The Police News/Breck Porter
November 18, 2009

ORANGE, TX - In late October Jay Dee Herrmann, 41, of Orangefield kissed his wife of 9 years, told her he loved her and would be back after he ran some errands, however, he was never heard from again.

The couple had a spat that morning, but Herrmann told his wife they would talk about it later as he left for Orange to pay bills and cash his paycheck. He also mentioned going to the Texas Workforce Center to look for a part-time job. He left in the family's only car and with only the clothes he was wearing.
 
Lori Herrmann fell asleep waiting for him to return. When she awoke a few hours later and he still was not home she thought he may still be upset over their earlier argument.  He had disappeared once before, but returned a few days later.
But, this time is different she says.

She repeatedly called his cell phone and each time it went straight to voicemail. When the voicemail became full and would no longer take new messages, she became increasingly worried so she had the cell phone shut off in order to be able to listen to his voice mails.

"There was nothing helpful on there," Lori Herrmann said. "They are mostly of us asking him to please call."
According to Lori Herrmann, the last call made was on Oct. 27. A call was placed to information about 10:11 p.m. for the number of the Port Arthur Greyhound bus station. Seven minutes later he called the bus station.

She called the bus station as well, but they did not have any record of him purchasing a ticket.
Since he has been missing, his wife has called as many family and friends she can remember. He has friends in Galveston, California, Houston and Kansas.

But, Lori  is not the only person who has not heard from him. He is a 22-year veteran National Guardsman and has been considering retirement.  The Desert Storm veteran has not reported to his station in Port Neches. As a result, according to an official there, the army has him listed as "AWOL."

Herrman also did not return to his place of employment or called in to tell them he was not coming in to work.

He also has not contacted his mother in Pennsylvania. For his wife, this is the most shocking of all.
"It's very, very scary to me," Lori Herrmann said. "I have been on emotional roller coaster."

Lori  blames herself for the argument. She feels she has almost run out of options and tries to talk to as many people as she can to get the word out. She has filed a missing person report with the Orange County Sheriff's Office. The case is still under investigation.

"It's the not knowing that is eating me alive," Lori Herrmann said. She says she understands if he doesn't want to talk to her, but she hopes he will at least call his mother.

Jay Herrmann is 6 feet tall with a thin build, hazel eyes and shaves his head bald. He wears glasses and cannot see well without them. He also has several tattoos. On his right forearm he has a black panther, on his left forearm is a skull. On his upper right shoulder has a small cross with the words "heavy metal" under it. Below the wording is an angel with a large wing span.

Herrman was last seen wearing a long sleeved tan colored shirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes. He has worked as a fork lift driver and a diesel mechanic.

The car, 1997 black Pontiac Sunfire, has a dent in the passenger side rear quarter panel. It has not been located as well.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff's Office at 409-883-2612 or EasTex Crime Stoppers at 409-724-TIPS.

Information received may earn the person a cash reward and they will remain anonymous.