GUILTY OH - Robert, 70, & Colleen Grube, 47, murdered, Fort Recovery, 30 Nov 2011

[Reader]

http://www.centurylink.net/news/read.php?rip_id=<D9RCJ9781@news.ap.org>&ps=1011

FORT RECOVERY, Ohio (AP) — Neighbors are being asked to look out for one another and parents won't allow their school children to be dropped off at empty homes after the deadly farmhouse shootings of a disabled man and his 47-year-old daughter shook their rural Ohio community.

Both victims were bound with duct tape and shot during what appeared to be a robbery, said authorities, who were hesitant to release details.

Colleen Grube lived in the house, where she took care of her father, 70-year-old Robert Grube, authorities said.
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Investigators think the killer or killers came through an unlocked door or were invited in the house by the victims Tuesday night or early Wednesday. The house had been ransacked and it looked like whoever went through it was after something specific, said Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey.

Authorities have no suspects. A message seeking an update on the investigation was left with the sheriff on Friday.

"It is going to take the whole community to solve this crime," Grey said a day earlier.
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The sheriff has asked neighbors to be vigilant and warned residents not to allow strangers in their house. Those living around the town of Fort Recovery told The Daily Standard newspaper of Celina that they don't feel safe.

More at link....

 

[Reader]

Looks to be quite a big farm.

"Fort Recovery is a pretty, little historic village of some 1,430 population, located in West Central Ohio. The village is built on the site of General St. Clair's defeat in 1791 and General "Mad" Anthony Wayne's battle (recovery) in 1794. The fort that was built under Wayne's command was called Fort Recovery and that remains the name of the village."

Link has map of where it's located:

http://fortrecovery.org/

 

[Reader]

http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/n...Homicide-In-Fort-Recovery-Ohio-134796458.html

Not much more information....

"Officers believe the incident happened sometime between the hours of 5 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. Wednesday..........

The Sheriff’s office is asking anyone who might have information to call 567-890-TIPS (8477).

 

[Reader]

http://dailystandard.com/archive/story_single.php?rec_id=16670

FORT RECOVERY - Solving the murders of a 70-year-old man and his 47-year-old daughter will involve a concerted effort involving law enforcement authorities and the public, Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey said during a press conference this morning..........

Grey confirmed the pair had been duct taped and fatally shot. Investigators found no signs of forced entry and no signs of a struggle.

"Items were strewn about some of the rooms as if somebody was looking for something," Grey added. "We do not know at this point what, if anything, is missing."

Colleen Grube was last seen at 5 p.m. Tuesday when she left the home of her brother and sister-in-law, Adrian and Cassandra Grube, after a day of baby-sitting.........

When repeated calls to their cells phones and land lines went unanswered, the daughter-in-law put her young child in a minivan and drove to the Burrville Road to check on them.

Sobbing uncontrollably, she told a dispatcher about finding her father-in-law and sister-in-law bound with tape - the man in his wheelchair, the woman on the couch.

She said there were signs of an apparent break-in.

Grey confirmed the victims were found in the same room but declined to identify which room in the two-story frame home. He said no footprints or tire tracks were located in the snow, which began late Tuesday afternoon and continued into the evening.

Investigators did not locate a weapon at the scene and the sheriff declined to say where the victims were shot and how many shots were fired.

"We are keeping some things close to the vest as we conduct a thorough investigation," he added..........

Detective Doug Timmerman and an unidentified BCI & I agent were at the Lucas County Coroner's Office in Toledo this morning to witness the scheduled autopsies.

More at link....

 

[Reader]

Tips being checked in Mercer Co. murder case
12/7/11

http://www.timesbulletin.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=170306&TM=74069.39

FORT RECOVERY - Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey asked for help from the public, and the public is responding. Grey stated Tuesday that his office has received 43 tips to investigate concerning the murders of 70-year-old Robert Grube and his 47-year-old daughter last week.

In all, nearly a dozen investigators are running down leads in the case, including four investigators from Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification (BCI&I). However, authorities are not ready to identify any suspects or even a motive.
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Grey feels he has the right team of investigators and the case is progressing. The investigators have determined a laptop computer belonging to one of the victims was taken from the residence during the crime. There is no known reason for the laptop to have been taken by the culprits.


More at link....

