Trucker Found Dead at Local Truck Stop Over Weekend

An Indianapolis man was found dead in his semi at a local truck stop over the weekend.

Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes said the man was identified as Von Thomas Ziegler, 52. An investigation revealed that Ziegler has missed several phone calls in the 12 hours prior to his discovery. 

At about 6pm Saturday, Effingham City Police and Abbott EMS received a call to check on the welfare of a man later identified as Ziegler at Petro Stopping Center on West Fayette Avenue. Officers located Ziegler's body in the driver's seat of a semi just east of the fuel islands at the truck stop. Authorities contacted the Coroner's Office at 6:30pm Saturday to respond to the scene.

Ziegler's next of kin in San Diego and in Woodbridge, Virginia were contacted, and they told Coroner's Office personnel that Ziegler had several medical issues. His medical records have been requested. The body was transported to the morgue at HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital where COVID-19 and toxicology samples were taken by the Coroner's office. 

Rhodes said it appears Ziegler's death is from natural causes, but an investigation continues.

Rhodes also thanked Ryan Becker of Effingham and Chris Gordon of Cowden who spotted Ziegler unresponsive and phoned 911. Rhodes said it's another example of "If you see something out of the ordinary, say something."