Volunteers search woods for woman missing from Jackson

Snakes, ticks and steamy weather didn't hinder a deep-woods search Sunday for Jacque Sue Waller, missing from Jackson for nearly a month.

Stick together and holler if you've found something, Jackson Police Department Capt. Bob Bonney instructed a group of around 30 that gathered in a wilderness area in Cape Girardeau County.

"What you're doing is admirable, but take care of yourself first," Bonney told the group. "If we find anything, nobody touches anything."

Bonney, with other Jackson law enforcement, supported the two search missions in the area Sunday. Bonney was a liaison for one search in a large recreational, wooded area northeast of Cape Girardeau organized by Ann Williams, a friend of Waller's family. A second search focused on areas east of Fruitland.

Waller has been missing since June 1 and was last seen in the area of Woodland Drive and North Neal Street, near the temporary residence of her estranged husband, Clay Waller. Since she was reported missing, the Cape Girardeau/Bollinger County Major Case Squad named him a person of interest, although not a suspect, in Waller's disappearance. The case squad also said it suspects foul play.

Jacque Waller

Waller's family and friends have their suspicions, too, and tried their best Sunday to find answers in their loved one's disappearance. They want answers for Waller's family, especially for her 5-year-old triplets.

"Jacque loved to talk about her children. She was a very proud mom," said Paula Martin, Waller's former co-worker. "I've known her a long time. I feel like I need to do something."

Williams told the searchers she was confident they'd find Waller or something else pertinent to finding out what happened to her. She and other friends recently sought out a psychic, who led them to their search location.

Despite her confidence, Williams was still jittery, as the scenario hit close to home. Her husband was murdered more than 30 years ago and his killer has never been found, she said.

"It's like getting closure on it for me. It's worth a shot," she said. "The benefits being held are great, but we want to bring her home."

Williams, Martin and the others, including Waller's brother, Rob Rawson, and cousin Rick Rawson, searched through thick brush, rocky, creek beds and a road closed to traffic that had been recently driven on.

"If it's too thick for you to get through, it is for someone else, too," yelled one of the searchers to the group.

The road had been closed off to since May 1 and only maintenance was allowed to drive on the area, added the searcher, who didn't want to be named. She said it just made sense to search the area.

"Who else is going to look? We're here to find answers," the searcher said.

Rob Rawson also joined a search and flier distribution earlier Sunday organized by Bobby Sherrill, a childhood friends of Waller's. Their focus was east of Interstate 55 and on routes Y and V in east Cape Girardeau County. The teams also broke out to distribute fliers and search for Waller on county roads 607, 605 and 603. Waller's blue Honda Pilot was found abandoned with a flat tire near Fruitland at mile marker 105.

Sherrill said he was particularly grateful to the county residents who joined the search after receiving fliers and talking with search team members. More than 1,000 fliers, with details of Waller's disappearance, were handed out to residents.

"I'm not done, and I won't be done looking until I find her," Sherrill said.

Jackson police are still searching for Waller and answers in her disappearance, too. Chief James Humphreys said K-9 units will be out searching Monday and a helicopter will be flying above the location along the interstate where Waller's vehicle was found. The pilot will fly at a lower elevation, Humphreys said, to search for possible remains or disturbed areas of vegetation. K-9 units will be searching in north Cape Girardeau County. Humphreys did not release information Sunday on evidence sent to a crime lab that have yet to be returned to the department.

ehevern@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

Fruitland, MO

Woodland Drive and North Neal Street, Jackson, MO