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MARYSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT COLD CASE Lisa Sledge - Missing Person December 1997 On December 12, 1997 Lisa Sledge’s family reported Lisa as a missing person. Lisa had left her children in their care of her father and mother, Randy and Betty Price. Lisa’s family had not heard from her since her 28th birthday on December 8, which was out of character for her. The family and police believe it is very likely Lisa died in early December 1997 and her body has never been found. Lisa Sledge was a 28 year old female resident of Marysville. She had a seven year old son named Aaron who has Down ’s and a 1 year old girl named Tessa. Lisa’s father is still raising Lisa’s children. Lisa’s parents knew she had started using illegal drugs shortly before she had gone missing and she was scheduled to go into treatment in January 1998. The last time Lisa was reportedly seen alive was sometime around her 28th birthday on December 8th, 1997. Lisa and her boyfriend at the time, Erick Mattison, had been 4 X 4ing on the Tulalip Indian Reservation in a 1987 Ford pickup. They got their vehicle stuck in mud in the area of 88th St NE and 27th Ave NE. Erick says he last saw Lisa walking away from the vehicle after they got into an argument. Erick was able to get assistance from some friends and got the truck unstuck. On 12/30/97, the police recovered the truck in a remote area on the Tulalip reservation where it had been abandoned and partially stripped. During the investigation Detectives were told many rumors about her disappearance and developed several possible leads. All leads have been followed up on but no solution to the mystery of her disappearance has been uncovered. One of the most common rumors that police were told was Lisa had died of an over dose of illegal drugs. The persons she was with when she died panicked and buried her remains without calling authorities. This rumor has been told with multiple variations including where it occurred, who was involved, and where Lisa currently is. ---PAGE BREAK--- MARYSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT One of the rumors about Lisa was she had been shot in the head with a gun. No evidence of this rumor has been discovered to date. Another rumor was Lisa had been picked up by a truck driver after walking away from the vehicle stuck in the mud. The Marysville Police have followed up on all known leads which included using cadaver dogs and ground penetrating radar. In August of 2010, Marysville Detectives conducted an excavation in the Stanwood area based on one of the leads and the use of ground penetrating radar. The excavation resulted in finding no further evidence. Based on the extensive investigation and interviews of many people over the years, some of which have been interviewed multiple times, the Marysville Police believe a likely scenario to be Lisa accidentally died of a drug overdose. The persons involved were scared and made the bad decision of not calling 911. If the scenario of an accidental overdose is true, the police want the persons involved to rest assured that they will not be arrested or charged with any crime related to this case. The statute of limitations has long since run out on all possible charges including controlled substance homicide, mishandling of human remains, and obstructing or rendering assistance. Lisa left behind family and friends who care. Lisa’s mother, Betty, has passed away not ever knowing what had happened to her daughter. Lisa’s father Randy, has taken the responsibility of raising and taking care of Lisa’s children. Lisa’s father, her two children, sister, brother, nieces, nephews and friends deserve to know what happened and be able to put Lisa to rest in a proper place. Parella Lewis from Q13 Fox’s Washington’s Most Wanted filmed a story on the case which aired in June 2011. Marysville Police Department is asking any persons who have information about this case to contact Detective Shackleton at (360)363-8300. Please help solve this mystery for the sake of her family and friends.