In 2015, after decades of unsuccessful searches, police made an unexpected breakthrough with new investigative techniques and the use of data on Sherman, a previously unknown figure. Detectives who had long investigated incoherent evidence now had a key lead. Information about James Sherman was obtained from a variety of sources, including criminal databases, analysis of old testimony, and even the testimony of someone who had once cooperated with him. Sherman turned out to be the figurative center of a criminal network that operated not only in California, but across the country. He was someone who had been manipulating people for years, using them for his own ends, and hiding his role in the criminal life.
Police discovered that Sherman was a liaison between several gangs that trafficked people, guns, and drugs. These groups often used brutal methods to maintain control over victims, creating vicious circles of fear and violence. Many of his victims were unknown to anyone, and their disappearances went unsolved. Sherman skillfully eluded law enforcement through carefully planned schemes, manipulating people and creating false trails that baffled investigations. He was the kind of man who would disappear and then reappear as if nothing had happened. There were no obvious traces or signs in his life that could indicate his criminal activity.
Investigators began to scrutinize his connections, examining criminal files to see where he might have crossed paths with the missing girls. One of the most shocking things about the investigation was the fact that he was surrounded by people who seemed to have no connection to the underworld but became involved in that world through their association with Sherman. For example, one witness, a former acquaintance of Sherman, testified that Sherman had once tried to recruit him into his schemes by offering him participation in “respectable” activities that actually concealed darker affairs.
Sherman used manipulation and deception to lure Susan and Charlene. He created an appearance of normalcy by becoming their supposed friend and then became their captor. He kept them isolated for a long time, making them fear and trust no one. For the girls, his home became a kind of prison in which they felt helpless and defenseless. Investigators later learned that he had planned this kidnapping, as well as other similar crimes, and had thought out every step to avoid suspicion.
Through long interrogations and careful work with witness testimony, they were able to build a complete picture. It turned out that Sherman was not just a criminal, but a manipulator who could turn victims into his puppets, playing with their psyche, creating psychological control. When his connection to the case was revealed, it came as a real shock to everyone. New facts emerged that helped the police recover the truth, and the moment the truth became clear, everyone, including the Lyon family, felt the fog of despair and uncertainty begin to dissipate.
The Lyon family finally had answers to the questions that had plagued them all these years. However, the joy of solving the mystery was overshadowed by the horror that accompanied these revelations. James Sherman turned out to be not just a criminal, but a true monster behind one of the most tragic cases in the history of this city.
