Duck was serving as a United States Navy electronics technician third class in 1995. He was last seen at approximately 3:30 a.m. on February 14, 1995, about fifty yards from his ship in the vicinity of the United States Naval Station in Pascagoula, Mississippi. He and another sailor were on their way to their ship at the time. Duck has never been heard from again. He may have been carrying a silver Zippo lighter engraved with the words "Ronnie Best Friends Scott" at the time of his disappearance. Duck's maroon truck was later found in the port's parking lot. The floor of the vehicle was muddy.

Duck left behind a pregnant wife when he disappeared. She gave birth to his daughter six weeks later. He was devoted to his wife and his relatives and kept in close touch with them, but none of them have heard from him since 1995. At the time he went missing, Duck was expecting to be discharged from the Navy for medical reasons. He said he was afraid for his life; he had recently testified against a sailor who was given a less than honorable discharge for drug use, and was reportedly threatened afterwards.

Duck disappeared under suspicious circumstances. The Navy originally listed him as absent without leave (AWOL), but shortly after his disappearance his case was reclassified as a missing person. He frequented billiard parlors and bars equipped with pool tables in 1995. Duck is originally from Alabama. Duck's mother believes he met with foul play. An infant daughter was born to him a month after his disappearance. Duck's case remains unsolved.