Sisters held in jail in connection with disappearance of FDL Co. man

FOND DU LAC (WITI) -- Two sisters are being held in jail in connection with the disappearance of a Fond du Lac man. -- a man police say they think is dead. However, officials have not found his body.

37-year-old Timothy Nance hasn't been seen since November 5th, when he was reported missing by his wife.

Officials said last week that two individuals were booked into the Fond du Lac County Jail on charges of hiding/mutilating a corpse and obstructing.

The topic of fishing was common in Fond du Lac County Court Wednesday morning, November 27th.

"This appears to be a major fishing expedition. I think the state is casting their net quite wide," Public Defender Mary Wolfe said.

"This isn't a fishing expedition. This is an investigation that is narrowly focused on the involvement of two people who were the last to be in Mr. Nance's presence when he was still alive," Assistant D.A. Dennis Krueger said.

At issue in court Wednesday was whether or not Timothy Nance's wife, Eve, and her sister Tina Ewell have been held in jail for too long without being formally charged or without having bail set.

Judge Richard Nuss has sealed the legal documents regarding the state's case against the two women. The judge says there was enough probable cause for their arrest. He also approved their week-long detention without bail.

Several times Nuss turned directly to the gallery - stating what he could say in open court.

"This is no fishing expedition. This is serious. A lot has been undertaken and a lot will be undertaken," Nuss said.

Nuss set bond at $100,000 for Nance and $50,000 for Ewell.

Family members did not want to talk after court. A friend of Timothy Nance says he hopes the investigation ends soon.

"I don't point fingers at nobody. I let the police do their job. And I'm not mad at nobody - but he needs to be found," Rodney Emerson said.

"It's an ongoing investigation and we don't take the issuance of homicide charges lightly," District Attorney Eric Toney said.

But Toney stopped short of placing blame.

"I'm not indicating what - if anything - will be charged," Toney said.

Toney hasn't given any type of timeline as to if or when criminal charges will actually be filed against Nance and Ewell. A hearing is scheduled for next week.

Investigators are still asking people, especially hunters, to keep an eye out for any sign of Timothy Nance.