BENTONVILLE -- Former Pea Ridge police officer Cerilla Ann Doyle went missing almost 10 years ago. Now her family is asking to have her declared dead.
Rogers lawyer Brent Johnson filed a petition of declaration of death Tuesday in Benton County Circuit Court. The petition was filed on behalf of Danielle Doyle, Cerilla Doyle's daughter.
Cerilla Doyle went missing Oct. 27, 2008. She worked for the Pea Ridge Police Department for nearly 13 years before her retirement Aug. 8, 2008.
Cerilla Doyle and her daughter lived at 503 N.W. B St. in Bentonville, according to court documents.
Danielle Doyle reported her mother missing to the Bentonville Police Department. She reported she last talked with her mother the morning of Oct. 27, 2008. Danielle Doyle returned home that day and found her mother's two vehicles parked in the backyard. Her mother left the title to one of the vehicles, a power of attorney and a check made out for $27,067 to her daughter, according to court documents.
A receipt for a certified letter she sent her son, Cameron Clayton, was found in the home, according to court documents.
Bentonville police learned Cerilla Doyle withdrew $1,000 from an ATM on the day of her disappearance. Police found searches on her computer for bus departures from Rogers to Tulsa, Okla., according to court documents.
Former Pea Ridge Police Chief Tim Ledbetter confirmed Cerilla Doyle bought a bus ticket using the name of Deedra Corey. Ledbetter couldn't prove Doyle boarded a bus, and there was a stop in Joplin, Mo., before reaching Tulsa, according to court documents.
Neither Bentonville police nor Ledbetter found Cerilla Doyle.
Charles Thomas, Cerilla Doyle's former boyfriend, told Danille Doyle her mother said if she killed herself, she would do it in the woods in the middle of nowhere so no one could find her body for a long time, according to court documents.
According to the petition, Cerilla Doyle's family has come to the conclusion she is dead. The petition seeks a declaration of death so a death certificate can be issued and the family can have closure, according to court documents.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Doug Schrantz.
NW News on 04/14/2018