seeing the Fisher's vehicle traveling on 287 West in Polk County at around 12:30 in the afternoon on the same day. Evidence suggests that the two went fishing when it was discovered that in addition to changing clothes, fishing equipment was found missing from their residence. At 1:25 that afternoon, a vehicle matching Fisher's vehicle was spotted by security surveillance video from a convenience store at the intersection of US-190 and Highway 92. The footage from the camera showed the vehicle turn left onto 92 traveling in the direction of Magnolia Ridge State Park where the vehicle was later found.
John Edward Fisher, Jr., 32, 5 ft. 8 inches, 240 lbs., race black (has a prosthetic left leg and walks with a limp).
September 22 On the morning of September 22, 2011, an employee of Magnolia Ridge State Park notified the Tyler County Sheriff's Office of an abandoned vehicle reported to have been at the entrance of the park since previous Monday. The vehicle information was obtained with the registered owner of John Edward Fisher, Sr. who was notified by the Tyler County Sheriff's Office. According to John Fisher, Sr., the two frequent the creeks in the area for fishing.
After an extensive three day search of the area by Tyler County Authorities (assisted by an Equisearch Team), nothing was found. Detectives believe the Fishers were in the area but found no fishing equipment or other evidence. At time of press, both the Tyler County and Polk County Sheriff's Offices with assistance of the Texas Rangers Office are following up on leads in the case.
Authorities Are Asking for the Public's Help If anyone between September 19 - 22 saw Lettie or John Fisher, Jr. or their 1999 Toyota Four-Runner in Tyler or Polk County, or, may have come across any abandoned fishing equipment around the Dam B area or creeks in the woods of Tyler County please contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 936-327-6810 or the Tyler County Sheriff's Office at 409-283-2172.
Lettie and John Fisher were last seen driving this 1999 Toyota 4 Runner on September 19th. The vehicle was found abandoned on September 22 at Magnolia Ridge Park.
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