Joseph “Joey” William Ross of Brownstown was 25 at the time he went missing from a friend’s home at 51 S. Amherst Place in the Amberley Addition just south of Columbus on Sunday, May 13, 2018. Authorities are again calling for tips regarding his disappearance.
The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is renewing calls for tips and information from the public regarding the case of a man who went missing from his home more than four years ago.
Joseph “Joey” William Ross of Brownstown was 25 at the time he went missing from a friend’s home at 51 S. Amherst Place in the Amberley Addition just south of Columbus on Sunday, May 13, 2018.
According to a statement on the case issued Monday, the sheriff’s department said Ross was “reportedly last seen walking down the driveway away form the residence between 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. into the dark, suicidal and carrying a shotgun.” A search ensued that night, but Ross could not be found, and his father reported him missing the next day. There has been no sign of Ross since.
The Republic reported on May 16, 2018, that Ross’s father, Brian, said his son’s disappearance came after police were called to a domestic dispute he was having with his fiancee in Brownstown, and he was picked up by the friend and brought to Columbus before he disappeared.
“Despite reports of gunshots being heard (the night of Ross’s disappearance), searches of the area over the next week found no shotgun, shotgun shells or signs of Ross,” the sheriff’s department said. “Ross was last known to be wearing a green colored shirt with the O’Reilly’s logo on it (his work shirt) and blue jeans. He allegedly had no phone or money in his possession at the time of disappearance.”
Bartholomew County Sheriff Matthew Myers said that despite an active and intensive investigation, there have been no signs of Ross. Myers said not locating him has been one of his greatest regrets as he prepares to conclude his second and final term as sheriff.
“My office has and will continue to actively investigate this disappearance in hopes of providing answers to the Ross family. We also continue to work with multiple agencies including local, state and federal to bring the most amount of resources possible to bear on this case. This case will remain open until we find Joey,” Myers said.
“Someone out there knows the whereabouts of Joseph William Ross. We encourage you to come forward for the sake of his family, which have suffered the pain of not knowing where he is for these four long years. Don’t let it become five. If you know or you saw something, you can help solve this mystery even anonymously. A simple phone call can end a family’s suffering.”
Myers urged anyone with possible information to call the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s anonymous tip line at 812-379-1712 or Detective Terrance Holderness at 812-565-5927.
