 The search for missing 14-year-old Sidney Randall continues in Lawrence County. Texas Equusearch volunteers have joined the Walnut Ridge Police and Lawrence County Sheriff’s investigation into the missing youth.
Sidney Randall was last seen at her residence in Walnut Ridge by her mother, Denise Cornell, around 10 pm on Saturday night.  Denise Cornell awoke in the  early Sunday morning hours to find her daughter, Sidney Randall and Sidney’s stepfather, John Cornell, missing from the residence. The mother stated that she had called the local hospital and 911 reporting the disappearance .  The stepfather returned alone to the residence later that morning (reported asking Denise Cornell why she was up), the mother then stated that Sidney was missing. John Cornell reportedly replied “bull**** and then said he would go to the police station , he then left the residence in his red ford truck. John Cornell never returned home or contacted authorities of Sidney’s disappearance.
 Authorities in Lawrence County began a massive search for John Cornell and Sidney Randall, giving descriptions of the 2000 Red Ford Ranger, asking the public to be on the lookout.  No signs of a struggle were seen at the home and both Cornell and Sidney’s cell phones and Cornell’s laptop computer were still at the residence.  Sidney was last seen wearing a brown aeropostale hoodie but no other clothing descriptions were given. (Denise Cornell made several statements that Sidney would not have left the home willingly or without her cosmetics and also that her husband, John Cornell had become increasingly possessive of Sidney, restricting her time with friends and her phone. )Â
 Monday afternoon, Sheriff Dotson and Walnut Ridge Police received a call reporting a vehicle matching the description of Mr. Cornell’s truck  on a field road just off Lawrence 438. Officers arrived to find the truck and John Cornell’s body. Cornell was located behind the truck some 200 yards with an apparent self-inflicted gun shot to the head. Investigators from the Arkansas State Police joined the investigation, Cornell was found to be laying on top of the weapon, the 45 caliber pistol that was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for testing.
The investigation into the missing youth was centered around the area in which the stepfather’s body was located, the truck belonging to John Cornell has yet to reveal many clues according to Sheriff Dotson. Cornell was discovered wearing shorts, t-shirt and work boots at the time of his death. The victims hat and glasses were on the ground beside the body. There were no apparent signs of Sidney Randall in the truck, the truck has since been re-examined by police. Authorities do know that Sidney Randall had been in the truck as recently as Saturday.  Sheriff Dotson stated that no blood was found in the truck.
A Morgan Nick Amber alert was issued for Sidney Randall on March 11th, 2013.
Sidney Nicole Randall –Age and/or DOB: 7/15/1998 Missing Date: 3/9/2013 Missing Time: 10:00 pm Missing from City: Walnut Ridge, AR Missing from County: Lawrence Sex: Female Race: White Height: 5’04″ Weight: 85 lbs Hair: brown hair/long Eyes: green Sidney has braces. Complexion is described as: Unknown Circumstances Her safety is feared.
John Cornell was an avid outdoorsman and frequented several spots on local lakes and hunting habitats throughout Lawrence County, authorities have compiled a list of these places and search them with no results. The area of Running Water Creek was searched and re-searched by the Lawrence County Dive Team, deputies have also used ATV’s to travel the banks of Running Water Creek. As soon as the body of John Cornell was discovered in the location, a helicopter from the Arkansas State Police was brought in for an air search. Since then, numerous air units have searched not only Running Water but a large portion of the county.
A county-wide message was sent through the media for property owners to search their property and report findings to the Lawrence County Dispatch by Sheriff Dotson to help in the search efforts. K-9 searches have been conducted using several dozen dogs and handlers throughout the county with no results.
On Wednesday, the Lawrence County Dive Team will accompany two K-9 units from Shelby County to search another portion of the Black River after dogs alerted on Tuesday evening, Texas Equusearch will be joining the team.
Sheriff Dotson still urges the public to report any sighting of John Cornell last weekend to the Sheriff’s Investigators.
Anyone with any valid information in this case who might provide clues concerning John Cornell or Sidney Randall should contact : (870) 886-2525.
