Duke, Charles Ellsworth

Charles Duke grew up in Piqua, Ohio. He joined the army and was shot in Vietnam. Treated at a VA Hospital, he was disabled. While in the Army he married Lydia. They lived in Kentucky and had a daughter. Later divorced, Chuck moved to Colorado and bought a house in Ordway. He was an avid fisherman and a VFW member. Chuck was supposed to go to a party with Pam Eddings who borrowed his niece’s van (Duke did not drive). The van reportedly got stuck. Eddings found her way out, but Charles Duke was never seen again. A short time later his house in Ordway blew up injuring two children and their baby sitter. The explosion was believed to be arson. Duke’s family believes he is a homicide victim. If you have information about this crime, please report it to the Otero County Sheriff, 719-384-5941 or the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, 303-239-4291.