Investigators say a 20-year-old employee suddenly vanished during her morning shift, leaving coworkers stunned and confused. Her disappearance soon turned into one of the most unsettling workplace mysteries the community had ever faced.
Amber Zack was known as a bright, energetic young woman who loved her welding job and took pride in every project she completed. Her father described her as someone who brought light wherever she went, always eager to learn and eager to help.
According to early statements, Amber had arrived at work cheerful as usual, greeting her team and preparing her tools for the day. Nothing suggested she was worried, afraid, or expecting anything unusual to happen.
Colleagues later told investigators that she appeared completely normal, focused, and ready to begin another productive shift. Yet only an hour later, she was nowhere to be found.
The criminal complaint revealed that a coworker, 40-year-old David DeLong, had expressed strong dislike toward Amber in the past. Officials say he admitted during questioning that he struggled to get along with her and had harbored resentment for some time.
Details in the complaint described behavior that raised serious concerns among investigators. Surveillance footage reportedly captured DeLong behaving suspiciously near Amber’s workstation shortly before she went missing.
The footage also showed him picking up tools that he did not normally use, prompting investigators to dig deeper into his movements that morning. Witnesses recalled hearing him make comments that now seem concerning in hindsight.
One witness said DeLong approached them and made a cryptic statement about using a tool from their toolbox at a moment no one expected. The remark left the coworker uneasy, though they did not grasp its meaning at the time.
The complaint stated the incident occurred early Tuesday morning at Advanced Processing Technologies in Kokomo. The company quickly released a statement expressing profound sadness over the situation.
Company representatives said they wereheartbroken by the tragedy, noting that their thoughts were with Amber’s family and friends during such an unimaginable moment. They also emphasized their commitment to fully cooperating with investigators.
