10/27/2009
By TIM UNRUH Salina Journal
LEHIGH -- Bill Simhiser is thankful his daughter Tara is home and safe, and hopeful that lessons were learned from her disappearance last week.

"I think this is a rude awakening for her," Bill Simhiser said. "I can only hope that she'll be a little more careful from now on."

Tara, 17, returned to class at Hillsboro High School on Monday, four days after a Marion County sheriff's deputy delivered her home to Lehigh, located in Marion County. She had been missing since Oct. 20.

"We were all of a sudden relieved. It was like a big ol' house had been lifted off of us," Bill Simhiser said. "She was just real happy to be home."

With the help of an Amber Alert, media coverage and an observant bank teller in Hiawatha, Tara was located.

"I was relieved she was unharmed and OK," said Robert Craft, Marion County sheriff.

"When you've got the whole world looking at a picture, there's eyes everywhere," Bill Simhiser said.

While he wouldn't provide many details of what happened, Craft said Tara was not physically injured. Emotional scars "could be determined later," he said.

At this point, Craft said, this case could serve as a warning not to be "too trusting" of strangers.

"Don't just accept anybody who comes down the street as a friend," Craft said.

He stopped short of saying Tara had been kidnapped.

"I think there was some coercion and some fear in her decision to leave with this individual," Craft said.

A man is in jail

The man Tara was with, Rojelio Hernandez, 21, of Odessa, Texas, has been jailed in Hiawatha on charges of contributing to a child's misconduct and driving on a suspended license, said Brown County Sgt. Brett Hollister. He said Hernandez is also wanted in Texas for a probation violation.

Hernandez will eventually be taken to Marion County, but possible charges were unknown Monday, Craft said.

He said the sheriff's office in Marion and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation were nearing the completion of a probe into Tara's disappearance. Craft said investigators intended to turn their findings over to Marion County Attorney Susan Robson.

When Brown County authorities are finished with Hernandez, arrangements will be made to transport him to Marion, Sheriff Craft said.

Bill Simhiser said his daughter was "kidnapped. She was scared to death. She didn't really leave willingly."

He said Tara didn't have feelings for Hernandez.

"(Hernandez) had been chatting with friends of hers online," Bill Simhiser said.

'I didn't like him'

Bill Simhiser said he met Hernandez, who visited their home, about three weeks before his daughter's disappearance.

"I deal with all kinds of people in the military. It was just a feeling I had. I didn't like him," Bill Simhiser said.

Working for the U.S. Army Reserves as a civilian, Bill Simhiser is also a member of the Salina-based 425th Transportation Army Reserve unit and has done two tours in Iraq.

"It was just something about his expressions that I didn't like," Bill Simhiser said. "Usually my first impression is the best."

Bill Simhiser said he voiced concerns to Tara.

"But you know teenagers. All of us have been through it. We always thought (parents) didn't make any sense," Bill Simhiser said. "We found out they knew more than what (we) thought they knew."

He said Tara and Hernandez were not in a relationship -- as girlfriend and boyfriend.

"They were just seeing each other. I think they went out once," Bill Simhiser said.

Kids missed the bus

Tara had been at home with her family on the evening of Oct. 19, her father said.

Bill and Rebecka Simhiser both left for work early the next morning, he said, and they expected their three children to meet a school bus for the seven mile drive to school in Hillsboro.

But on the morning of the 20th, Tara, Nathan, 11, and Miranda, 14, missed the bus, their father said.

The two younger siblings called the school, he said, and the Hillsboro High School principal, Max Heinrichs, drove to Lehigh and gave them a ride.

"It's happened before," Heinrichs said.

Nathan and Miranda told Heinrichs that "Tara was at home sick, vomiting," he said, which was understandable.

"We've had a lot of absences due to the flu," Heinrichs said.

The school called Rebecka Simhiser at work for confirmation that Tara was sick. Heinrichs said the mother did call the school, but he was unaware when that occurred and what Rebecka told the school.

Received a text from Tara

The Simhiser parents learned that Tara was missing about 1 p.m. on the 20th, when Rebecka received a text message from Tara, Bill Simhiser said. The text came from someone working at a liquor store in Topeka.

"It was the guy that owns the liquor store's cell phone," Bill Simhiser said. He had no idea what was in the text message.

Bill Simhiser said he received a call from his wife. Then she called police.

"They came out and took a report," Bill Simhiser said. "The police did what they had to do. They kept us updated as much as possible."

What followed were sleepless nights and worrisome days as the Simhiser family waited for word about Tara.

"Don't think the negative thoughts. Your mind will run wild," Bill Simhiser said. "You've got to think positive and pray a lot."

He gave some thought to mounting his own search.

"I had a bunch of buddies who wanted to go with me, but I talked them out of that," Bill Simhiser said. "I just said, 'Let (law enforcement officers) do their job. They'll find her, and she'll be OK.' "

As it turned out, Bill Simhiser was right.

She was recognized

Marion County Deputy Travis Wilson informed the family Thursday afternoon that he was on his way to Brown County to pick up Tara. She was at a bank in Hiawatha attempting to get money when a bank teller recognized her as the missing girl and called police.

"He said they'd found her where she was at, that she was fine," Bill Simhiser said.

Tara was returned to the Simhisers' doorstep Thursday night, where there was a tearful reunion.

"I didn't say anything. I just gave her a big ol' hug," Bill Simhiser said. "The officer and his girlfriend came in and visited with us, and made sure we were going to be OK."

Officers took Tara to Wichita on Friday for a medical examination.

Prayer is a big thing

The Simhiser home was busy over the weekend as friends visited to welcome Tara home.

"This community out here is just like a big ol' family. There are some great people out here," Bill Simhiser said. "I just appreciated everybody's help and support. We had churches all over the countryside praying for us. Prayer, to me, is a big thing."

Hillsboro Principal Heinrichs said Tara was "doing great" at school Monday.

"She's smiling. It's good to see," Heinrichs said. "We're very happy to have her back."

n Reporter Tim Unruh can be reached at 822-1419 or by e-mail at tunruh@salina.com.