Duerr was last seen at the Fountainview Care Center, a health care facility in Waterford, Connecticut, at 1:00 a.m. on January 15, 2005. He had been under treatment for his diabetes when he apparently walked away from the facility during the early morning hours and has never been heard from again. It was very cold the day he disappeared, and Duerr was not dressed appropriately for the weather. His disappearance was noticed at 4:00 a.m. and the Fountainview staff notified police.

Duerr's Chelsea Groton Bank automatic teller machine (ATM) card was found in the night deposit box of the Charter Oak Federal Credit Union three days after his disappearance. The bank is a little over a mile away from Fountainview. Authorities believe someone found the card and put it in the box; they would like to identify and question this individual.

Foul play is not suspected in Duerr's case, but he is believed to be in danger. His case remains unsolved.