In the small town of Odon, Indiana, the community was shaken by the tragic death of 33-year-old Travis Kyle Woodruff on February 17, 2015. A graduate of North Daviess High School and Vincennes University, Travis was known for his love of the outdoors, including camping, fishing, and hunting. He had deep roots in the community, having worked for Cornelius Manufacturing for 12 years before joining his family's farm.
His life was cut short when he was discovered deceased in his home from a shotgun wound, a violent end that prompted an immediate homicide investigation by the Daviess County Sheriff's Department.
The investigation quickly zeroed in on a person of interest: 40-year-old Jefferey Dyer, also from Odon. In the wake of Woodruff's death, Dyer vanished, sparking a multi-state search. The manhunt came to a dramatic and grim conclusion in Baldwin County, Alabama. There, law enforcement officers spotted Dyer's vehicle. As they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, Dyer pulled over. Before he could be apprehended, he took his own life with a firearm inside his truck.
With the death of the primary suspect, the investigation took a different turn. Daviess County authorities traveled to Alabama to collect evidence from Dyer's vehicle, including a shotgun and shells, to piece together the events that led to Woodruff's murder. While Dyer's suicide brought a form of closure to the manhunt, it left behind a void of unanswered questions for the community and for the family and friends of Travis Woodruff. The motive behind the tragic events remains unclear. The investigation continued, with authorities working to review all evidence from both Indiana and Alabama to present to the prosecutor and coroner. Funeral services were held at the Odon Christian Church, where the community gathered to mourn the loss of a man remembered for his love of life and the outdoors.
