Latest news with #OhioBureauofCriminalInvestigation
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Yahoo
Cold case podcaster returns to Ohio to investigate homicide of 8-year-old girl
JEFFERSONVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) – After recently investigating a homicide in Marysville, a true crime podcaster from Florida has returned to central Ohio to dig into the 2006 killing of an 8-year-old girl. Melissa Sandberg did not expect to come back to Ohio for the second season of her podcast 'Dog with a Bone,' but when she received a tip about the homicide of Mackenzie Branham and read up on the case, she felt compelled to investigate. Driver who stopped on I-71 before exit charged in three-car wreck 'It just really pulled out my heartstrings of this 8-year-old girl still seeking justice,' Sandberg said. In April 2006, Branham died in a fire at her mother's residence in Jeffersonville, which the mother shared with her live-in boyfriend. The blaze was determined to be arson. Both Branham's mother and the boyfriend escaped unharmed. Over the 19 years the case has remained unsolved, Branham's father and community members have raised concerns about the integrity of law enforcement's investigation. A now-deceased sergeant who responded to the fire was the brother-in-law of Branham's mother's boyfriend, and Branham's father has questioned how officers handled pieces of evidence. A 2018 petition even called for the removal of the Fayette County sheriff over the case. 'There were mistakes that happened in Mackenzie's case,' Sandberg said. 'Everyone in the community is aware, the investigating office is aware of mistakes that were made, but I do know that mistakes can be rectified.' Westerville's Antonio's Pizzeria to close after 'irreconcilable differences' with landlord Sandberg has flown to Ohio twice so far to conduct her own investigation. She said she visited the crime scene, along with interviewing the sheriff, a firefighter who responded to the scene, Branham's relatives and community members. She will detail her findings in the second season of 'Dog with a Bone' and plans to publish the first episode in early September. From there, an episode will be released once a week. Before looking into Branham's case, Sandberg investigated another case out of central Ohio. She dug into the homicide of John Burnside, 32, who was found dead in his Marysville home with a plastic bag placed taped around his head in December 1993. This marked the first season of her podcast, which she says has racked up 56,000 listens since its release last September. 'I've always wanted to be a cold case investigator, homicide investigator, and so this is really me able to live out my dream, but more importantly, it's able to give victims a voice,' Sandberg said. After Sandberg began to look into the case and reach out to different law enforcement agencies, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation decided to review Burnside's case. Sandberg provided the information she found to the BCI's Cold Case Unit. The agency told NBC4 it is still reviewing the case. How 'no tax on tips' could help, hurt Ohio workers Prior to starting her podcast, Sandberg examined cold cases for more than three years. More recently, in 2022 and 2023, Sandberg was part of an independent group of investigators who brought new leads to law enforcement in the suspicious death of a West Virginia woman named Judith Petty. While Sandberg spends a lot of her time investigating cold cases, she also has a full-time job in the healthcare industry. 'I work 40 hours a week and then I come home and I investigate, so after long days of work and two kids, I come home and I'm making calls,' Sandberg said. 'I'm interviewing people, I'm writing, I'm recording. It is another full-time job, basically, that you don't get paid for. It's really because you have a drive.' The episodes on Branham's homicide will be released on platforms that stream podcasts, such as Apple and Spotify. Updates on the new season can be found on the podcast's Facebook page. Anyone who has information on Branham's homicide may message Sandberg through the podcast's Facebook, and/or contact the Fayette County Sheriff's Office at 740-335-6170. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Families of missing people to raise awareness for unsolved cases during annual march
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – While Andrew Chapman has been missing for over 18 years, many central Ohio residents have seen his face on the news, social media or a billboard on West Broad Street. The missing man, who went by the nickname Andy, vanished from his home in the Hilltop area in December 2006. Over the nearly two decades he has been missing, his family has kept his story alive, hoping someone will come forward with information that will help solve the case. How a small town was revamped into 'Ohio's most loveable downtown' That effort will continue on Saturday, when Andy Chapman's family will march the streets of west Columbus alongside other residents with missing loved ones. The demonstration will mark the second annual 'Andy Chapman March for the Missing,' an event created by his family to raise awareness for unsolved cases in the state. 'Unfortunately, when it comes to missing persons cases, a lot of the legwork is on the families, so I believe that's why this is important to raise awareness for my brother's case,' said Andy Chapman's sister, Aimee Chapman. 'We're going on 19 years of searching for him. If you've had a loved one that's been missing for two weeks, six months, 10 years, 20 years, this event is for you.' The event will kick off on Saturday at noon at Hillcrest Baptist Church, located at 2480 W. Broad St. A prayer service will be held before attendees walk westbound on Broad Street, with posters of their missing loved one in hand. After an approximately 15-minute walk, the group will head back to the church, where there will be pizza, snacks and resources available for the families of missing people. A victim's advocate and a representative with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation will be in attendance, according to Aimee Chapman. Tables will also be set up featuring flyers and posters of missing people. Aimee Chapman said attendees may bring their own handouts to spread awareness about a missing person's case. More than 400,000 Ohioans see driver's license suspensions lifted under new law Anyone is welcome to come to the event; attendees do not have to have a relation to a missing person or live in the Columbus area, according to Aimee Chapman. She said last year's march saw a 'great' turnout, including attendance from the family members of missing people Danny Fout and Tyler Davis. 