In the crisp autumn of 2014, a devoted son and brother, 45-year-old Montey Donell Thomas, known affectionately as "Duke," vanished from his life in Columbia, South Carolina, leaving behind a void of information and a family desperate for answers. On November 20th, Montey was last seen at Rick's Party Shop on Bluff Road. His cell phone battery had died, so he used the phone at the shop to make several calls to his mother, hoping for a ride home.
He was unable to reach her and was last seen leaving the establishment alone and on foot. At the time of his disappearance, he did not own a vehicle. He was wearing white painter's pants or overalls, a black hooded sweatshirt, gray sneakers, and a blue knit Dallas Cowboys cap. A distinctive scar marked his left cheek.
The days that followed his last known sighting turned into an agonizing stretch of silence for his loved ones. It was profoundly out of character for Montey to be out of touch with his family, with whom he shared a close bond. Further raising alarm, he never collected his final paycheck from his work as a self-employed painter. The Richland County Sheriff's Department was notified, and an investigation into his disappearance began. His family, tormented by his absence, has tirelessly sought to keep his memory and the search for him alive in the public eye.
Years have passed since Montey Thomas was last seen, and his case has grown cold, though not forgotten. Investigators with the Richland County Sheriff's Department's Cold Case Unit have suggested that foul play may have been a factor in his disappearance, a sentiment echoed by his concerned family. His sister has expressed her belief that he would not have willingly gone with a stranger. The investigation has been hampered by rumors and misinformation, making it difficult for law enforcement to uncover concrete leads. Despite the passage of nearly a decade, Montey's family and investigators remain committed to finding answers and bringing him home. The central mystery of what happened to Montey Thomas after he walked away from the party shop continues to be an open wound for his family and community, a quiet but persistent question awaiting a resolution.Last Seen: Nov 20, 2014
