Small towns where everybody knows each others business are notorious hotbeds of gossip. Following are thumbnail descriptions of each of the seven unsolved homicides, or cold cases, being investigated by the Ashland post of the Kentucky State Police, along with the e-mail addresses of their lead investigators. In a March 2017 interview with WDRB, Crystal Rogers mother, Sherry Ballard, surmised that her daughter disappeared because she overheard something maybe she shouldn't have, related to the murder of Jason Ellis. I grew up running around barefoot on a farm in Kentucky. Although we do not definitively know how many Franklin County murders have been committed in the past few years, we can refer to archived Uniform Crime Reports released by the FBI to try and estimate the general trend of homicides in Franklin County, Kentucky. Police have yet to classify Ballards death as a homicide. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. It's still getting investigated like if it were a murder investigation or homicide investigation, Kentucky State Police Trooper Jeff Gregory told WDRB. However, police determinedMichael Mollo, 43, of Fullerton, Calif., was not a suspect in the murder, though he had a history of violent behavior. Diagnosed by court-appointed psychiatrists as antisocial, a sociopath or psychopath, Cortezs behavior can never be altered, Rainey said doctors have concluded. In December of 1994, Pearce was convicted of robbery and murder, sentenced to life in prison . PHILPOT, KY (WFIE) - The body of a white male was found January 7th, 1990. There are ice-cold cases, some dating to the 1940s, that need a miracle to be solved, as well as . In Madison County there are 11 unsolved murders going back to 1975. With equity for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other underserved victims not prioritized in the true crime communitytogether we can do better. One of the most tragic unsolved murders in Jackson County is the horrific death five years ago of David Michael Grubbs. O'Meara recently hired retired sheriff's Detective CharlieRetzer to pore over a half-terabyte of leads and other information that police have collected over the years. Despite these accusations, neither Houck brother has ever been charged with any crimes related to the disappearance of Crystal Rogers, which they both deny any involvement in. Chance of rain 90%. How long is the . With a population of just over 14,000, it was voted The Most Beautiful Small Town In America and also boasts of being the Bourbon Capital of the World, due to the presence of six major whiskey distilleries in town. Grubbs' murder shocked Ashland residents, who provided police withrumors, tips and theories. Former Sheriff Ed Mattingly named Brooks Houck a suspectin his girlfriends disappearance, which he believes to be a homicide. But I dont have any particular knowledge that hes done any particular crimes.. Theft from auto - Property stolen from motor vehicle. She later escaped, and Cortez, identified as a suspect, fled to Oregon. Chance of rain 90%. Rogers was last seen on July 3, at the home she shared with her boyfriend, Brooks Houck, their 2-year-old son and other children. Talent taproom brims with cider, beer, food, fun, Housing is top concern for low-income Jackson County residents, PREP ROUNDUP: Challengers push win streak to 8, SOU names Berk Brown as new head football coach, Survey: Oregonians support forest projects, Why we should pass the Afghan Adjustment Act, Live Rogue Valley music, MLK Day celebrations& more: Jan. 13, Jackson Creek Pizza has been serving up the pie for 20 years, Adam Rich, former 'Eight Is Enough' child star, dies at 54, US approves Alzheimer's drug that modestly slows disease, Plan for success with planting calendar for vegetable gardens, By The 23-year-old Ashland residentwas found . One person of interest was Christian Oliver Delaurentiis, 33, who pleaded guilty to a four-month bank-robbery spree that began Jan. 2, 2012, when he robbed U.S. Bank inside the Albertsons grocery store at 910 N. Phoenix Road, authorities said. Major Case/Cold Case Squad. You could have the information we need to desperately solve these cases.". Select your ideal criteria and let Scout do the rest. The 16-year-old girl's strangled body was found in a Eugene elementary. Search Ohio homicide victims by name, city or keywords. I don't need an attorney. On account of its small size and population, Frankfort, Kentucky, murders are seemingly much less common than those in many other Kentucky cities. We just