No Body Found in Rug as Columbus Police Closes Case on Viral TikTok Frenzy; Full Timeline of Events
COLUMBUS, OH — What started as a seemingly lighthearted TikTok post about a buried rug in a Columbus woman’s backyard rapidly escalated into a viral sensation, attracting millions of viewers and prompting a full-scale police investigation. Katie Santry, a Columbus resident, posted the first video in her now-infamous series at the start of October 2024, speculating that the strange occurrences in her home might be linked to the mysterious carpet buried beneath her backyard. Days of tense speculation, real-time updates, and mounting public interest culminated today with a sense of relief: there is no body.
The saga captivated the internet, turning Santry’s TikTok account into the center of an unfolding mystery and sending Columbus Police, homicide detectives, and cadaver dogs into her backyard. With the world watching, the question remained: Why was the rug buried, and what, if anything, lay beneath it?
The Beginning: An Unusual Discovery
On October 1, 2024, Santry, who had recently moved into her East Columbus home, posted a video revealing that she and her boyfriend, Brandon, had uncovered a rolled-up rug while digging a post hole for a fence in their backyard. In the video, Santry, visibly unsettled, described strange happenings in her home, including a shattered laptop and moved objects, which had led her to wonder if her house might be haunted. Then came the discovery of the rug.
“We’re building a fence, and back here we dug a hole. There is a rolled-up carpet buried underground… Who the f*** and why the f*** is there a rolled-up carpet underground?” Santry questioned in her TikTok video.
The peculiar find prompted a flood of responses from her TikTok followers, with many urging her to dig further or call the police. Some speculated the rug could be linked to a crime, while others offered paranormal explanations, feeding into Santry’s initial suspicion that her house might be haunted.
The Pressure Mounts: Police Get Involved
After days of growing interest online, and with TikTok commenters repeatedly suggesting that she call the authorities, Santry finally contacted the Columbus Division of Police on October 2, 2024. Officers arrived at her home and investigated the buried rug but ultimately decided against further action, citing a lack of concrete evidence to warrant deploying more resources.
Santry documented the police’s initial reaction in a TikTok video: “The cops also think it’s weird as f***… they were talking about calling homicide, talking about how they’d have to get excavators out here.” However, after consulting with their supervisor, the officers left the decision to Santry; if she wanted to keep digging and found something suspicious, she could call them again.
Not satisfied, Santry decided to continue investigating on her own. She reached out to the realtor who sold her the house, hoping the previous owners could shed some light on the buried rug’s origins. Unfortunately, the previous owners’ daughter had no answers, and Santry was left in limbo.
October 3, 2024: Homicide Detectives and Cadaver Dogs Arrive
The turning point came on October 3, when Santry received a phone call from a Columbus homicide detective. Detectives wanted to send cadaver dogs to her home to investigate further. This development, broadcast live on TikTok to hundreds of thousands of viewers, intensified the already fervent interest in the case.
“They are sending detectives and cadaver dogs here in the next hour,” Santry said in a TikTok video, her voice trembling with both excitement and anxiety. The dogs arrived and conducted two separate searches of the area where the rug was buried. Both dogs sat on the exact spot, signaling the potential presence of human remains. “When the dogs sat, I knew something was off,” Santry later said in one of her videos. The sudden seriousness of the situation caught her and her followers by surprise.
That evening, Santry’s house was officially taped off, with the Columbus Division of Police securing the property for further investigation. “My whole house is now caution taped off,” she said in a TikTok post in the early morning hours of October 4.
October 4, 2024: CSI, Excavation, and Growing Tension
By October 4, Santry’s backyard had become a full-scale crime scene. Crime scene investigators (CSI) arrived with shovels and an excavator, prepared to dig deep into the area marked by the cadaver dogs. Santry, who had been documenting the process live, told her followers, “This is so crazy because, wow, there’s two huge things happening simultaneously… I just went to over a million followers, and they’re digging up something that is going to change a lot of people’s lives.”
Viewers, captivated by the real-time updates, flooded her TikTok videos with comments speculating about what might be uncovered. “I’m currently refreshing your page and watching ABC 6 live stream,” wrote one follower. Many fans stayed glued to their phones, waiting for the next piece of news, with some hoping the discovery might bring closure to a family with a missing loved one. Others expressed concern for Santry, urging her to get legal representation and offering to help with any potential damages to her yard.
The Conclusion: No Body, No Remains
At 1:05 p.m. on October 4, 2024, Santry finally went live with the update that everyone had been waiting for: the investigation was over, and there were no human remains in her backyard.
