The Jacket Hung on the Gate Hid the Way He Left

A teacher’s jacket hangs buttoned on a frozen grain‑elevator gate; his permission slip is inside - how did the Fenner Road walk end without a trace? The Jacket Hung on the Gate Hid the Way He Left In this episode, we follow the morning David Olson vanished from his unvarying Fenner Road walk and the early investigation that confronted a baffling scene. What do a buttoned jacket, undisturbed frost, and a signed permission slip reveal about his disappearance? Person: David Olson Date: November 9, 2011 Location: Fenner Road, Caldwell County, Ohio Age: 34 Investigator: Vernon Hansen - A 15‑year‑old paper carrier found a green canvas jacket buttoned and hung at shoulder height on a locked grain‑elevator gate at 6:22 a.m. - The jacket’s breast pocket contained a house key, a wallet, and a folded Kellerman Farm permission slip signed the night before. - David Olson’s rigid morning routine: leave at 6:10, walk two point one miles past the gate to mark the halfway point, arrive at Harwick Elementary before the first bus. - Crime scene photos showed even frost with no boot prints, drag marks, or disturbances on either side of the gate and no tire impressions on the frozen gravel shoulder. - Colleague Ellen Marsh confirmed David had planned to be at school and described his habit of touching the gate each morning as a deliberate waypoint. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].