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A real estate agent and potential buyers were looking at property behind Ridgeview Assisted Care Center when they found a human skull.
Sherman, a resident of Ridgeview who left the facility in May and vanished into thin air, was an honorably discharged Marine NCO and former prison guard.
Sherman had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder or paranoid schizophrenia and had attempted suicide twice.
Searchers on Wednesday and Thursday found further skeletal remains in the area.
Hyatt said the remains had been sent to the medical examiner's office in Little Rock for toxicity tests -- Sherman had left Ridgeview with a black metal lock box containing patient medications reported stolen by Ridgeview when they reported Sherman missing.
He said he expected a preliminary report in a couple of weeks.
At the time, search teams using dogs felt Sherman had walked to the highway and hitched a ride.
"We now believe she hid from search teams," Hyatt. said. "The remains were found in an area that had been thoroughly searched by police and Special Operations Rescue Team members at the time of her disappearance, which means she avoided us and then came back to that spot [and ended her life]."
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Penny Sherman is our sister and daughter and our friend, she is Tara and Houston's mother and is Kabrin's grandmother. She chose a beautiful place overlooking a small waterfall to spend her last moments. I imagine the freedom was exhilarating and the peacefulness was welcoming.
Penny was much more than a marine and a prison guard. She played the flute, and the piano for nursing home residents and enjoyed their smiles. Joe Sherman loved her. She had a gentle touch and careful way about her. She was fun, beautiful, thoughtful, and very private.
At times her comments were somewhat abstract but out of the jumble solutions were produced. She is the only person I know who would serve lasagne with a side of rice, and read every word of a real estate contract.
Her despondence became overwhelming and we, her friends and family, tried very hard to rescue her. She kept claiming she wasn't "fixable". I don't believe that, but, she did.
Jack Deaton and his Search and Rescue teams, looked for her for three days and nights, steadfastly despite rain and cold and darkness. Our family holds all of them in the highest regard.
We will miss her beauty -- Inside and out.
What a beautiful tribute to your loved one.