need for them to come forward. Kentucky has its share of both, but some of ours have unusual circumstances. But instead of generating a book contract, the would-be authors efforts resulted in a search warrant that has apparently ended the project. The Bluegrass State is big on history, with plenty of local lore and legends mixed in for good measure, too. In August of 2013, Brant Sheckles, a member of the Bardstown Money Gang, claimed the street gangwas responsible for Ellis murder. That night, Mikio Miyazawa, 44, Yasuko Miyazawa, 41, and their children Niina, 10, and Rei, 6, were all stabbed to death by an unknown assailant. O'Meara said the evidence shows thefatal blow was from massive trauma caused by a large edged weapon such as a machete or sword. On Groundhog Day 2019, a trip ended in tragedy with the murders of Robert Williams of Hartford, Kentucky, and Samantha Dial/Hankins of Goodlettsville, Tennessee. With a population of just over 14,000. and also boasts of being the Bourbon Capital of the World, due to the presence of six major whiskey distilleries in town. The startled crowd broke in, alas, To find the girls both dead. They need renewed media attention. It is hard to imagine what kind of person could . These include: the 1983 murder of Debbie Eckles, the 2008 murder of Marion Estep, the 2003 murder of Dianna Keeton, the 2000 murder of Kevin Adkins, and the 1982 murder of Donnie Ray Sullivan, among countless others. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! KSP seeks publics help with cold cases, Haines celebrated at Greenup County Public Library, Hicks stays red hot: Sophomore sizzles from lon, Weekend arrests include sex crimes against child, Johnson helps Highlanders hold off Tomcats, www.kentuckystatepolice.org/cold_case/post14coldcase.htm, STAMBAUGH, Cassie Feb 26, 1967 - Jan 17, 2023, BLEVINS, Elwood undefined, 1933 - undefined, 2023, MILLER, Danny Jan 24, 1948 - Dec 20, 2022, MORRIS, Linda Nov 25, 1940 - Jan 14, 2023, ROSS, Pauline Mar 13, 1923 - Jan 14, 2023, Men create GoFundMe for family after tragic loss, Steckler stuck: Code enforcement fines building for lack of progress, 2022 Large School All-Area Football: Musketeers keep moving forward: Sammons, Moore capture All-Area honors, UPDATE: One man dead after jack failure, relatives involved in car accident, Spotlight on Spencer: Ashland Middle Schooler gets shiny new ride. Harry Valentine Smeeman made his final rounds. Nick later told the Kentucky State Policethat he only contacted his brother to tell him that "they might be trying to trip him up" and "he should protect himself.". MERCH: We've got it! The crimes in the account are fiction, the researcher insisted. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Cold Cases Two days later,her mother reported her missing, the same day her car was found abandoned along the Bluegrass Parkway with a flat tire and her belongings still in it. Ashland, KY 41101 Phone: (606) 326-2600 Email: webmaster@dailyindependent.com. LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 17, 2017) On Oct. 26, 1961, the lifeless body of 19-year-old student Betty Gail Brown was discovered in front of the Old Morrison Building on Transylvania University's campus.A new University Press of Kentucky book, "Who Killed Betty Gail Brown? 1993 During the early-morning hours of April 5, Jerry Dale Nickels, 33, is killed while sleeping on a sofa in his residence on Sheep Hollow Road, located off Ky. 784 in Greenup County. They shot to death at least 34 miners, hacked up the bodies with axes and . Los Angeles County sheriffs detectives declined to comment on the cases, other than to say the investigations remain open. These images are displayed during the trial in order to show the judge and jury the prosecutors views on the reasons why the crime may have been committed, or how the crime was committed, showing the crime scene, the surrounding environment, and any evidence located in the general area. He refuses to name names, other than to say the murderers are long dead. a tree falls on your house, a shopping cart damages your car. ASHLAND, Ky. (WSAZ) - A suspect has been named in connection with a double homicide in Ashland, Kentucky Friday morning, according to the Ashland Police Department. You can learn more about this tragic legend in Kentucky in this article, and please, take note: while its fascinating to talk about, we absolutely do not recommend putting yourself in danger to see for yourself if this legend is true. TheOnline Citizen Police Reportsystem allows you to