Ohio family murder case turning into 'very horrible' investigation, sheriff says

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/apr/27/ohio-murders-pike-rhoden-investigation

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Authorities released few new details on Wednesday about the “cold-blooded, calculated massacre” of eight family members in Pike County, Ohio.

Eight members of the Rhoden family were found shot dead in four different homes last Friday, in what officials say was a “pre-planned execution”. No arrests have been made as authorities continue to search for information about a motive and the killer or killers involved.

The victims, seven adults and one teenage boy, were all shot in the head, most of them while they were sleeping, Ohio attorney general Mike DeWine said on Wednesday. A coroner said seven of the victims were shot multiple times, and one had nine gunshot wounds.

Pike County sheriff Charles Reader told reporters on Wednesday afternoon that this was a “very lengthy and very horrible investigation we’re dealing with”. Reader and DeWine said information would be released carefully as the case developed.

“We will not be telegraphing or telling the bad guys everything that we know,” DeWine said.

DeWine and Reader reiterated and confirmed several facts about the case, including that authorities found marijuana farming operations at three of the four crime scenes. DeWine said 18 pieces of evidence had been sent to the state crime for examination, and that more than 50 people had been interviewed and more than 100 tips were submitted.

DeWine said investigators have not yet determined how many shooters were involved in the incident.

“It could be one, two, three, four,” he said. “I don’t think we know at this point.”

DeWine and Reader asked for additional information from the community as they continued the investigation.

“It is very emotional to find out that eight people of your community were murdered,” Reader said. “All I can do is ensure that we’re working around the clock to search and find who is responsible for this.”