Sara Ebersole: Few clues into missing Florida woman's whereabouts a year after disappearance
OCALA, Fla. - One year after her disappearance, there are still no answers as to where missing Marion County woman Sara Ebersole could be.
Michele Tullis, Ebersole's sister, fears the case is going cold and is begging anyone with information to come forward.
Ebersole, 26, was last seen on March 3, 2023. Tullis was able to track down a timeline of her sister’s last known location using timestamped photos and information on her iCloud.
"If it hadn’t been for me, we wouldn’t even know what Sara was wearing that night," Tullis said.
Tullis said she spends about six hours daily tracking down leads and searching for answers to her sister’s whereabouts.
"I realized they couldn’t access those accounts without a warrant, and it was taking too long for them to get it. Each iCloud account took approximately a month to get into."
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), Ebersole caught a ride with a man at a convenience store. The two traveled north on U.S. Highway 441 in Reddick. Detectives said Ebersole later left the house with another man, identified as Tyrone Morman.
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Investigators said Morman lied about being with Ebersole that night and refused to give up his phone. He told investigators he had broken it and thrown it away. A warrant was obtained, and Morman’s phone was turned over. He was arrested in December for giving false information.
Tullis says it’s not adding up. She wants to see her sister’s phone records – which could pinpoint a location.
"There is no area to search… there is no gridline," Tullis said. "She’s probably been sitting in the Ocala/Lake Mary landfill this whole entire time."
Tullis said she believes her sister’s disappearance isn’t being taken seriously as Ebersole worked as an exotic dancer.
"I think her employment and what she did for employment, they just look at her poorly," Tullis said, "and didn’t take this case seriously, all because of her occupation. She wasn’t worthy to them."
A representative with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) denied the claim, stating all cases are treated with the same time, attention, and respect.
"Sometimes people are easier to find, especially when the public talks to us and helps us follow the breadcrumbs of where this person might have gone to, but no person is treated differently," said Valerie Strong, MCSO Public Information Officer. "We definitely do not look at anybody’s occupation as to whether or not they’re worthy of us investigating them. Everybody is a human being, and we will investigate every case to the fullest."
Strong said that Morman is the sole person of interest in Ebersole’s disappearance. She added that he is not cooperating with investigators.
If you have information that could help investigators with Ebersole’s case, call MCSO’s non-emergency number (352) 732-9111. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers of Marion County at (352) 368-STOP (7867) and reference 2371 in your tip.
According to Tullis, a $4,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to Ebersole’s location.