Authorities blocked off Southwest Sheldon Lane in Rochester on Wednesday while searching a property in connection with the 2009 disappearance of Nancy Moyer.
A Thurston County Sheriff's Office vehicle sits in a field near a tent on a property where deputies are investigating a new lead in the Nancy Moyer disappearance.
Nancy Moyer
Vehicles are seen lining Sheldon Lane SW in Rochester on Wednesday as law enforcement searched property in connection with the 2009 disappearance of Nancy Moyer.
James Baysinger, who created the podcast series Hide and Seek that focused its first season on the 2009 disappearance of Nancy Moyer, speaks to a Thurston County worker manning the roadblock Wednesday as law enforcement searched a property in connection with Moyer’s disappearance.
A blue tent used by law enforcement during their search of a property on Sheldon Lane Southwest on Wednesday in Rochester.
A white tent used by law enforcement is set up next to a building on the Rochester property during a search in connection with the 2009 disappearance of Nancy Moyer.
11 a.m.: There will be a preliminary Thurston County Superior Court hearing at 3 p.m. today for Eric Lee Roberts, who is listed as the owner of a property at 16546 Sheldon Lane Southwest by the Thurston County Assessor’s Office and was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of second-degree murder. Sheriff John Snaza said charges have not officially been filed during a press conference this afternoon. Though he didn't name Roberts, he said the homeowner is a person of interest. Nancy Moyer's body has not been found, he said. Evidence collected from the home has been sent to the state crime lab. The FBI is involved as well. According to public records, Moyer worked with Roberts at the Department of Ecology prior to her disappearance. The most recent tip came directly from the home's owner, Roberts, according to Snaza.
This story will be updated.
10 a.m. update:
Updated 7 a.m. Thursday: The Thurston County Sheriff's Office announced late Wednesday night that Sheriff John Snaza would hold a press conference on the new information at 11 a.m. today at the Thurston County Sheriff's Office.
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More than 10 years after her disappearance, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that it was investigating new information in the Nancy Moyer disappearance.
According to a news release from the sheriff’s office, “new information came to light” on Tuesday that led deputies to search a house in the 16500 block of Sheldon Lane Southwest outside Tenino.
The sheriff’s office has not yet disclosed what that new information is or the results of the search at the property.
Moyer, 36 at the time, was last seen March 6, 2009. Her husband reported two days later that he found the front door of her Tenino home open and her car in the driveway. Investigators determined that foul play was involved in Moyer’s disappearance and she is presumed dead.
In the past year, the case has been featured on the Investigation Discovery channel and a podcast called “Hide and Seek,” launched by Kennewick resident James Baysinger.
The Chronicle will update this story when more information is available.
