The next morning, everyone was gone. Their cars, belongings, and even Sherrill’s dog were still at the house. Sherrill’s bed had been slept in, and a book was left open, suggesting she was interrupted. The porch light was broken, and a friend accidentally threw away the broken glass, potentially destroying evidence. Twenty or so people visited the house before the seriousness of the situation was realized, possibly contaminating the crime scene.

Several leads emerged:

* **Robert Craig Cox:** A convicted robber with a reversed murder conviction, who lived in Springfield and knew Stacy’s father, was considered a suspect. He made conflicting statements to investigators and a journalist, claiming he knew details about the disappearances but that the bodies would never be found.

* **A Moss Green Van:** Several witnesses reported seeing a woman resembling Suzanne in a moss green Dodge van, with one witness saying a terrified woman was being instructed by an unseen male voice. A license plate number was written down, but thrown away before police were contacted, leaving only the first three digits.

* **George’s Steakhouse:** A server reported seeing the three women at the restaurant between 1-3 a.m. on June 7th, with Suzanne appearing intoxicated.

* **Screams and Screeching Tires:** Witnesses heard screams and squealing tires in a nearby county around the time of the disappearances, but nothing was found.

* **An Unidentified Man:** A sketch of a transient man seen near the house was released, but his involvement is unknown.

Other potential suspects, including Sherrill’s son and Suzanne’s ex-boyfriend, were cleared. An anonymous tip to *America’s Most Wanted* was cut off before investigators could get information. The investigation was also hampered by accusations that the police chief hindered the process.

One theory suggests the attacker(s) may have lured the family dog away to trick someone into opening the door. Sherrill’s past, including two divorces and financial struggles, was also investigated. Suzanne had learning disabilities, worked at a movie theater, and planned to attend cosmetology school.

In 1997, Sherrill and Suzanne were declared legally dead. The case remains unsolved.