Polk sheriff: Ethan Fussell is still missing. And two men last seen with him are wanted

Ethan Fussell has been missing for three weeks. And the two men last seen with him — one of which is a convicted felon — also cannot be found by law enforcement.

Fussell was last seen north of Lakeland on May 7 in the rural area of Tom Costine and Driggers roads. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office, which is investigating his disappearance, had posted a missing-person poster to its Facebook page eight days later.

His biological mother is heartbroken and wants answers that are still unavailable while the case is under investigation.

“My son is not a bad person, but he did put his trust in the wrong people,” said Carolyn Jackson via Facebook messenger on Tuesday. “He considered these two like family, according to his girlfriend, and they turned out to be nothing but fakes.”

Sheriff Grady Judd released mugshots of two men who are persons of interest in the investigation. The men are Talon Isaac Page and Adonai Moran Rivera, and arrest warrants have been issued for the men. The sheriff has not disclosed the charges yet.

Court records show Page, 25, of 1116 Driggers Road was previously arrested by Lakeland Police Department in March 2020 on charges of assault on law enforcement, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and knowingly driving with a suspended/revoked license. At age 19, Page was charged with aggravated battery after a fight with a man at the same intersection Fussell was last seen.

In April 2019 at age 17, Rivera was arrested on burglary charges with five other teenagers after deputies responded to reports the teenagers were seen trying to break into a car on Rangers Path in Lakeland, the Ledger previously reported. No adult charges against Rivera could be found in a check with the Polk Clerk of Courts records. 

Fussell, 21, was last seen at a mobile home on Driggers Road in Lakeland. Court records show Page lived at the home.

“This particular location has been known, according to some of the neighbors, for a lot of traffic in and out, maybe drug sales or drug usage,” Judd said in a report by WFLA in Tampa.

Judd said Fussell was seen at the Driggers Road property having an argument with someone, the report said.

Ethan was last seen at dinner on May 7 with a family member.

In an emailed statement to The Ledger, his adoptive mother, Lisa Fussell said, "I would like the public to know that Ethan is so much more than his recent bad choices in friends.

"He is a boy with a huge smile and infectious laugh," she said. "He was a good student in school and a hard worker at work. He is that true friend who would give someone else the shirt off of his back, and we are proud to be his parents."

His biological mother explained the difficult time the family is having over Fussell's disappearance.

“It’s just been very very hard to sit and wait knowing that every day that goes by your son’s probably not gonna be coming home alive,” Jackson said.

Judd said the search has shifted toward a death investigation.

“The sad news is we’re investigating this as if he is deceased and we’re praying he’s alive, which I highly doubt,” Judd said by phone Tuesday. “We have talked to the mom, and she understands the gravity of the situation but we’re still praying for the best outcome.”

Judd said called the family members "good people" and said they are cooperating with the investigation. He said they have offered a $10,000 reward for information on the whereabouts of their son.

Sharon Eileen Page is referred to in a Sheriff's Office charging affidavit filed on Tuesday as a custodian with Talon Page at the 1116 Driggers Road mobile home. She was charged with environmental crimes, including a third-degree felony charge of polluting to harm humans, animals and plants. Two other misdemeanor charges were filed.

The affidavit also said there was an open cover on a septic tank attracting flies, and the property contained dead possums, motor oil, car parts and up to 300 tires containing water and breeding a swarm of mosquitos.

Regarding the woman's dead body found about a half mile from Fussell's last known location, Judd said the medical examiner is conducting toxicology testing on the corpse but the woman's death does not appear to have any relation to Fussell's disappearance.

The woman's name is Shelia Lynn Schroeder, 54, of 1431 Mann Road, Lakeland. The Sheriff's Office is continuing its investigation into her death, said Scott Wilder, media relations and communications director for the agency.

"It does not appear to be any foul play at this point (no body or organ trauma)," Wilder said. "Unfortunately, Ms. Schroeder had substance abuse issues and other medical issues. She was known to walk in the area. Next of kin notification has occurred."

Fussell is 5 feet, 7 inches tall and about 150 pounds with brown hair and eyes.

Contact PCSO at 863-298-6200 or Heartland CrimeStoppers at 800-226-TIPS (800-226-8477) or www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk sheriff still searching for man last seen near Driggers Road