RIPLEY, Ohio – The search for a missing man from southern Ohio came to a heartbreaking end on February 19, 2026, when authorities discovered his body in a local creek, according to the Brown County Sheriff’s Office. Tommy Richmond, a 39-year-old resident of Ripley, had been reported missing after vanishing nearly three weeks earlier.
Deputies responded to reports of a body found in a creek near 1111 South Second Street in Ripley around midday on Thursday. Through investigative efforts, the deceased was positively identified as Richmond. He was last seen on January 31, 2026, at approximately 6 a.m. near the 1st Stop Gas Station in Ripley, prompting family and authorities to launch a widespread search.
Richmond was described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing about 210 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes, and a tattoo on his neck. Prior to the discovery, his family had publicly pleaded for information, offering a $5,000 reward for details leading to his whereabouts. The Brown County Sheriff’s Office had actively sought tips from the community, noting that his direction of travel and mode of transportation were unknown at the time.
The sheriff’s office is collaborating with the Brown County Coroner’s Office to determine the cause of death. An investigation remains ongoing, and officials have not released further details about the circumstances surrounding Richmond’s death.
This incident has shaken the close-knit community in Brown County, located in south central Ohio, where residents had rallied in hopes of a safe return. Authorities urge anyone with information related to the case to contact the Brown County Sheriff’s Office at 937-378-4435.
Updates on this developing story will be provided as more information becomes available from official sources.
