(NewsNation) — A well-liked floor installer walked out of his house in North Dakota in May of 2024 and never came back.

Keith Schmidt's family doesn't know if he just decided he didn't want to live that life anymore or if something else happened to the 53-year-old.

Without a death certificate, they can't sell his house or any of his belongings, so they're using their own savings to keep the case going and hoping someone will finally get them answers.

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Schmidt's sister, Laura Scherer, told NewsNation that from a young age, Schmidt seemed to love farm life in North Dakota.

"Keith liked going out on the tractor, liked going out with his dad, tinkering in the garages," she said.

Scherer was 14 years older and already married when her brother was a boy. When she moved away and their mother passed, Schmidt stayed nearby to help out.

"On the weekends in the summer, he would go there to mow the grass and took care of the buildings," his brother-in-law, Earl Scherer, said. "He loved being out there, mowing the grass."

Keith Schmidt loved North Dakota farm life. (Laura Scherer)

Keith Schmidt stayed near home to help his father. (Laura Scherer)

Keith Schmidt loved to work on cars. (Laura Scherer)

Schmidt also loved working on cars, like his pride and joy, a 2018 Ford Mustang. His garage and driveway were evidence of his hobby.

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"He had four or five different vehicles at the time that he just bought to rebuild," Scherer said.

But Schmidt's main income was installing floors.

His friend, Kodi Meduna, owns an interior decorating business and often hired Schmidt for jobs.

"He took his time and just did a great job at what he did," she said. "Keith was well-liked. Everybody liked Keith."

Meduna was the last one who had contact with Schmidt. After days of trying to reach him, on May 20, she received a text just before 6 a.m. that simply said, "Sorry. Been busy."

Police believe Schmidt walked out of his house right after that text and never returned.

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A neighbor's security camera showed a shadowy figure believed to be Schmidt walking away from his house.

"We don't understand two things about that. One, he wasn't a morning person. Two, he did not like walking. They said he didn't walk anywhere," Earl Scherer said.

When the Scherers found out Schmidt was missing, they drove 100 miles to his house.

Schmidt's work truck and trailer were parked outside, as usual.

"So we had gotten into the garage and looked around, and we noticed that his phone was on his workbench, charging," Earl Scherer said.

Inside the house, nothing was out of place.

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"It looked normal, like he was going to come back any moment," Scherer said.

Laura Scherer said it was out of character for her brother.

"So for Keith to walk away, leave his phone and leave his prized possession pickup and trailer unlocked was just very weird," she said.

Police and volunteers conducted multiple searches around Dickinson, North Dakota, and in the vicinity of Schmidt's home, since they believe he left on foot.

In addition to his residence, police said they also searched the family farm. They didn't find any clues and nothing to suggest foul play.

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"To just leave a job unfinished, no, that was something he never would have done," Meduna said. "Then to leave tools on a job site? No. Never. That was not Keith."

More than two years later, Schmidt's family and friends are no closer to knowing what happened. On Schmidt's 55th birthday, Meduna posted online letting him know that they still think about him and wonder where he is.

The Scherers say they've been paying Schmidt's property taxes and stop at the house any time they pass by, just in case.

"We walk through his house, walk through his garage to see if anything's out of place or different," Laura Scherer said.

"We look for signs that maybe Keith is still around town or maybe somewhere and has come back," Earl Scherer said.

If Schmidt left because he was devastated when his dad decided to sell the farm, the family thought maybe he'd come back at the one-year mark after a sad development.

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"Our dad passed away, and we were hoping he would show up for the funeral," Laura Scherer said. "Everyone would have loved that."

But the day came and went with no sign of Schmidt.

Now, the family is hoping someone will see this and remember seeing him that day, May 20, 2024, or that Schmidt himself could be watching.

"I would say, please come home or let us know you're okay," Scherer said. "He's definitely missed."

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