Overview

• Full name: Richard Steven Ceglie
• Nickname: Richie
• Age when missing: 45 years old
• Date of last contact: December 10, 2012
• Last known location: Follansbee, Brooke County, West Virginia
• Sex: Male
• Height: Approximately 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet 2 inches
• Weight: Approximately 220–225 pounds
• Hair color: Brown
• Eye color: Brown
• Distinguishing feature: Tattoo on his left arm
• Case classification: Missing person
• NamUs identification number: MP50483
• Investigating agency: Follansbee Police Department
• Current publicly documented status: Unresolved; no confirmed recovery or resolution located in the sources reviewed.

The central circumstance reported in case records is straightforward but troubling: Richard last contacted his family on December 10, 2012, and has not been seen since, according to the NamUs information reproduced in publicly available case records.

Detailed Case Breakdown

Richard Steven Ceglie Missing Since 2012 in Follansbee, West Virginia: An Unresolved Disappearance in Brooke County

On December 10, 2012, Richard Steven Ceglie, a 45-year-old man from Follansbee, West Virginia, had his last known contact with family members. Since that date, his whereabouts have remained unknown.

More than a decade later, Ceglie’s disappearance remains an unresolved missing-person case. Publicly available records provide only a limited account of what happened, leaving important questions about his movements, circumstances, and possible whereabouts unanswered.

His case is documented in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), with additional information preserved by missing-person awareness organizations.

Case Summary

• Full name: Richard Steven Ceglie
• Nickname: Richie
• Age when missing: 45 years old
• Date of last contact: December 10, 2012
• Last known location: Follansbee, Brooke County, West Virginia
• Sex: Male
• Height: Approximately 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet 2 inches
• Weight: Approximately 220–225 pounds
• Hair color: Brown
• Eye color: Brown
• Distinguishing feature: Tattoo on his left arm
• Case classification: Missing person
• NamUs identification number: MP50483
• Investigating agency: Follansbee Police Department
• Current publicly documented status: Unresolved; no confirmed recovery or resolution located in the sources reviewed.

The central circumstance reported in case records is straightforward but troubling: Richard last contacted his family on December 10, 2012, and has not been seen since, according to the NamUs information reproduced in publicly available case records.

Background: Who Was Richard Steven Ceglie?

Richard Steven Ceglie was 45 years old when he disappeared from the Follansbee area of Brooke County, West Virginia, in December 2012.

Follansbee is a community in the northern panhandle of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. The city’s location places it within a region connected to neighboring communities in West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Publicly accessible missing-person records identify Richard by his full name and the nickname Richie. They also provide physical characteristics that could assist in identification.

According to the NamUs details reproduced in a November 25, 2023, Websleuths case discussion, Richard was described as a white male, between 5 feet 11 inches and 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing approximately 220 to 225 pounds. He had brown hair, brown eyes, and a tattoo on his left arm.

These identifying characteristics remain important because physical descriptions and distinguishing marks may help investigators evaluate information about missing individuals or unidentified persons.

Limited Public Information About His Personal Life

Despite the length of time Richard has been missing, relatively little verified biographical information is available in the accessible case records.

Details concerning his employment, daily routines, relationships, and activities immediately before his disappearance have not been established through the sources reviewed.

The absence of those details should not be interpreted as evidence that Richard lacked close personal connections or that his disappearance went unnoticed. It simply reflects the limited information available for independent verification.

The Disappearance: December 10, 2012

The key documented date in Richard Ceglie’s disappearance is December 10, 2012.

According to information attributed to NamUs, this was the date of his last contact with family members. He has not been seen since.

The publicly available summary does not establish whether the contact occurred by telephone, in person, or through another form of communication.

It also does not identify a precise street address, building, vehicle, or other specific location where Richard was last physically observed.

Although Follansbee is recorded as the location associated with his disappearance, that designation does not independently establish where he was standing or traveling when the last family contact occurred.

These distinctions are important because the last known communication and the last confirmed physical sighting are not necessarily the same event.

What Happened After the Last Contact?

The available case descriptions do not provide a detailed account of the hours or days immediately following December 10, 2012.

No verified public account was located establishing Richard’s intended destination, transportation arrangements, or whether he had communicated plans to leave the area.

Likewise, the reviewed sources do not establish that he left behind personal belongings, money, identification, or a vehicle under suspicious circumstances.

The most significant documented fact remains that his family lost contact with him and his whereabouts have not been established.

Investigation History and Available Evidence

Follansbee Police Department

The Follansbee Police Department is identified as the investigating agency in NamUs information reproduced in the November 2023 Websleuths discussion.

The listing provides the department’s address as 872 Main Street, Follansbee, West Virginia 26037, and a main telephone number of (304) 527-1211.

This agency identification provides an important point of reference for anyone possessing information about Richard’s disappearance.

National Missing and Unidentified Persons System

Richard’s disappearance is associated with NamUs missing-person identification number MP50483.

The NamUs record information reproduced in the case discussion states that the case was created in the system on June 6, 2018, approximately five and a half years after the reported last contact.

That date represents the creation of the NamUs database entry. It does not establish when the disappearance was first reported to law enforcement or when an investigation began.

The same case information indicates that facial images were uploaded on August 22, 2018. Those uploads are documented case-record activity, not evidence of a new sighting or investigative breakthrough.