“There is no body,” Santry said, her relief palpable. “And I feel like each time I say that… they found a rug. And I don’t know why the dogs sniffed on it and sat on it… They took the rug. It came out in chunks.”
She explained that while the rug had been removed, there was nothing beneath it to suggest foul play. “There’s no body, there’s no bones,” she reiterated. Santry seemed bewildered by the dogs’ reaction and questioned why they had indicated human remains if nothing was found. One of the officers who had been investigating reassured her, saying, “If someone ever had a nosebleed on that carpet, they could have sensed that, but there’s nothing to indicate any foul play or anything like that.”
Santry expressed her relief and a bit of disbelief at the situation, telling her followers, “I can breathe now… Those dogs really tricked us. They had the entire world thinking…” Another officer explained, “They don’t hit every time, but when they do, we have to follow up.”
The police handed Santry a Crime Scene Search Unit token as a souvenir, marking the end of an ordeal that had captivated the internet for days. “Did these two dogs send us on a wild goose chase? Yes, but they were cute,” Santry quipped.
A Viral Journey Comes to an End
Santry’s viral journey—from curious homeowner to the center of a viral true-crime sensation—has come to a close. What began with a buried rug and rumors of a haunting spiraled into a full police investigation, complete with cadaver dogs, homicide detectives, and CSI personnel. Along the way, Santry gained over a million followers on TikTok, who watched the events unfold with bated breath.
“I was just gonna put the post in and call it a day,” Santry admitted in one of her final videos. “This all happened because of TikTok… you guys really pushed me to do this.”
Despite the relief that no human remains were found, the experience has left a lasting impression on Santry and her followers. Many have expressed gratitude for her willingness to share the journey so transparently, while others marveled at how quickly a backyard project turned into an international news story.
For now, Katie Santry can finally relax, knowing that her backyard doesn’t hide any dark secrets; just a lot of curiosity from around the world.
UPDATE: Community Insights from Columbus Residents Regarding This TikTok-Fueled Investigation
As the viral TikTok investigation surrounding a buried rug in East Columbus unfolds, local residents and online viewers alike have shared a variety of reactions, emotions, and theories. Many are still processing the news that no human remains were found, while others remain skeptical about the outcome, pointing to the cadaver dogs' reactions as a reason to continue questioning the situation.
Numerous commenters on social media expressed doubts about the final conclusion, especially after two cadaver dogs separately indicated the same spot. One user stated, "Cadaver dogs are NEVER wrong. I feel like something is still under there." Others echoed this sentiment, speculating that while no body was found, the rug could have been involved in something nefarious in the past. "There’s definitely something on that rug,” said one commenter, with others suggesting that perhaps the body had been moved long ago or that blood had once soaked into the carpet.
Many residents also found it odd that the dogs, known for their accuracy, would both hit on the exact same spot if nothing significant had happened. "What are the odds that TWO dogs would be wrong in the same spot? Next to impossible," wrote one commenter, reflecting the shared skepticism within the community. Some even suggested further investigation under the backyard deck or elsewhere in the yard, hypothesizing that while the rug itself was taken for testing, there might still be more to uncover.
Despite the relief of no body being found, many residents felt unsettled by the incident. "I’m happy there were no human remains found, but I’m suspicious. I do think the police wouldn’t say anything in a case this big until they know for sure,” one user said, suggesting that there might still be more information to come after further analysis of the rug. Some speculated that authorities might be waiting for the results of forensic testing before making any definitive statements.
A small group of commenters expressed frustration with the way the investigation had unfolded, with some feeling that it may have been blown out of proportion due to social media attention. "I feel like they’re trying to calm the chaos. There is something on that rug," said one participant, while another commented, "The dogs alerted for a reason, but it’s possible it’s not as big a deal as everyone thinks." Others pointed to the possibility that public pressure from TikTok and the viral nature of the case had influenced the investigation, suggesting the police may have expedited their process due to the overwhelming attention.
While the community appears divided on whether this is the end of the story or not, there is consensus on one point: this investigation captivated not only Columbus but also millions of viewers around the world. “This whole situation is WEIRD,” said one observer. Some viewers expressed empathy for Katie Santry, the woman at the heart of the investigation, acknowledging the toll it must have taken on her as a private citizen suddenly thrust into the public eye.
In the end, despite the mystery remaining unresolved for some, many are grateful that no human remains were found. As one commenter put it, "It’s good for her mental health that there wasn’t a body… It’s been a wild ride, but I’m glad it didn’t end in tragedy."
Note: Community Insights are gathered from discussions among online viewers and local residents, reflecting a broad range of perspectives. These insights are based on over 500 comments and reactions, offering a snapshot of how the public is processing the outcome of this viral story.