submit a report to the police immediately and print a draft copy for free. When you have a case where theres been a big lapse of time, it makes it really challenging. With only seven unsolved homicides on the books, the Ashland post, which covers Boyd, Carter, Greenup and Lawrence counties, has one of the highest "solve" rates of any KSP detachment, he said.. Grubbsstarted at Shop'n Kart in high school,stocking shelves, Chaddock said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or dmann@mailtribune.com. The goal of the publicity campaign, Gollihue said, is to get the cases back in the public eye. Other US patent applications are currently pending. In Ashland, your chance of becoming a victim of a property crime is one in 35, which is a rate of 29 per one thousand population. I don't need an attorney. Murder still haunts Ashland. 2001 Troopers from the Pikeville KSP post are summoned to Highland Regional Medical Center in Prestonsburg May 1 after a 59-year-man is brought to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. In a bizarre twist, on November 19, 2016, Crystals father, Tommy Ballard, was fatally shotin the chest by an unknown gunmen while out hunting. The passage of time is often the biggest obstacle to bringing a case to a successful conclusion, Gollihue said. Five of the cases are murder cases and four are missing persons cases. 7,043,501 and 7,680,859. One of the cold cases in which Frankfort murders DNA, as well as DNA collected from other crime scenes across Kentucky, was used to solve or at least bring new information to unsolved cases, is the 1995 murder of Debra Wright, among others, mainly leading to the identification of Jane and John Does. Eric Chaddock, Shop'n Kart store manager, said workers at the store go down to the path to remember Grubbs every year. He was with his 11-year-old grandson and on family property at the time of his death, butpolice have ruled out the child as the shooter. The convicted killer had been assaulted while in prison and got a taste of what his victims had gone through, Holmes said. That's just one reason why Ashland Vice Mayor William C. Martin doesn't like Shaw's proposal. Crime & Justice. Investigators said Grubbs didn't appear to have any defensive wounds, and that his wallet and money were left in his pocket after he was killed. After exiting his police cruiser to investigate, he was ambushed. Unsolved Murder Still Haunts Ashland Family hopes for town rememberance 80 years after policeman's death. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. Copyright 2000-2023 Location Inc. Each card is imprinted with a photo and case details. The seizure prompted authorities in Oregon, Texas and California to review half a dozen unsolved murders, all dating back more than 15 years, for possible links to Cortez, who is serving a 50-year-to-life sentence in the Oregon state penitentiary in Salem. Billie-Jo Jenkins. Authorities say Sammons was murdered, his body stuffed in the trunk of his own vehicle and the car set ablaze. Bardstown PD, however, dismissed the groups claims, with then-police chief Rick McCubbin calling them a bunch of punks, and telling WAVE 3, They're trying to empower themselves by making that claim, intimidating people and using the fear factor that 'I'm so bad I killed a cop.. Importantly, when you compare Ashland to other communities of similar population, then Ashland crime rate (violent and property crimes combined) is quite a bit higher than average. Ashland Police Department Chief . In April 2014, nearly a year after Ellis murder, Bardstown was again rocked by the brutal double-homicide of 48-year-old Kathy Netherland and her 16-year-old daughter, Samantha. Part man, part goat, and part sheep, rumors of a hideous beast roaming around the Pope Lick Trestle have been swirling for quite some time! Every state has unsolved mysteries, but in most cases they tend to be missing persons or murder. Despite such an incentive, the murders remain unsolved. 