The Talladega County Sheriff’s Department has assigned a deputy to continue the investigation into the disappearance of Sylacauga businessman Howard L. Byrd.Byrd, 61, was last seen the morning of July 29 leaving his business, Bama Golf Carts on U.S. 280 between Sylacauga and Childersburg.
He was seen that morning with an unidentified person in another vehicle. The vehicle was described as a white four-door Dually pickup truck.
Byrd was going to an auction in Bessemer that day.
Sheriff investigators learned Byrd was seen between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. July 29 in Childersburg when he went in to an auto parts store. Witnesses said he was with a white male 48 to 52 years old, clean shaven with a head full of hair.
Talladega County Sheriff Jerry Studdard said the investigation continues as leads are followed.
"A deputy is assigned to this. He is continuing to work this case, interviewing people and following any leads the department may get on Mr. Byrd’s disappearance. We’re just going to keep after it in hopes of getting a lead on Mr. Byrd’s whereabouts," Studdard said.
Byrd’s family has offered a $10,000 reward for information that leads to finding their loved one.
Byrd is 5 ft. 10 inches tall, weighs 200 pounds, has brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing Liberty overalls and white tennis shoes.
Byrd is listed as a missing adult on the Alabama Department of Public Safety Web site.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (256) 249-3811.
In another case, sheriff investigators have no new leads in the murder of Phyllis West Spates.
Spates’ remains were found in early March on a hillside near the Sylacauga airport.
The 52-year-old Sylacauga woman was reported missing Dec. 28, 2004, to the Sylacauga Police Department by a family member. The family had no contact with Spates since early October.
Her last known address was 1012 Machen Drive in Sylacauga.
A work crew discovered her remains while surveying along rough, wooded terrain. The hillside is off Wynette Road near Dora Lane just outside Sylacauga.
Studdard said the state Forensic Lab is working to reconstruct Spates’ remains in an attempt to find out how she died.
The Sylacauga Police Department and Sheriff’s Department are working jointly in the investigation, that Studdard said is being treated as a homicide.
"Anytime we find remains or a body in a wooded area, we always work it as a homicide," he said.
Anyone with information on the Spates, case, should contact the Sheriff’s Department at (256) 245-5121 or Sylacauga Police Department at (256) 245-4334.
