Dudding flew from his New York home to Ormond Beach, Florida to visit a friend in August 1999. Sometime that month, he went for a walk on the beach and never returned. He has never been heard from again. All his belongings, including his keys, wallet and identification, were left behind.

Dudding's wife of ten years believes he committed suicide and his body was washed out to sea. She published a novel based on his disappearance, Waiting To Surface, in 2007. She had him declared legally dead that same year. Authorities think Dudding may have simply left of his own accord. He was a well-known sculptor in 1999, and left behind a young child. His case remains unsolved.