Cadaver dog searches for missing Catawba Co. man

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — It has been five days since anyone has seen Ken Mohler, but his family is not giving up hope. On Tuesday, they returned to Gregory Wood Products to look for the missing 70-year-old.

“We're not giving up at all. We've been out here night and day since he left,” sister-in-law Tammy Pettry said. “We've got two crews -- one coming today, one coming this evening. Some are here until bed time.”

For several hours on Tuesday, deputies used a specially trained dog to search for possible remains near where Mohler had been working last Thursday evening.

A co-worker called 911 after finding Mohler's truck on Friday.  Feet away were his keys and cell phone covered by dirt.

They also discovered two electric engines out of place, left on a mulch pile.

It isn't the first time investigators have been called there.

“We've had a couple larcenies out here, yes,” Catawba County Sheriff Coy Reid said. “At this point, this is our top priority. We want to know what happened.”

Mohler's family members don't believe he walked off.  He had texted his wife the night he was working to say he would be home soon.  They fear he may have discovered a burglary and been abducted or killed.

“If somebody was here that shouldn't have been, he would have wanted to know what they were doing here,” said son Kenny Mohler.

The family said they are organizing a reward fund, hoping someone with information on the case comes forward.

WSOC