Derrick White: Small Town's Darkest Secret

Derrick White

Title: 'The Disappearance of Derrick White: A Small Town’s Dark Secret'

'Some people vanish without a trace. Others leave behind just enough to haunt you.'

Prologue: The Last Sighting

Derrick White was last seen on the evening of October 12, 2017, leaving Murphy’s Tavern in the quiet town of Millfield, Ohio. The 32-year-old construction worker had just cashed his paycheck, bought a round for his friends, and told his girlfriend, Lisa, he’d be home by midnight.

He never made it.

Chapter 1: The Vanishing Act

At first, no one panicked. Derrick was known to blow off steam—maybe he crashed at a buddy’s place or took a late-night drive. But when his truck was found abandoned near the old railroad tracks, keys still in the ignition, wallet on the seat, the town’s concern turned to dread.

Millfield had only one part-time detective, Carl Riggs, a man more accustomed to breaking up bar fights than solving missing persons cases. The state police were called in, but leads dried up fast.

Chapter 2: The Rumors Start

Small towns thrive on whispers, and Millfield was no exception.

The Debt Theory: Derrick owed money—not just to friends, but to a local loan shark with ties to a motorcycle club across county lines.

The Girlfriend’s Alibi: Lisa claimed she was home alone, but neighbors reported hearing a shouting match that night.

The Co-Worker’s Secret: Derrick’s foreman, Vince Kroger, had a violent past and was the last person to see him alive.

Then, a bombshell: Derrick had recently confided in a friend that he’d 'found something he shouldn’t have' while working on a demolition site outside town.

Chapter 3: The Dark Discovery

Six months after Derrick vanished, a hunter stumbled upon a shallow grave in the woods near the abandoned Millfield Steel plant. The remains were badly decomposed, but dental records confirmed it was Derrick.

The coroner ruled it a homicide—blunt force trauma to the skull. No murder weapon was ever found.

Chapter 4: The Suspects Revisited

Vince Kroger suddenly left town after the body was discovered.

Lisa moved to Florida and changed her last name.

The loan shark, a man named Ray 'Shades' Dalton, was arrested on unrelated charges but never questioned about Derrick.

The case went cold.

Epilogue: The Unanswered Questions

To this day, no one has been charged in Derrick White’s murder. Some believe it was a crime of passion; others insist it was a professional hit to silence him.

The people of Millfield still talk about it in hushed tones—especially at Murphy’s Tavern, where Derrick’s favorite stool remains empty, a silent reminder of the night he walked out and never came back.

'Some say the truth is buried with Derrick. Others fear it’s still out there… waiting.'

Want more? Dive into the full investigation, including never-before-seen police documents and interviews, in the upcoming podcast 'Gone in Millfield.' Premiering this fall.

Derrick White: Small Town's Darkest Secret

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