In December 2006, a father and his adult son vanished from a quiet, remote area in Brown Township, Ohio, leaving behind a home untouched by forced entry and a community with unanswered questions. Ernest 'Bob' Decker Jr., 52, and his son, David, 32, were last seen at Bob's residence, situated about 10 miles south of Waynesburg. The last known communication from them was a phone call Bob made to a friend, mentioning he was going to get physical therapy for a work-related rotator
cuff injury. After two days of silence, with calls to their cell phones going directly to voicemail, concerned family members reported them missing on December 15, 2006.
The initial investigation by the Carroll County Sheriff's Office uncovered puzzling and ominous clues. A day after the men were reported missing, an anonymous tip led authorities to Bob's pickup truck, abandoned in a wooded area near his trailer park. The driver's side door was unlocked, and the keys were still in the ignition. Inside the truck, investigators made a grim discovery: Bob's eyeglasses were found splattered with his own blood, indicating a violent encounter had likely taken place. This finding immediately suggested that their disappearance was not voluntary and that they had met with foul play. The scene at Bob's trailer home, however, showed no signs of a struggle or break-in, adding to the mystery.
As the investigation deepened, attention turned to a person of interest, Randy Kedigh, who was renting a trailer from Bob. Reports indicated that Kedigh had recently had a dispute with Bob over a bad rent check. A significant break in the case came nearly two years after the Deckers disappeared when witnesses reported seeing Kedigh driving a red car, similar to the 1997 Mercury Tracer David had borrowed and was driving when he vanished, behind a shed. In September 2008, parts from that very car were discovered in the shed, and the roof of the vehicle was found outside of Kedigh's trailer. Despite this evidence and his extensive criminal history, Kedigh was never charged in connection with the disappearances. The case of Ernest and David Decker remains an unsolved mystery. With no activity on their bank accounts or cell phones since they were last seen, authorities believe both men were likely murdered. The lack of any further leads has left their family and the community grappling with the unsettling reality of their unresolved disappearance.Last Seen: Dec 13, 2006