 

[oh_gal]

Sad and senseless. RIP.

 

[Reader]

http://www.hometownstations.com/story/16387437/grube-update


Very short update today with video...

Sheriff Grey says a 2 hour time period has been narrowed down when the perpetrators, a male and female, were in the home. A laptop computer was missing.

 

[CocoChanel]

http://www.hometownstations.com/story/16387437/grube-update


Very short update today with video...

Sheriff Grey says a 2 hour time period has been narrowed down when the perpetrators, a male and female, were in the home. A laptop computer was missing.

How would they know it was a male and a female? Wouldn't it be too soon for any DNA to come back? This happened 3 weeks ago.

 

[Reader]

How would they know it was a male and a female? Wouldn't it be too soon for any DNA to come back? This happened 3 weeks ago.

The sheriff didn't say what the evidence was of being a male and female but if it was DNA it actually does not take weeks to do the tests. The problems with state labs are usually lack of enough DNA specialists and backlog.

http://www.patc.com/weeklyarticles/dna-timeline.shtml

Maybe there were witnesses since they also have a time period?

 

[Reader]

A more in depth article:

http://www.timesbulletin.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=170651&TM=66621.34

........The original time frame was between 5 p.m. on Nov. 29, when Colleen Grube left the home of her brother and sister-in-law after baby-sitting, until the discovery of the bodies the following morning. Grey said investigators have reduced that to a two-hour period but he would not release the specific times. He also declined to elaborate on how investigators determined the presence of more than one perpetrator or what led to narrowing the timeline.

Grey did confirm there were no signs of forced entry into the Grube home, meaning the perpetrators entered an unlocked door or were admitted by one of the occupants. A Toshiba laptop computer is missing from the crime scene, but Grey would not elaborate on what if anything else is missing.

"We have some really good evidence," the sheriff said. "However, we don't want to release too many details at this point that could jeopardize the investigation."
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Additionally, the sheriff's office has requested the issuance of 46 court orders and served 11 search warrants, one of which led to the seizure of a computer from an unspecified location that one of the victims may have used to communicate with others.

"Some of the tips have been very credible, and we appreciate each and every one," Grey added. "We have collected volumes of evidence that I believe will eventually lead us to the killers."
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The sheriff continues to urge area residents to submit tips to the tip line,
(567) 890-8477, or the sheriff's office, (419) 586-7724. Information can also be left for detectives at www.mercercountysheriff.org.

Meanwhile, the family of the two murder victims received a tremendous gift. An official at Brockman & Boeckman Funeral Home in Fort Recovery confirmed reports that a benefactor, who wishes to remain anonymous, paid funeral costs for the father and daughter who were found shot to death.

More at link...

 

[Reader]

Investigation into Grube murders results in arrests in other case (1/11/12)

http://dailystandard.com/archive/story_single.php?rec_id=16954

Information obtained during the ongoing investigation into the late November murders of a Fort Recovery man and his daughter led to last week's discovery of a methamphetamine lab and the arrest of five people on various drug-related charges in Darke County.

Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey told The Daily Standard this morning that his office was contacted by the Jay County Sheriff's Office regarding "similarities" between the case involving the deaths of Robert and Colleen Grube and something that had occurred in their jurisdiction.

Upon further investigation, Mercer County law enforcement officers contacted the Darke County Sheriff's Office with information regarding the presence of a possible methamphetamine lab at a property along state Route 571 near Union City.
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The Jay County force reportedly has no double murder case but is investigating apparent thefts from homes.

Local deputies as well as agents from the Ohio Bureau of Investigation and Identification (BCI & I) were on hand when the warrant was served Jan. 3. In addition to the arrests of Ohio and Indiana suspects, three stolen vehicles - including one in the Mendon area - were recovered.


More at link....

 

[Reader]

Home invasion similiar to Grube murders
Mendon father, daughter threatened at gunpoint

http://dailystandard.com/archive/story_single.php?rec_id=17357

An early Saturday morning home invasion in the Mendon area bears striking similarities to an unsolved double murder that occurred Nov. 30 in the Fort Recovery area, according to the Mercer County Sheriff's Office.

William Fair, 79, and his 47-year-old daughter Kathy Fair, both of 12617 Dutton Road, received minor injuries - cuts and scrapes to their arms and hands - while defending themselves from a trio of intruders attempting to bind them with duct tape.......

