In the late summer of 2025, a sense of concern grew in the community of New Whiteland, Indiana, for the well-being of 70-year-old Werner Gadshian. A white male with gray hair and brown eyes, standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing between 155 and 165 pounds, Werner was a familiar face to some in the area. His disappearance on September 2, 2025, from his home sparked immediate worry among those who knew him. He was known to walk along US 31 in Johnson County, as he did not drive.
The circumstances surrounding his disappearance were unsettling; he had walked away from his residence during the nighttime hours with no known direction of travel. Compounding the urgency of the situation was the fact that Werner was believed to be in extreme danger and possibly in need of medical assistance.
The day he went missing, Werner had an encounter with the Greenwood Police, who had found him walking north on U.S. 31 and had returned him to his New Whiteland home. It was sometime after this that he vanished, leaving his family and authorities with a profound sense of unease. In response to his disappearance, a statewide Silver Alert was issued on September 2nd, broadcasting his description and the urgent need for public assistance in locating him. Search efforts were launched, with the American Patriot K9 Search Team of Indiana dedicating hours to tracing his steps on September 6th. The search team followed his scent to the area around a Rural King in Greenwood before it was lost, adding another layer of mystery to his whereabouts.
Tragically, the search for Werner Gadshian came to a heartbreaking end on March 6, 2026, when his remains were discovered in a drainage ditch near Swartz Crossing Boulevard and State Road 135 in Greenwood. The discovery was made by a person walking in the area. While clothing and personal items found with the remains led to a tentative identification, it was DNA analysis that later positively confirmed the remains were his. An autopsy was performed, but the cause and manner of his death remained pending further investigation. To aid in the investigation, his remains were transferred to the University of Indianapolis for further examination by forensic experts. Despite their efforts, the analysis found no evidence of trauma that would have contributed to his death, leaving his family and investigators with unanswered questions. The case remains a sorrowful puzzle, with officials continuing to seek any information that might shed light on how Werner traveled from his home to the location where he was found and the circumstances that led to his death.Last Seen: Sep 2, 2025