'Getting to know a lot of different family members of missing [people], we've developed this group of family and friends that work together, that we can talk to and rely on each other,' Aimee Chapman said. The March for the Missing will be held rain or shine, Aimee Chapman said. If the walk portion of the event is cancelled due to the weather, other planned activities will still take place in the church. Anyone with information on Andy Chapman's disappearance may contact Columbus police at 614-645-4545 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers' anonymous tip line at 614-461-8477. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Teens charged after confrontation with police at south Columbus park
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Two teenage boys have been charged with multiple felonies after a confrontation with police Wednesday afternoon near a south Columbus park. Columbus police responded to a call of shots fired near Lincoln Pool and the Barack Community Center at 3:10 p.m. Officers on bicycles located three teenagers in a parking lot. When encountering them, a 15-year-old suspect immediately ran away. He was arrested and police said they recovered a reported stolen firearm that he threw near the pool while running away. The 15-year-old has been charged with carrying a concealed weapon, receiving stolen property, tampering with evidence, and obstructing official business. Grove City dentist retires months after patient dies after procedure A 16-year-old boy that stayed in the parking lot ignored commands given by officers and crouched near a parked vehicle, according to police. When an officer approached, he allegedly showed he had a gun, and the officer shot him. Police said the officer that shot the teen has been with CPD for two years. Police did not release the identity of the officer, citing Marsy's Law. CPD said officers rendered medical aid before the teen was taken to a hospital in what was described as stable condition. The boy was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, tampering with evidence, and obstructing official business. The third suspect stayed in the parking lot and complied with police. Officers recovered a BB gun from that teen, a 15-year-old. Police said no charges have been filed against him at this time. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Morrow County Sheriff identifies deputy shot, killed responding to domestic violence call
This article has been updated to correct Brian Wilson's age. A Morrow County sheriff's deputy died in a Memorial Day shootout while responding to what officials are calling a "domestic violence situation." Deputy Daniel Sherrer, 31, was shot and killed while responding to the incident, Morrow County Sheriff John Hinton said at a May 27 press conference. Brian Michael Wilson, 53, is charged with aggravated murder in the shooting, according to court records in Morrow County. Wilson was wounded by Sherrer during the exchange. Sherrer was responding on the evening of May 26 to a report of gunshots from a home in the 100 block of County Road 26 (Olive Green Marengo Fulton Road) at the intersection with County Road 15 (West Liberty-Mount Vernon Road), south of Marengo, according to the sheriff's office. More: Morrow County Sheriff remembers slain deputy Daniel Sherrer: 'He will be missed' The gunfire struck Sherrer, who was taken to a local hospital, where he died. Wilson also suffered a gunshot, and paramedics took him to an undisclosed hospital in serious condition. Hinton would not identify Wilson during his press conference, saying he would not say his name. The Delaware County Sheriff's Office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation are leading the shooting investigation. Sherrer's position with the Morrow County Sheriff's Office was his first job in law enforcement. Hinton said Sherrer will be missed for his personality and that he "always had a smile on his face." 'The guy was never in a bad mood,' the sheriff said, his voice cracking several times during the short media briefing. 'He would go out of his way to see how your day was.' Hinton said funeral arrangements are pending. He said he spoke with Sherrer's closest surviving relatives, his parents, the night of the shooting. The sheriff said residents brought the sheriff's office coffee that morning. He said the sheriff's office is 'a family,' and he expects deputies will support each other through the loss. 'They all know I'm a phone call away,' Hinton said. 'I pick up when they call and vice versa … We'll lean on each other.' Wilson has a criminal history that includes charges related to domestic violence, assault, and aggravated menacing. Court records in Marion County show he was charged in separate incidents from 1994 to 2009. In the aggravated menacing case filed in 2009, he took a plea deal for that lesser charge after he was initially charged with domestic violence. Sherrer was responding to a reported shooting at Wilson's home, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Morrow County Municipal Court. Someone fired a gun at a truck, and investigators found bullet holes in a house across the street, the affidavit says. A neighbor spoke to Sherrer when he arrived and said Wilson had spoken to him and said, "I don't want you around this; I don't want you to get involved; if I were to die tonight, I'd be okay with it," according to court records. When Sherrer approached the house at about 7:40 p.m., Wilson was sitting on the porch holding a gun, according to court records. He told Sherrer not to come up on the porch as the deputy approached the stairs. Sherrer tried to engage Wilson in conversation, but Wilson threatened him, telling him to "just (expletive) go if you want your family to see you tomorrow" and "get the (expletive) out of here now," according to the affidavit. Wilson approached the steps, and the two exchanged gunfire, according to the affidavit. Wilson used two handguns in the shooting, and both were recovered at the scene, police said. The affidavit referenced body camera footage that included audio of the "clicks" from Wilson's revolver as he tried to keep shooting after the gun ran out of ammo, the affidavit says. The home where the shooting took place is located on a rural road lined with homes and sprawling lots. Law enforcement had cleared the scene by mid-morning on May 27. James Alison, who spoke to The Dispatch while painting his mother's house a few doors down from the home where the shooting happened, said he heard gunshots the previous night and saw someone performing CPR. When he first heard the gunshots, he thought somebody may have been shooting at targets, which is normal for the neighborhood, he said. Alison added that the neighborhood is usually very quiet, and he doesn't worry much about shootings. "I didn't know a cop had been shot," he said. "It's just terrible." The shooting prompted a response from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who issued a statement the morning after the shooting ordering flags flown at half-staff across the state. