OH - Pike County: 8 People From One Family Dead As Police Hunt For Killer(s) #34 *Arrests*

[kaykay543]

If that's the situation with the Pike County murders, why haven't there been murders with a similar MO in the area? That's the most puzzling aspect of this horrible crime.

There was a very similar murder 2 weeks before about 100 miles away. Not sure why this article doesn't give the names. Husband and wife drug dealers shot in bed. Kids left alive upstairs. I just can't remember the names of the two killed. Still unsolved.

Rhoden family killings show 'similarities' to Kentucky murders

 

[Betty P]

There was a very similar murder 2 weeks before about 100 miles away. Not sure why this article doesn't give the names. Husband and wife drug dealers shot in bed. Kids left alive upstairs. I just can't remember the names of the two killed. Still unsolved.

Rhoden family killings show 'similarities' to Kentucky murders

Yes, we're familiar with that one. Also with the murders of Candy Newsome and her daughter. The murder of the Newsome's didn't appear to be a robbery.

As I mentioned previously, the killers may have had robber as a secondary motive, but there was a different primary motive. Given the huge drug proliferation in SE Ohio, if people were going out murdering MJ or drug dealers for cash, we should be seeing these kinds of murders on a weekly basis. That hasn't happened, though, at least not in Pike County.

JMO, the murders of the Eapmons, Newsomes, etc. may be connected, but the motive is not robbery alone. Regardless of what someone perceives as the motive, it's no justification for allowing these cases to go cold.

 

[Betty P]

Not sure where you are getting that info? It has been reported many times that evidence of fighting was found at the farm

Cockfighting clues found on Ohio property of slain family: officials | Reuters

I think you have to look at the totality of the situation out there. Its not just one thing; its all the things added together. The fighting and grow operation alone tell a story. Then there is the car business. LM himself said this "I think they are going to get in trouble when they run all those VINs,'' he said. "They are going to find some of them ain't even Chris."

Why the Rhoden family had so many cars

It in no way excuses what was done to them. But you have to look at their lifestyle. This is not a lifestyle most of us can imagine living.

My apologies if you misunderstood my comment. I said the LE reported that the family themselves were not involved in cockfighting. Regardless of how one may judge their lifestyle, it doesn't justify their horrific murders and it certainly doesn't justify letting the case go cold.

 

[RAISINISBACK]

I think the previous poster was pointing out how the high cost of running the grow op somewhat diminished the profits made from medium size grow ops like those of KR and CR1. I'm sure they made a decent profit, but they were also spending a great deal on expensive lights, watering systems, fertilizer, paying people to maintain the plants, etc. I do agree it's a shame that more in the news media should be calling attention to these horrible murders. Yes, the reward is a pittance, not nearly what it should be to get any witnesses to share information.

JMO, so many family members were killed because the killers knew which ones could identify them as suspects and possibly seek their own revenge.

I'm also not sure about robbery as the main motive for killing everyone. It doesn't seem to fit with prior unsolved murders in the area, for example Candy Newsome and her daughter. If local criminals were targeting grow ops to rob them, we would expect to see similar robberies and murders at other area grow ops and at the homes of area drug dealers like Eury's and the W's. The Rhoden/Gilley murders stand out as a brutal spree killing in a county that, until recently, didn't see too many murders. The common thread with previous murders seemed to be people who used and sold drugs and who had recently been arrested and convicted for drug activity. JMO, it looked like killers were going after people they thought knew too much and might be at risk of sharing what they knew with LE.

I agree that there are some similarities between the R's and the Newsomes and the Eapmons, but there is also a huge difference. In the murders of the N's and E's the killers did not go to a second, third or fourth homes to kill close family members of the N's and E's. That is what stands out the most to me. Had just CR1 and GR been killed I would have said okay it's probably the same scenario as the N's and E's. But this going to three other homes to kill close family members smacks of someone with a lot of rage and hatred. That indicates someone emotionally involved where deep love turned to deep hate. Like an EX.

