Sheriff reopening case of 13-year-old killed in 1997

Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott announced Thursday he will reopen the case of Stephanie Mahaney, the 13-year-old whose body was found in 1997 in a farm pond west of Springfield.

Arnott, who was the first officer on the scene when Mahaney's body was found 17 years ago, drove to Texas this week to interview the man indicted in Greene County for her murder.

Arnott had interviewed Tommy Lynn Sells, 49, more than a decade ago, while Sells was on death row for a murder conviction in Texas. Arnott said he wanted to ask Sells questions one more time, while Sells knew his death was imminent. Sells was executed Thursday.

Arnott said he didn't expect to reopen the case before he went to interview Sells. He made the decision to do so on his drive back from Texas.

Arnott said he asked Sells, in 2002, specifically about eight points in the case. Arnott asked those same eight questions this week, and got different answers on two of the questions.

He said it's those differences that have led him to reopen the case — not necessarily because he now thinks Sells is innocent — but because he wants to have answers to all his questions.

Arnott said he interviewed him again, hoping Sells — at that time only days away from execution — would tell the complete truth about Mahaney.

It's been an emotional case for Arnott. As he opened the news conference, he showed a photo of Mahaney he says he's carried every day since 1997.

Since then, he said he personally followed up on more than 100 leads in the case.

Sells, who was executed for the murder of a Texas girl, was indicted for Mahaney's killing in 2002 after Arnott presented evidence to then-prosecutor Darrell Moore.

Sells is suspected in three killings in the Ozarks, including that of Mahaney.

Arnott said his mission is to work for victims. He had to compose himself as he said that he is Mahaney's voice.

Arnott said he is not any less confident that Sells killed Mahaney but that he wanted to review a couple of facts based on Sells' different answers. Arnott said he has not consulted with prosecutors or staff about reopening the case.

He said there could be several explanations for Sells' different answers. He said it's not unusual for people to lie to law enforcement officers, and it's also not unusual for people — even eyewitnesses — to remember an event differently after several years.

Arnott said he will stay on the case with one additional investigator, starting Monday.

Mahaney's mother, Suzette Martin, appeared at the news conference with Arnott.

She said she's not angry that Arnott has reopened the case, but she started the grieving process again when Arnott drove to the Stockton Lake area, where Martin now lives, to give her the news.

"It's Oct. 15, 1997 all over again," she said, referring to the day her daughter went missing.

Sells deserved to die, Martin said, regardless of the sheriff's ongoing questions. She still wants people with information to come forward.

Martin said Stephanie was very responsible with her younger siblings — very protective. Martin said she knew her daughter wasn't a runaway when she went missing.

She said her inner strength has gotten her through the years since Mahaney's death.

She said she's also received support from Janis McCall, who founded the victim support organization One Missing Link after her own daughter, Stacy McCall, went missing more than 20 years ago.

"I've hollered at Janis," Martin said. "I've cried at Janis."

Martin said she doesn't believe the execution of Sells will bring her closure, but that it would be one piece of the puzzle.

Even if answered questions still point to Sells, Arnott doesn't expect it to provide much closure for him, either.

"I've had two homicide cases that have ended with life in prison," he said. "Those don't feel like successful resolutions. I don't think there is such a thing as a successful resolution in a case like this."