1999 On July 7, a hunter finds a mans body in a wooded area off the A-A Highway in Greenup County. Two boys and two girls went missing from their Oakland County communities, northwest of Detroit, Michigan, and all were found dead within 19 days. The oldest is 11 months away from its 30th anniversary. Photo Credit: The Author Hunter Park: Green, Idyllic and the Scene of a Horrific Crime. In total, in 2019 alone, approximately 217 out of every 100,000 residents of Kentucky were impacted directly by violent crime in some way, including murder, sexual assault or rape, robbery, or assault. Ashland Kentucky that quiet burg, Was startled the day had not yet dawned When the cry of fire was heard. A native Southern Oregonian, Retzer worked a number of homicide cases during his career, O'Meara said. After exiting his police cruiser to investigate, he was ambushed. Kouns is the lead investigator. If you have information about an unsolved cold case homicide, please contact: Homicide Branch. Dec. 23, 1982, Cleveland Heights. Their only possible clue was a black Chevrolet Impala, which had been filmed near the crime scene on April 21, 2014, the night of the murder. NeighborhoodScout provides exclusive crime risk analytics for every neighborhood in America with up to 98% predictive accuracy. Fortunately, we do not experience a lot of murders in the Bluegrass, especially compared to other states. It was discovered 2 1/2 miles northwest of Philpot, Kentucky in Daviess County. I only do research and leave active investigation of these cases to professionals. A womans body is discovered in the back yard of her Greenup County residence, partially buried in snow and with an old refrigerator placed on top of it. Read More Recent Posts Kentucky State Police Investigate Fatal Stabbing in Anderson County New Year, New Truck: Kentucky State Police Announce 2023 Trooper Island Raffle Vehicle Lopez, 19, of Hacienda Heights, disappeared at dawn while on her way to catch a bus to Whittier, where she had recently begun working in a doughnut shop. Homicide Rate in Kentucky According to the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) issued by the FBI in 2019, the violent crime rate in Kentucky was roughly 217.1 per 100,000 inhabitants. Our nationwide meta-analysis overcomes the issues inherent in any crime database, including non-reporting and reporting errors. Investigators still dont know if James was killed at the site where his body was found or if he was killed elsewhere and his body dumped there. Cecil Van Hoose, age 7, was shot dead by Carl Newton Mahan, age 6, over a piece of scrap iron in Paintsville. A month later, new Bardstown Police Chief Kim Kraeszig announced the creation of a new anonymous tip line that she hopes will encourage those with information on the cases to come forward. Murdered. According to WCPO in Cincinnati, Ellis was fatally shot multiple times with a 12-gauge shotgun. The case is still unsolved. Fresh flowers adorned a makeshift memorial that appeared along the Ashland bike path in the days following Grubbs' murder on Nov. 19, 2011. If your incident involves a firearm of any kind, call 911 and an officer will be sent to investigate. into the stories you've heard before, and encounter many others you haven't, in ways that actually help. For well they knew two fair ladies Had there retired to bed. KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654. Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Hours: 9:30am-4:30pm Phone: (606) 325-3547 Fax: (606) 329-2812 CLOSED Saturday and Sunday *Holidays may affect these hours The Clerk's duties include the titling and registration of motor vehichles, voter registration, conductin fair and open elections, issuing marriage licenses, and Notary Public bonds. Hes considered to be a sexual sadist, a lust killer, the detective said. Anyone with information should contact Lt. Sean Welch, sean.welch@ky.gov. The most recent occurred nearly two years ago. 4 James Sharp And Doreen Gaul. The Federal Bureau of Investigation also releases a Uniform Crime Report (UCR) every year, detailing crimes, the data and statistics behind crimes, and the general area where various crimes are committed in almost every county and city within each state, including Kentucky. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. In the absence of any arrests, Bardstowns bars and backstreets have pulsed with conspiracy theories trying to connect the dots between Bardstowns mysterious unsolved crimes. On Dec. 6, 1977, Cortez kidnaped a 16-year-old girl from a bus stop in the City of Industry and took her to his familys home in La Puente. She is shot once in the head and left to die on an isolated gravel road. "That way they can test the veracity of the suspect or witness statements," he said. A$22,000 reward will be given for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the murderer. In 1961, Betty Gail Brown, a Transylvania University student in Kentucky was found in a car on campus, strangled by her own bra. Goble is the lead investigator. 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