The Fairs called 911 at 12:23 a.m., reporting a boxy type SUV with a loud exhaust left southbound on Dutton Road. According to Grey, a similar vehicle was spotted in the area of the Robert Grube home near Fort Recovery, where Robert and his daughter Colleen were murdered almost three months ago......

"We don't know whether the home invasion and the Grube murders are connected, but there are a lot of similarities," the sheriff said.

More at link.....

 

[Reader]

The latest article I could locate:

11/29/12

http://dailystandard.com/archive/story_single.php?rec_id=19678

FORT RECOVERY - Investigators have some people of interest in the 2011 murders of Fort Recovery-area residents Robert and Colleen Grube.

Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey made the announcement this morning - nearly one year after their deaths - as part of a press statement, adding he is "very hopeful" resolution of the case will come soon.

"We have some individuals that we are very curious about and that is our focus at this point," he said. "I believe we are headed down the right path." ................

"We have ruled several people out as possible suspects," Grey said. "However, we continue to follow up on any and all tips."

Detectives have traveled through southern and southwestern Ohio. Tips also lead them to Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Grey lauded the continued assistance of Attorney General Mike DeWine, whose office provided a crime scene team, investigators and lab services. Roger Davis, a special agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification, continues to work with local detectives.

More than 200 pieces of evidence have been submitted to BCI & I labs, and Grey pointed out some newly acquired evidence will be sent in coming days. .............more at link.....

 

[FragileSugar]

. Arrests made in 2011 double homicide in Mercer County

 

[fhc]

. Arrests made in 2011 double homicide in Mercer County

Thank you for this update. In the article it reads:

Investigators have narrowed the time of the incident to a two hour window, and also know that at least one male and one female offender were present when the homicides occurred.

Wonder why these 2 aren't charged??? If LE KNOW they were present?

 

[scorekeeper]

. Arrests made in 2011 double homicide in Mercer County

Also from article:

Sheriff Jeff Grey will issue a statement regarding the arrests at the Mercer County Sheriff's Department on Wednesday morning at 9 am. NewsChannel 15 will have a crew there to provide updates.

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Seems like he may have "told" on his friends.....could be a plea deal for him

Looks like they may have the perps and will release the names tomorrow morning....hope so!

 

[MsFacetious]

I love it when they make it so easy.

Picture here:

http://www.limaohio.com/news/local_news/article_b8fddb0e-9680-11e2-980b-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

And here:

http://www.wdtn.com/dpp/news/ohio/sheriff-arrests-made-in-2011-double-homicide#.UVJ6m1daa3o


Just to confirm I have the right guy here:

Facebook here: Bryant Rhoades - 22 - Ohio

https://www.facebook.com/bryant.rhoades

 

[FragileSugar]

This was on the news last night and they showed some video of his hearing for bail. They originally wanted his bail set at $1 million and the news showed a clip of him saying how it shouldn't be set that high because he's local,doesn't have plans to go anywhere and if it's too high then he can't get out to "take care of things". Bond was set at $350k.

The reporter also mentioned that there would be other arrests.

Here is another article:

New information in arrest in Grube murder

On Tuesday, Rhoades was arrested at the same address where a suspected meth lab was raided in January 2012. Four people, including Rhoades, were arrested after that raid.

 

[FragileSugar]

Indiana teen charged in Grube killings

At a news conference that ended just before 9:30 a.m., Sheriff Grey announced the arrests of two men, Trevin Sanders, 18, and Bryant Rhoades, 22, both of Union City.

Sanders, who was 17 at the time of the killings, is charged with 27 criminal counts, including two counts of aggravated homicide, kidnapping, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary. Sanders is currently being held in prison in Michigan City, Ind. on unrelated charges. Arrangements are in motion to bring him back to Ohio.

Rhoades was arrested March 26 in Randolph Co., Ind. on a felony charge of obstructing justice for what the Mercer County prosecuting attorney calls hindering the investigation into the Grube's deaths. He's being held on a $3.5 million bond.

The arrests come after a 16 month investigation. "This case has never been cold," said Grey. "We followed up on everything because we wanted to get it right."

 

[gooniequeen]

i remember this case well when it first happened. restores my faith in LE and letting cases grow cold.