NEWAYGO, Mich. (WZZM) -- A West Michigan father whose daughter was murdered nearly 25 years ago may be one step closer to justice.
The Newaygo County prosecutor confirms two men have been arrested in connection to the murder of Shannon Siders. Matthew Jones, 44, of Grant and his brother, Paul Jones, 42, are facing first degree murder charges.
Siders was 18 years old when she vanished from her Newaygo home. She was allegedly last seen riding in Paul Jones' car with his brother, Matthew. A hunter found her badly-decomposed body in the Manistee National Forest on Oct. 15, 1989, in an area that was frequented by partying teenagers.
Years went by without an arrest. In Dec. 2011, a documentary about her disappearance and murder, titled In the Dark, debuted and Michigan State Police formed a cold case team to handle any new leads the film might trigger.
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In July 2012, Siders' family allowed investigators to exhume her body, hoping advances in DNA and forensic sciences would churn up new evidence.
Tuesday afternoon, Matthew and Paul Jones were arrested in Newaygo County and charged with premeditated murder in 78th District Court.
Referring to Matthew and Paul Jones following their arrests, Siders' father, Bob Siders said, "Back then there was a short list of five names. They were the first two on it. And it is a good day; it is not the end -- it is the beginning of the end. There are still questions that I may not get answers to."
"This case remained open for many years but Shannon Siders was never forgotten and law enforcement's resolve to hold those accountable for her death never diminished," said Newaygo County Prosecutor Robert Springstead in a statement. "This case is a perfect example of what can be accomplished when multiple agencies cooperate, collaborate and share resources."
"There is no statute of limitations for the peace of mind of a parent who lost a child to murder," stated Attorney General Bill Schuette. "Today's arrests confirm that our work is never done while a cold case remains unsolved. We will secure justice for the Siders family."