JMO

 

[Dudly]

Not sure where you are getting that info? It has been reported many times that evidence of fighting was found at the farm

Cockfighting clues found on Ohio property of slain family: officials | Reuters

I think you have to look at the totality of the situation out there. Its not just one thing; its all the things added together. The fighting and grow operation alone tell a story. Then there is the car business. LM himself said this "I think they are going to get in trouble when they run all those VINs,'' he said. "They are going to find some of them ain't even Chris."

Why the Rhoden family had so many cars

It in no way excuses what was done to them. But you have to look at their lifestyle. This is not a lifestyle most of us can imagine living.

All of this has been discussed in this thread years ago already. The Game Fowl are bred, traded, bought and sold all over Ohio. People have all kinds of poultry they raise for show and they breed them for color and feather variations. Having them does not mean the owner is into fighting. They first mentioned dog fighting, too, but the dogs were hunting hounds not dogs used for fighting. The VINs of all the cars were checked by LE and none were in any data base as being stolen. As far as the grow operation you mention, have you seen any evidence that it existed? Any pictures showing it or showing any plants?
So, what is there about having legal cars, legal to own chickens, legal to own dogs, growing pot, all which are common to the area, make a lifestyle that would cause them to be murdered and not everyone else doing the same things?

 

[rsd1200]

Some people will kill over a red or blue shirt, a piece of chicken, or they just drive around until they see an opportunity to do it.

They'll also kill you because they felt you treated them unjustly, maybe months, or even years, ago, and they have never let it go, but now, they have the means and opportunity to exact vengeance.

 

[rsd1200]

My apologies if you misunderstood my post. I don't think they were drug dealers. We know they had a grow op. It was reported by LE. See links above.

I didn't know the W's had a grow op. Could you point me to that link? I'm not having any luck finding it.

 

[Betty P]

I didn't know the W's had a grow op. Could you point me to that link? I'm not having any luck finding it.

Apologies, a typo. We don't know that they had a grow up, you're correct.

However, my point still stands. There were known grow ops, meth labs, drug houses, etc. in the area, per news articles about people being busted for such. (If you like, I can provide a link to the Pike County jail roster).

Currently Housed Inmates

Pike County Sheriff's Office reports seizure of over 700 marijuana plants

Article about the cartel grow ops back in 2010

An inside look at Pike County marijuana camps linked to cartels

In spite of all those places being involved in drug or MJ processing, sales, etc. there haven't been any robberies involving the slaughter of a family, in multiple homes. Aside from the Rhoden massacre, there have been a few other murders of people suspected of being drug users, but none seem to have involved major robberies.

If those killers/robbers are still living in the area and they've gotten away with their crimes for nearly 3 years, why haven't there been more robberies and murders, as with the Rhoden/Gilleys?

 

[Betty P]

Speaking of the big federal MJ busts of 2010 and 2012 in Pike County, who was the insider who leaked info that federal drug agents were planning a raid on the camps? Very few people would have known when and where federal agents were planning such a raid.

Records show that a flyover in August 2010 found nearly 23,000 plants off of Green Ridge Road and Zion Ridge Road, about 15 miles west of Piketon. Agents saw the plants from the air, but had to use ATVs to get to the site. They found well-organized, abandoned campsites with separate cooking, sleeping and working areas surrounded by trenches dug to channel water away.

Who leaked? If someone in LE, the most likely scenario, were they still in LE when the Rhodens were murdered? Are they still working in LE today?

In August 2012 another aerial operation found a similar, but much smaller, operation, this time on Hickson Run Road, 15 miles northeast of Piketon. Agents hiked hundreds of yards into the woods south of the road and found two campsites and multiple plots of marijuana totaling 1,200 plants.

An inside look at Pike County marijuana camps linked to cartels

Who leaked?

 

[iridized]

Apologies, a typo. We don't know that they had a grow up, you're correct.

However, my point still stands. There were known grow ops, meth labs, drug houses, etc. in the area, per news articles about people being busted for such. (If you like, I can provide a link to the Pike County jail roster).

Currently Housed Inmates

Pike County Sheriff's Office reports seizure of over 700 marijuana plants

Article about the cartel grow ops back in 2010

An inside look at Pike County marijuana camps linked to cartels

In spite of all those places being involved in drug or MJ processing, sales, etc. there haven't been any robberies involving the slaughter of a family, in multiple homes. Aside from the Rhoden massacre, there have been a few other murders of people suspected of being drug users, but none seem to have involved major robberies.