NamUs provides a national system through which missing-person and unidentified-person information can be documented and compared.

Searches, Witnesses, and Physical Evidence

The reviewed public records do not provide a verified chronology of physical searches undertaken to locate Richard.

No publicly substantiated account was located identifying specific witnesses who saw him after December 10, 2012.

Similarly, the available sources do not establish the recovery of physical evidence conclusively associated with his disappearance.

There is no verified public information in the sources reviewed describing a vehicle recovery, forensic discovery, confirmed crime scene, or other material finding that establishes what happened.

This does not prove that investigators never conducted searches, interviewed witnesses, or collected evidence. It means that those activities could not be independently documented from the accessible public sources.

DNA Testing and Forensic Genealogy

No case-specific public confirmation was located establishing whether Richard’s relatives have provided DNA reference samples, whether forensic comparisons have been conducted, or whether investigative genetic genealogy has been used.

It would therefore be inaccurate to describe DNA testing as an established investigative development in this case.

Theories and Unresolved Questions

Richard Ceglie’s disappearance raises questions, but the available public record does not establish a definitive explanation.

Was His Disappearance Voluntary?

One possibility investigators may consider in a missing-adult case is whether the person intentionally left without maintaining contact.

However, no verified statement from investigators establishes that Richard voluntarily disappeared.

There is also no publicly confirmed evidence in the reviewed sources showing that he planned to relocate, deliberately sever family relationships, or adopt a different identity.

Voluntary disappearance must therefore remain an unverified possibility rather than an established conclusion.

Could an Accident or Medical Emergency Have Occurred?

Accidents, medical emergencies, and disorientation are among the circumstances that can sometimes explain an unexplained disappearance.

However, the available sources do not establish that Richard experienced a medical emergency, suffered an accident, or encountered a specific environmental hazard.

There is no documented basis for assigning any particular location or incident to such a scenario.

Was Foul Play Involved?

Foul play is another possibility that may arise when someone remains missing for an extended period.

Nevertheless, no verified public evidence reviewed for this article establishes that Richard was murdered or that his disappearance resulted from a criminal act.

No officially identified suspect, person of interest, arrest, or homicide charge associated with his disappearance was located.

Richard’s case should therefore continue to be described as a missing-person investigation, not a confirmed homicide.

Questions That Remain Unanswered

Among the central unresolved questions are the circumstances of Richard’s final family contact, his movements before and after December 10, 2012, whether anyone encountered him afterward, and whether information exists that has not been released publicly.

Answers to any of these questions could help clarify his disappearance. At present, however, the publicly documented facts do not support one explanation over another.

Latest Publicly Available Investigative Updates

Research reviewed through October 19, 2026

No publicly confirmed recent investigative breakthroughs were located in the sources reviewed for Richard Steven Ceglie’s disappearance.

The available records establish several points in the case’s public documentation history, but none confirms that investigators have determined what happened to him.

June 6, 2018: NamUs Case Created

Richard’s missing-person case was entered into NamUs on June 6, 2018, according to case details reproduced from the database.

This entry established a searchable national missing-person record associated with identification number MP50483.

August 22, 2018: Images Added to Case Record

The publicly reproduced NamUs details identify August 22, 2018, as an upload date for facial images associated with Richard’s case.

No evidence was located establishing that these were newly developed age-progression images. The upload date should not be confused with a new sighting or discovery.

April 22, 2020: Uncovered Profile Updated

The missing-person awareness platform Uncovered lists April 22, 2020, as the last update to its Richard Ceglie case profile.

The profile repeats the December 10, 2012, date of last family contact and identifies NamUs number MP50483.

The update does not establish a new investigative finding.

November 25, 2023: Websleuths Discussion Created

A Websleuths discussion concerning Richard’s disappearance was started on November 25, 2023.

The discussion preserved detailed information attributed to NamUs, including his identifying characteristics, disappearance date, and investigating agency.

This was a public awareness discussion, not an official announcement of a new investigative development.

Status as of October 2026

As of this review, no verified public announcement was located confirming Richard’s recovery, identification of his remains, an arrest, criminal charges, or a resolution of the case.

No publicly confirmed recent developments were located concerning DNA testing, genetic genealogy, new witnesses, forensic evidence, or an officially announced cold-case breakthrough.

The absence of a public announcement does not establish that the investigation is inactive. It means the available sources do not document a new outcome.

Conclusion: The Search for Richard Steven Ceglie

Richard Steven Ceglie was 45 years old when his family last had contact with him on December 10, 2012. His disappearance from Follansbee, West Virginia, remains unexplained in the available public record.

Although his case has appeared in national missing-person records and community awareness resources, the central question remains unanswered: What happened to Richard after his final known family contact?

The limited public information makes it particularly important to avoid speculation and preserve the distinction between documented facts and unverified possibilities.

Anyone who remembers seeing Richard around December 2012, has information about his movements, or possesses other potentially relevant details is encouraged to contact the Follansbee Police Department.

Follansbee Police Department: (304) 527-1211

872 Main Street, Follansbee, WV 26037

The telephone number is confirmed on the City of Follansbee’s official website.

304-527-1330

When contacting authorities, reference Richard Steven Ceglie and NamUs identification number MP50483. Even information that appears minor may be worth reporting if it relates to his last known contact or subsequent whereabouts.

Richard’s disappearance deserves continued attention, careful reporting, and a commitment to finding reliable answers.