David Morse's family realized he was missing at the time the fire in rural Pickaway County was reported, 10TV's Andy Hirsch reported.

"It's bizarre," said Kit Caito, Morse's cousin.  "It's just purely a mystery. David has just disappeared."

SLIDESHOW:  Images From Case

"It seems as if just, in a twinkling of an eye, a family member just is gone," said Joanne Morse, David Morse's mother.

His van is still outside the home.  Family members said that Morse's poor health prevented him from getting very far on his own.  He also barely left the home. 

Joanne Morse said that there is no doubt that foul play occurred.

"It's a very bizarre case," said Pickaway County sheriff's detective John Strawser. 

He said that damage to the home is so bad that investigators can't figure out how the fire started.  Area searches on foot, through the air and even dive teams going through the pond behind the home turned up nothing. 

While the home sits in Pickaway County, it's on the border of Franklin and Fairfield Counties, making the search even more difficult, Hirsch reported.

"Kind of like finding a needle in a haystack," Strawser said.

Two dogs were found in the ashes.  One of those was Morse's, but family members say the second dog indicates that someone else was in the house the night it burned down.

Family members said Morse, who had few friends, allowed people to fish in the pond behind his home, sometimes people he barely knew.  They believe one of them could be behind his disappearance. 

"You keep that ray of hope that David is still alive but you really just don't know," Caito said. 

A $5,000 reward is being offered for anyone with information that helps solve the case.  Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477 or visit their Web site.

Stay with 10TV News and 10TV.com for continuing coverage.

Previous Stories:

August 11, 2009:  $5K Now Offered In Man's Disappearance
July 28, 2009:  Reward Offered In Fire, Man's Disappearance
July 23, 2009:   Man Missing After His House Burns Down

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