If those killers/robbers are still living in the area and they've gotten away with their crimes for nearly 3 years, why haven't there been more robberies and murders, as with the Rhoden/Gilleys?

This was your statement - "If local criminals were targeting grow ops to rob them, we would expect to see similar robberies and murders at other area grow ops and at the homes of area drug dealers like Eury's and the W's." Where is the typo that you allude that you made?

 

[Betty P]

This was your statement - "If local criminals were targeting grow ops to rob them, we would expect to see similar robberies and murders at other area grow ops and at the homes of area drug dealers like Eury's and the W's." Where is the typo that you allude that you made?

I was incorrect. My apologies. Now let's resume constructive discussion, ok? TIA

 

[Betty P]

Speaking of the big federal MJ busts of 2010 and 2012 in Pike County, who was the insider who leaked info that federal drug agents were planning a raid on the camps? Very few people would have known when and where federal agents were planning such a raid.



Who leaked? If someone in LE, the most likely scenario, were they still in LE when the Rhodens were murdered? Are they still working in LE today?



An inside look at Pike County marijuana camps linked to cartels

Who leaked?

Bump

 

[kaykay543]

All of this has been discussed in this thread years ago already. The Game Fowl are bred, traded, bought and sold all over Ohio. People have all kinds of poultry they raise for show and they breed them for color and feather variations. Having them does not mean the owner is into fighting. They first mentioned dog fighting, too, but the dogs were hunting hounds not dogs used for fighting. The VINs of all the cars were checked by LE and none were in any data base as being stolen. As far as the grow operation you mention, have you seen any evidence that it existed? Any pictures showing it or showing any plants?
So, what is there about having legal cars, legal to own chickens, legal to own dogs, growing pot, all which are common to the area, make a lifestyle that would cause them to be murdered and not everyone else doing the same things?

You are taking what I said way out of context. I said they did NOT deserve to be murdered. But to understand a murder of an entire family it helps to know that families lifestyle. You can't just look at one tiny slice of their life. You have to look at the entire picture.

The cars there THAT DAY may have been fine. I don't really know that they were all accounted for. But why would LM say that if their car sales were on the up and up? Makes no sense. Especially since he was helping transport the cars.

It is naive to think they just were breeding chickens. There is a difference between breeding chickens and breeding for the cockfighting ring. I am pretty sure LE knows the difference

I agree there is a ton of corruption in Ohio but I don't think LE made up the grow operation. Or the cockfighting allegations. Just because you personally don't believe it; doesn't make it not true. It is an ongoing investigation so obviously LE is not going to show everything. JM also said there were pot plants. So was he lying too?

I feel sure there is tons more we don't know and won't know until someone(s) arrested.

As for this being talked about before. Of course it has. There really isn't much new to say. So if we go by that I guess we should all just stop talking about it. But we are on webslueths forum. Which is here to discuss cases. Older cases always get stuff rehashed. Its the nature of the beast.

 

[Betty P]

You are taking what I said way out of context. I said they did NOT deserve to be murdered. But to understand a murder of an entire family it helps to know that families lifestyle. You can't just look at one tiny slice of their life. You have to look at the entire picture.

The cars there THAT DAY may have been fine. I don't really know that they were all accounted for. But why would LM say that if their car sales were on the up and up? Makes no sense. Especially since he was helping transport the cars.

It is naive to think they just were breeding chickens. There is a difference between breeding chickens and breeding for the cockfighting ring. I am pretty sure LE knows the difference

I agree there is a ton of corruption in Ohio but I don't think LE made up the grow operation. Or the cockfighting allegations. Just because you personally don't believe it; doesn't make it not true. It is an ongoing investigation so obviously LE is not going to show everything. JM also said there were pot plants. So was he lying too?

I feel sure there is tons more we don't know and won't know until someone(s) arrested.

As for this being talked about before. Of course it has. There really isn't much new to say. So if we go by that I guess we should all just stop talking about it. But we are on webslueths forum. Which is here to discuss cases. Older cases always get stuff rehashed. Its the nature of the beast.

