Piketon: $25,000 reward rescinded after “complex criminal developments”
The Cincinnati restaurant owner offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators of the April 22 murders in Pike County withdrew the money following “complex criminal developments.”
Restaurant owner Jeff Ruby reclaimed the money on the day of the funeral of Gary Rhoden, one of the victims of the shootings.
In the statement released on Twitter, Ruby added that he was “grieving and praying for family.”
Authorities have been mum on details of the shootings in order to keep the shooters in the dark about the status of the investigation.
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4/27/16: DeWine hold press conference on Pike County shootings
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine spoke today regarding the Pike County shootings that left eight family members dead last week.
Though he did not elaborate on details of the case, he did say that these shootings were not like most mass killings, but instead, were calculated, cold-blooded, well-planned-out murders.
He emphasized that the investigation will be a lengthy one, and that details provided to media outlets will be slim in order to ensure best practices.
“I assume that the people or the person who committed these murders are watching the news coming out of Pike County,” DeWine said. “We don’t want to give the killer or killers any information on where this investigation is going.”
DeWine thanked the community, and said his teams have received over 300 tips relating to the case.
The Ohio Attorney General said that he visited the crime scenes for the first time today, and said doing so brought home the gravity of the situation.
Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader weighed in on the crime scenes as well: “It’s absolutely shocking, some of these scenes. It’s not one where you can simply go in and tell what happened.”
DeWine said the end coal of the investigation is not to just have arrests, but to have evidence that will lead to convictions, and bring to justice those who committed these crimes.
4/26/16: Piketon residents, investigators search for answers
In the wake of a shooting that left eight members of the same family dead, residents of Piketon are searching for answers as they mourn the loss to their community.
The town of Piketon, located 60 miles south of Columbus as 90 miles east of Cincinnati, has a population of only 28,000 people. Piketon High School teaches just 530 students.
For high school students, the loss of 16-year-old freshman Christopher Rhoden Jr. feels stark and tangible, and for the community at-large, residents say that the atmosphere of the quiet Appalachian town has changed for the time being.
One Piketon resident said basic issues of security, like locks on doors, have become a greater concern since the murders.
As for the investigation, no motive or suspects have been officially released, though authorities confirmed Monday that materials for breeding chickens for cockfighting were found at one of the crime scenes, in addition to extensive marijuana cultivation operations.
Pike County has a history of marijuana grow operations, including the seizure of 22,000 plants in 2010, and 1,200 plants with connections to a Mexican drug cartel in 2012.
It is currently unclear whether or not last week’s killings were related to a Mexican drug cartel.
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4/25/16: Hundreds of pot plants found at scenes of Piketon massacre
Further details regarding the “execution-style” killings of eight Pike County family members were released over the weekend, including names and a possible motive.
While authorities have not officially determined if the killings were drug-related, “marijuana grow operations” in the form of hundreds of pot plants were discovered at three of the locations where killings occurred.
Attorney General Mike DeWine said the killings were “pre-planned executions,” and he expects a long investigation.
Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader said most victims were targeted while sleeping.
“This was very methodical. This was well planned,” Reader said. “This was not something that just happened.”
It is unclear whether the killings were the acts of one person or several conspirators, but authorities said they scoured the town of Piketon for suspects.
Though DeWine provided the media few details on the specifics of the investigation, he said investigators have received over 100 tips, conducted over 60 interviews and executed five search warrants.
The victims were identified Saturday as: Hannah Gilley, 20; Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40; Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16; Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20; Dana Rhoden, 37; Gary Rhoden, 38; Hanna Rhoden, 19; and Kenneth Rhoden, 44. A 4-day-old, a 6-month-old and a 3-year-old survived.
Sheriff Reader advised other family members who were not present to arm themselves.
“In the end of this, we have to provide this to a prosecutor,” Reader said. “We will not have a second chance. We have to do it once, and we have to do it right.”
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4/22/16: Shooting rampage south of Columbus leaves 8 dead
In a horrific act of violence, eight family members were found dead on the border between Pike and Adams county on Union Hill Road at four different rural locations.
Authorities say the shootings are not random, and that children are among those who were slain.
More than a dozen Bureau of Criminal Investigation agents are investigating the scenes, including members of Criminal Intelligence, Cyber Crimes and Special Investigations.
Authorities have said that the shooter is not active, but he has not yet been found.
The FBI said they are closely monitoring the situation.
Governor Kasich issued a statement on Twitter from the presidential campaign trail in Pennsylvania saying, “Reports we are receiving from Peebles are tragic beyond comprehension.”
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said in a statement this afternoon that the investigation is still in its very early stages.
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