Answers sought in death

Carrie Anne Ponder-Jackson's family doesn't have many questions about why she died almost two years ago.

They do have questions, however, about why she was found dead of a methamphetamine overdose in a rural part of northeastern Jackson County.

"She was addicted to meth," her uncle, Rick Chisham, said. The woman's body was found in a field in the Madden Hill area north of Seymour on June 15, 2006.

Chisham, 45, said he hadn't seen his 27-year-old niece for about three weeks before her body was found face down in a hole filled with water, but they had talked about her addiction.

"She called some places about getting herself in somewhere (for treatment)," Chisham said. "She wasn't working at the time and didn't have insurance, so she couldn't afford the treatments."

Chisham's concerned that her body contained a high amount of methamphetamine, more than a person could generally ingest on their own, he said.

Chisham said Ponder-Jackson's family, whichincludes her two daughters and a son, have been devastated by her death and still want answers.

"As long as I am alive, I'm going to keep looking for answers," Chisham said. "This is not going to go away, so whoever is involved might as well come forward."

Chisham said he knows people involved in crimes talk about them, and that he feels that someone involved in his niece's death may already have talked.

"We just really want to know what happened," Chisham said.

A year or so ago, family members put out fliers about Ponder-Jackson's death, and Chisham said he decided to speak publicly about his niece's disappearance in the hopes of helping get information.

He said he continues to stay in contact with the Jackson County Sheriff's Department, which is investigating Ponder-Jackson's death.

Chisham said investigators have been forthcoming with the family, but they have little information to provide any an-swers.

Detective Rick Blaker Jr. agreed.

"It's been very frustrating for us and the family because we can't come up with the answers to prove what happened to her," Blaker said.

Blaker said the only facts investigators have to go on is that Ponder-Jackson died of an overdose of methamphetamine and her body was found in the Madden Hill area.

"We don't know why she was there or how she got out there," Blaker said. "We're looking for somebody who may know something."

Chisham said he and Ponder-Jackson were close.

"She was a great person," he said. "The last few years of her life were a little troubled, but she was a great kid.

"She was just a fun person, very smart and loved her kids to death. She always had a smile on her face."

Chisham also talked briefly about methamphetamine use and what it has done to the community.

"It's really highly ad-dictive," Chisham said.

Whom to call

Anyone with any information about Carrie Ponder-Jackson's death may contact the Jackson County Sheriff's Department at 358-2141.