Sorry, but all we can go by is what LE has shared and what's been reported in the news media.

Yes, it seems like FR was raising roosters for sale to people involved in cockfighting, but LE said there was no evidence they found to indicate the Rhodens were involved directly in that horrible sport. No evidence of such activities at their homes/properties.

I've always believed that Rhodens likely had grow ops as reported by LE. It's all we've got until we find out otherwise. I think it was some sort of activity related to the grow ops and possible other illegal activity that caused someone to murder them. But we have to keep in mind, the members of that family, the victims had no criminal backgrounds to speak of.

Yes, these victims deserve justice and, JMO, the crime should have been solved by now. It's important to those who care to keep the case active and in the public mind so that can some day happen. It's great that you care enough to keep working on it.

 

[RAISINISBACK]

Apologies, a typo. We don't know that they had a grow up, you're correct.

However, my point still stands. There were known grow ops, meth labs, drug houses, etc. in the area, per news articles about people being busted for such. (If you like, I can provide a link to the Pike County jail roster).

Currently Housed Inmates

Pike County Sheriff's Office reports seizure of over 700 marijuana plants

Article about the cartel grow ops back in 2010

An inside look at Pike County marijuana camps linked to cartels

In spite of all those places being involved in drug or MJ processing, sales, etc. there haven't been any robberies involving the slaughter of a family, in multiple homes. Aside from the Rhoden massacre, there have been a few other murders of people suspected of being drug users, but none seem to have involved major robberies.

If those killers/robbers are still living in the area and they've gotten away with their crimes for nearly 3 years, why haven't there been more robberies and murders, as with the Rhoden/Gilleys?

I see that JK is back in jail with no bond.

 

[Betty P]

I see that JK is back in jail with no bond.

I hope he's been in there at least since his arrest after Violet Rhoden's murder/mysterious death. Recall, he was with her when she died from a gunshot wound to the chest, out there in the woods. Many miles from her own home. AFAIK her case is going cold, too.

 

[rsd1200]

Apologies, a typo. We don't know that they had a grow up, you're correct.

However, my point still stands. There were known grow ops, meth labs, drug houses, etc. in the area, per news articles about people being busted for such. (If you like, I can provide a link to the Pike County jail roster).

Currently Housed Inmates

Pike County Sheriff's Office reports seizure of over 700 marijuana plants

Article about the cartel grow ops back in 2010

An inside look at Pike County marijuana camps linked to cartels

In spite of all those places being involved in drug or MJ processing, sales, etc. there haven't been any robberies involving the slaughter of a family, in multiple homes. Aside from the Rhoden massacre, there have been a few other murders of people suspected of being drug users, but none seem to have involved major robberies.

If those killers/robbers are still living in the area and they've gotten away with their crimes for nearly 3 years, why haven't there been more robberies and murders, as with the Rhoden/Gilleys?

I don't doubt that this wasn't about a robbery. I'd just not read anything about the Ws having an op.

 

[rsd1200]

Speaking of the big federal MJ busts of 2010 and 2012 in Pike County, who was the insider who leaked info that federal drug agents were planning a raid on the camps? Very few people would have known when and where federal agents were planning such a raid.



Who leaked? If someone in LE, the most likely scenario, were they still in LE when the Rhodens were murdered? Are they still working in LE today?



An inside look at Pike County marijuana camps linked to cartels

Who leaked?

They heard them, and they saw them. They are there to keep the crops safe, but they'll cut and run when they hear LE coming. It's common knowledge in the hills, that when you hear them coming, you drop and run. Usually to a predetermined location, whether your an American, or a Mexican, whose watching your crop.

 

[MittenScarpetta]

I see that JK is back in jail with no bond.

I believe he’s awaiting sentencing for an unrelated crime prior to VRT’s suspicious death. HEs been there since late June/early July IIRCC

 

[Betty P]

I believe he’s awaiting sentencing for an unrelated crime prior to VRT’s suspicious death. HEs been there since late June/early July IIRCC

That's what I was hoping, that he's been there since he was last arrested. He's been let out too many times in the past and it wouldn't surprise me to seem him out again. SMH