SHERRILL, Darrell (d. 1955)

SHERRILL, ARP, KALER

Posted By: Jennifer Gunderson (email)
Date: 1/3/2021 at 02:17:22

BODY OF BOY FOUND NEAR FRIEND'S HOME

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) - The body of Darrell Sherrill, 8-year-old who had been missing since last Friday, was found Monday near the farm home of a playmate on the edge of this city.

Darrell had been struck on the head with a blunt instrument, Dr. J. E. Christopherson, Cerro Gordo County coroner, said. The injury was near his right ear and eye.

The body was found in some weeds on the farm of Leonard Arp Sr. by two National Guardsmen. They said it had apparently been dragged to the place. Arp's son, Leonard, was a friend of the dead boy. Authorities said that Darrell's body was wrapped in pieces of awning and covered with an old quilt.

Darrell, the son of Mrs. Harold Kaler who had recently moved here from Los Angeles, was last reported seen about 5 p.m. Friday. The search for him started Friday evening and first centered in an area along the Winnebago River. The river was dragged to no avail.

The slain boy's father, Bennie Sherrill, is stationed at an air force base at Greenville, Miss.

Officer said they had not found the instrument which might have caused the boy's death.

Source: San Bernardino Sun, 27 Sep 1955.

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DEAD BOY'S FRIEND - Leonard Arp, Jr., 9, has admitted he accidentally shot and killed Darrell Sherrill, 8, a school classmate. County Attorney William Passas said at Mason City today. Passas said the remorse-stricken Arp boy told him the shooting occurred in an abandoned truck body, which the boys used as a clubhouse, as they examined a .22 caliber revolver. The body of Darrell, who had been missing since Friday, was found Monday.

Source: The Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, 27 Sep 1955.