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost issued a statement saying he "was torn by the loss of yet another Ohio law enforcement officer, who paid the ultimate sacrifice while protecting his community. Public Safety and Breaking News Reporter Bailey Gallion can be reached at bagallion@ This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Morrow County Sheriff identifies deputy shot, killed responding to domestic violence call
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Yahoo
Unsolved Ohio: Who killed Amy Jo Nelson? Family wants answers in 2017 homicide
NEW STRAITSVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) – After more than seven years and no arrests, the family of Amy Jo Nelson continues to demand justice in the 39-year-old's homicide. Ever since Amy was found dead in New Straitsville, a Perry County village with a population of around 650, her family has been conducting its own investigation in a search for closure. Amy's mother, Pam Nelson, described her as 'the sweetest person.' 'She had a funny personality, very funny,' Amy's sister, Abbie Vann, added. 'Even when she was upset, she would always try and joke.' Throughout Amy's life, she dealt with multiple medical conditions, including the autoimmune disorders Lupus and Antiphospholipid Syndrome. This resulted in her being placed on a variety of medications by doctors since she was 14 years old, which led to nonprescribed drug use, Vann said. Despite pushing through blood transfusions, chemotherapy, months-long hospital stays and other effects of her conditions, Amy's life was cut short on Sept. 18, 2017. Around 11 a.m. that morning, while working as a nurse, Pam received a call from Amy's phone. She stepped into the hallway and answered the call, but it wasn't Amy. The call came from Amy's boyfriend's mother, who shared news that made Pam collapse on the floor. Where Columbus drivers are likely to get parking tickets 'She told me Amy passed away in her sleep,' Nelson said. A coroner's report states someone reported the incident to 911 at 10:47 a.m., but does not specify who. Nelson and Vann rushed to the residence where Amy was found dead – an apartment on Main Street, where Amy and her boyfriend had stayed the night. Vann said the couple often crashed at acquaintances' places. When Nelson and Vann saw Amy, they said they immediately believed foul play was involved because she had injuries on her face. Nelson asked the two responding officers with the New Straitsville Police Department, an agency with a part-time chief, to reach out to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to assist with analyzing the scene. 'I said 'Are you going to call the BCI?' after I looked at Amy and they said, 'No, there's no crime scene, ma'am,'' Nelson said. 'I said, 'You've got to be kidding. Look at her.'' Nelson and Vann speculated Amy's prior drug use may have led police on the scene to assume she died of an overdose. An autopsy revealed that Amy had both prescribed and nonprescribed medications in her system, but also confirmed the drugs did not cause her passing. Ohio again examines funding police pensions Amy's death was ruled a homicide, caused by 'repeated' blunt force trauma to the head. A Perry County coroner's report by Dr. Bradley Wilson claims Amy's boyfriend said she had 'fallen' within 48 hours of her death, but did not provide further context. 'The extensive head and brain injuries are not consistent with a simple fall and are consistent with injuries incurred by multiple blunt force trauma given the other body injuries, it appears the decedent was assaulted by another person or persons,' the report reads. Since the ruling, the BCI and Perry County Sheriff's Office have been assisting the police department with the case. Amy's family said they are meeting with a sheriff's detective each month about the investigation. Nelson and Vann point to the original handling of the scene by law enforcement as one of the main reasons they believe the case is unsolved. Nelson claimed an individual at the scene was cleaning the apartment while Amy was still lying dead on the bed where she was found, which could have resulted in destroyed evidence. 'It's frustrating how everything was handled,' Vann said. 'We wouldn't be here if it was handled correctly.' Opening statements made in Ohio doctor's defamation trial against Mount Carmel Nelson said that Amy's access to drugs attracted the wrong people into her life who 'wanted her for her pain medication.' Through conducting their own interviews and obtaining records, Amy's family has come to believe the motivation behind the homicide was related to her pills and that multiple people were involved. 'We're not stopping until we get to the bottom of it, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who killed her,' Nelson said. NBC4 reached out to the three law enforcement agencies involved in Amy's case for comment. The Perry County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond, and the New Straitsville police chief said he has only held the position for a few weeks and deferred to the other agencies. The BCI said it is not currently actively investigating the case and also deferred to the other agencies. Amy's family is offering a $10,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest in the homicide. They asked anyone with a tip to contact the Perry County Sheriff's Office at 740-342-4123. If you're a family member of an individual with an unsolved missing persons or homicide case in Ohio, reach out to aboldizar@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
