DO YOU THINK RANDY SYLVESTER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS CHILDREN'S DISAPPEARANCE?

RANDY SYLVESTER STILL BEING HELD BUT NOT CHARGED IN THE CASE!

Pasadena police on Saturday will continue draining a retention pond as they search for the bodies of two children who were last seen Sunday at their home in a nearby apartment complex.

The process of draining the pond began Friday night, said Vance Mitchell, a spokesman with the Pasadena Police Department. He said the process could take up to three days.

Using sonar, divers and dogs, police on Friday searched in and around the pond and another nearby pond for Randy Sylvester Jr., 7, and his 3-year-old sister, Denim Sylvester. Their father, Randy Sylvester Sr., has been named the sole suspect in the disappearance but has not been charged.

Officials on Friday decided to disband the search at the other pond, at Crenshaw Park, said Pasadena Police Capt. Bud Corbett. Instead, the search will focus on the retention pond near Preston and Beltway 8, where search efforts were difficult because the bottom is uneven and the water is murky, Corbett said. Portions of Preston will be closed to traffic as the pond is drained.

Authorities refocused their attention on the pond because a search dog that had gotten a sample scent from Sylvester at the Harris County Jail alerted to the same scent when he was taken to the pond, Corbett said.

Also, Corbett said a witness reported seeing a man wearing a red shirt who matched Sylvester's description at the pond earlier this week. Corbett said Sylvester has been seen wearing a red shirt.

Authorities had been at the pond before. Divers were sent in after authorities thought they had a lead based on an image taken from a drone that flew over the water. The image turned out to be a tire.

For about an hour late Friday afternoon, the 27-year-old Sylvester, shackled and dressed in an orange Harris County Jail jumpsuit, went to the pond, accompanied by community activist Quanell X. The two walked for about 20 minutes near the water. They spent the rest of the time in a vehicle.

The two also spoke on Thursday, and the search was directed to Crenshaw Park, based on comments Sylvester made, Corbett said. Friday morning, dozens of spectators came to the park to try to watch the search, some climbing trees to find good vantage points.

At one point Friday morning, the sonar equipment noted what appeared to be a box in the Crenshaw Park pond, Corbett said, but divers found that it was an old piece of lumber.

Law enforcement and volunteer search teams have been looking for the siblings since they disappeared from the Sandridge Apartment Homes, 4025 Burke. Both Sylvester and the children's mother — his wife — live in the complex, but in different units.

He became the sole suspect after reportedly making a comment to his wife, Jerilynn St. Cyr, suggesting that the children were dead. Sylvester is being held on a felony assault charge, accused of attacking St. Cyr on Monday night.

Friday night, St. Cyr joined about 300 others, including her father, at South Belt Church of Christ for a prayer and candlelight vigil for her children.

She thanked the attendees for their search efforts, her speech interrupted by sobs.

"Please continue searching for my children," St. Cyr said. "I'm not giving up, yet."

Norman Poole, a search volunteer, was among the crowd.

"I just want to bring these kids home safely," said Poole. "Bring them home, period. For their family, for closure."