ALTOONA, Pa. – Altoona native Sherry Leighty disappeared in 1999, and after years of investigating, her family found answers. Their story has received national attention and will be airing on a series on TV this week.
"Me, Sherry... my son, James, is on my lap, and her son, Travis, and her daughter, Kieran," Shelly Nagle said while looking at a family photo.
It's supposed to be one the happiest times of the year, but for Nagle it's not.
"She was a great mom, friend, she was funny," Leighty's sister, Nagle, said.
Pictures and memories are all that are left of her sister. Leighty went missing in 1999. Her disappearance turned into years of an investigation.
"We miss Sherry and we won't forget her, that's for sure," Nagle said.
We reported this story before as the details unfolded.
"It took us over 13 years to find her and find out what happened to her," Nagle said.
Since the family got their answers, they're inspiring others.
"During the investigation, I started writing in the journal, to kind of remember who I talked to, what I talked about... the answers were, and it went from there," Nagle said.
She wrote a book about it called “Through a Sister’s Eyes.” The story got bigger. Then Discover ID picked it up the story.
"Overall, I just wanted to get her story out there,” Nagle said. “And maybe help another family who has a missing loved one."
Nagle said it was positive doing the series, but there were some challenges, too.
"Hard at times having to like relive parts of what happened to Sherry," Nagle said.
In the end, Nagle hopes sharing this story will give others hope.
"I just want people to know,” Nagle said. “It doesn't matter how long it is... you can find the answers you're looking for."
Nagle tells 6 News she doesn't know what the future holds as far as book and TV shows but she will do whatever she can to share her sister's story. The series will air Tuesday at 9 p.m. (ET).
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