Former Sheriff honored for Dennis Sell investigation

It was 1977 in Dawson County when two Lexington area women were murdered.  Both Ruth Eby and Judith Dangler were 32-years-old at the time of their deaths.  A Lexington man, Dennis Sell was later convicted of those crimes and died in prison.  On Thursday, family members of Judith Dangler returned to Lexington where they presented a plaque to the Dawson County Sheriff's Office on the induction of then Sheriff John Rohnert into the Nebraska Law Enforcement Hall of Fame.  Rohnert served as Dawson County Sheriff from 1959 to 1983.  He passed away in 1985.  After the presentation, Judith's husband Bob Dangler, discussed more about why he nominated Rohnert for the recognition.  He wanted to show his appreciation for work and time Rohnert put into the case, so much so that Dangler believes may have "almost ruined his health".   Bob and Judith's daughter, Jacki Rains agreed saying "the simple fact that this man took so many hours out of his personal life to assist our family.  And he did this for over 11 months, taking time from his own family to help our family."

Dangler disappeared from her rural Lexington residence in February 1977.  Her remains were recovered 11 months later in a canyon near Eustis.  Dawson County Sheriff Ken Moody accepted the plaque and indicated it will displayed in the front office.


 Dennis Sell, a welder at a Lexington manufacturing plant was arrested and convicted in the cases.   Sell died in prison in 2009. 

Two of Rohnert's daughters were on-hand for the presentation.   Cindy Flint was a deputy in the Sheriff's Office at the time and was involved in the Sell investigation, She said Sell was placed in a solitary cell in the Dawson County Jail and was treated "just like all the other inmates."   Flint recalled how a psychic offered her services as part of the search for the body of Eby.   Flint said the psychic identified several characteristics of the area that were similar to where Eby was found.  


Jo Swartz recalled the toll the investigation had on her father and family.  She believes he just made up his mind that he couldn't retire until he resolved the cases.