COLUMBIA CITY - A Columbia City man is being held without bond in Whitley County Jail after he was charged with the murder of his ex-wife.
And now the Whitley County Sheriff's Department is asking for the public's help.
The Whitley County Prosecutor's Office sent out a press release to media outlets Friday stating that Rodney Houser is being charged in connection with the disappearance and suspected murder of Debra Houser, 49, 4014 Old Trail Road, Columbia City.
The home, shared by the two and a 9-year-old, is located several miles southeast of Larwill.
Houser was reported missing Wednesday morning by a confidential informant after Houser failed to show up for her job at the Post and Mail newspaper in Columbia City.
The probable cause affidavit stated the informant came to police Wednesday and said Rodney Houser came to the informant's home in Waynedale.
Houser allegedly told the informant that he needed to throw a bag of items away and needed to get rid of his Dodge Durango.
After disposing of the bag, Houser and the informant drove to an American Legion Post where Houser allegedly took the license plate off his vehicle and left it in the Legion's parking lot.At that point the informant stated that Houser admitted to killing his ex-wife and needed to dispose of her body.
Police searched the area around the Houser residence but were unable to find a body.
Rodney Houser was later taken into custody and eventually charged with murder.
The Whitley County Sheriff's Department stated Friday that it is looking for the public's help in recovering the body of Debra Houser.
Whitley County residents are asked to be at the closest fire station to their residence at 9:30 a.m. today to be a part of search crews.
Residents who live near Smith Township and Union Township fire departments are asked to go another fire station.
An initial hearing for Houser is scheduled for Monday.
