Serial Killer Stalking Sportsmen in Ohio
Kenneth D. Whitehead
I thought i'd repost a couple of articles (minus my own pro-hunting,
anti-AR editorials comments) that are of an informational nature.
<Please post followups to t.p.a.>
In southern Ohio, a serial murderer appears to be stalking hunters and
fishermen with a high powered rifle.
>From the August 22 edition of the Cleveland Plain Dealer:
************************************************************************
SLAYINGS LINKED IN RURAL OHIO -
5 SPORTMEN DIE; SNIPER SUSPECTED
The deaths of five sportsmen found shot in Ohio since 1989 are related,
says a task force investigating the killings and headed by the FBI. The task
force also includes sheriffs of at least 5 counties and the Ohio Department
of Natural Resources.
All five men were hunting, fishing, or engaged in other outdoor activities in
remote areas.
Four of the deaths were linked after authorities obtained an unsigned, type-
written letter to an Ohio newspaper from a man who claimed he was the
killer, Belmont County Sheriff Tom McCort said yesterday afternoon.
Authorities declined to identify the newspaper.
The letter, postmarked from Martin's Ferry in Eastern Ohio, specifically
referred to the death of Jamie Paxton, 21, of Bannock, Ohio. Paxton was found
shot in the chest in a field about sevem miles north of St. Clairsville, in
Belmont County on Nove. 10, 1990.
Paxton, a bowhunter, had been shot twice.
The letter, received about a year ago, said "we'd never solve the cases",
McCort said.
"He said he had committed other murders in other counties and other states.
He said he had the opportunity to commit other murders, but that he had
controlled the impulse to do so," McCort said.
The writer gave enough details of the Paxton shooting that investigators
believe that he may be the killer. But, McCort said, "there are other
things that make me kind of doubtful, a couple of mistakes."
McCort said the unsigned letter discussed the aiming of the gun, adjustments
for elevation and wind, and where the bullets hit the body.
Tests have been run on the letter, but no fingerprints were obtained and the
author has not been found.
The writer also said he had visited Paxton's grave several times. Other
victims were:
- Gary Bradley, 44, of Williamstown, W.Va., shot April 15 while fishing
about 10 miles north of Caldwell, Ohio, in Noble County.
- Claude Hawkins, 48, of Mansfield, killed while fishing March 14 near Wills
Creek Dam on the Muskingum-Coshocton county line.
- Donald Wellington, 35 of Strasburg, Ohio, who was shot April 1, 1989
while walking along Tuscarawas County Rd. 94 about 8 miles
north of New Phildelphia.
Authorities have not yet confirmed a suspected link with the death of Kevin
Loring, 30, of Duxbury, Mass., shot in a strip-mined area between Adamsville
and Dresden while deer hunting on Nov. 28, 199, in Muskingum County.
All were shot with a high powered rifle. (NOTE: November 28 was during Ohio's
gun hunting deer season; It is illegal to hunt deer in Ohio with a high powered
rifle; a shotgun is required, making it highly unlikely that this was just a
"hunting accident".) All but Loring died on a Saturday or Sunday. Loring died
on a Wednesday.
The most recent deaths prompted sheriffs to seek FBI assistance. The task force
was formed in March.
"When we work together , we can pool our resources. We're all small
departments without the resources (to handle this by themselves)." McCort
said.
Dave Hanna, Senior Supervisor in the Columbus FBI office and head of the
task force, asked for the public's help, especially from hunters and
anglers.
Noble County Sheriff Landon T. Smith told the Plain Dealer that he and his
deputies are finding fishermen and hunters out in the woods alone, even
though they have been warned of the sniper and advised to travel in pairs
or groups.
Smith said the the sniper suspect "obviously knows his weapons and he's a
decent shot." He said the suspect strikes victims who are alone "because
they make good targets".
Smith said that he has never seen a case like Bradley's in the 20 years he has
been Sheriff. "I have no unsolved murders other than this one" Smith said.
END OF PLAIN DEALER ARTICLE*************************************************
Last year, Ohio passed a Hunter Protection Law, making it illegal for anyone
to harass hunters, and probably none too soon. Although that law will
obviously not stop this maniac, at least it will cut down on situations
where a lone hunter, armed with a deadly weapon, is surrounded, threatened,
and harassed by a mob of people who have demonstrated an overt hostility
towards him or her. Such a situation, especially given the nervousness
that will be caused by this monster on the loose, is a potential for
disaster.
Ken Whitehead
Scott Wood - EVENSONG
I know that has brought this up, is that this story was released all
over the Midwest (apparently on the news feeds) on the day before Michigan
opens up for small game. And this even though there is nothing in any
of the accounts that I have read to support that something new has come up
in the last few days/weeks to account for it.
I would be interested to know what states in the list of those in the
story (Ohio, and Indiana) also had hunting opening days this week....
swood
--
+========================+ -------_________ +=========================+
| WANTED - DEAD OR ALIVE | o\ o \ ____|o | If you see this lure, |
| Creek Chub "Plunker" | \___\_-o- viv | PLEASE send me email!!! |
+========================+ viv +=========================+
Steven P Frysinger
> What I find the most amazing out of this, and so far I am the only one
> I know that has brought this up, is that this story was released all
> over the Midwest (apparently on the news feeds) on the day before Michigan
> opens up for small game. And this even though there is nothing in any
> of the accounts that I have read to support that something new has come up
> in the last few days/weeks to account for it.
Apparently there was some recent news in the case (my folks in Ohio sent me
the clippings). Anyway, rather than a "conspiracy", I'd just take the
timing as "be careful out there folks". And if you see any suspicious
behavior (of any kind), notify your state's conservation officers/game
wardens. With very few people to cover very large areas, tips and other
observations are crucial to wildlife law enforcement (which this is to some
extent).
Steve
Kenneth D. Whitehead
>What I find the most amazing out of this, and so far I am the only one
>I know that has brought this up, is that this story was released all
>over the Midwest (apparently on the news feeds) on the day before Michigan
>opens up for small game. And this even though there is nothing in any
>of the accounts that I have read to support that something new has come up
>in the last few days/weeks to account for it.
>I would be interested to know what states in the list of those in the
>story (Ohio, and Indiana) also had hunting opening days this week....
>swood
If you're thinking that maybe there's a conspiracy at work to scare
hunters into staying home at work here; hmmm... Interesting theory,
but in this case, I think it's just that the FBI got their case
together with the smaller local departments in Ohio, and decided that
they should go public with it in an effort to catch the perp. (They
may also have been notivated by wanting to get this info out before
hunting season opened, for at least several possible reasons, not the
least of which is so that people can be on the alert.)
mary.rita.otto
into the woods alone. I didn't feel threatened before.
Now, I am worried -- not about some pyscho in another state finding me --
but about other pyschos who may have read the article and figured that
it is easy to get away with this kind of thing because there is nobody
around and during hunting season, the sound of gunfire in the woods does
not rouse suspicions.
Bummer.
Mary Otto
Dan Sorenson
most electronics stores. These operate just as normal CB radio's
do. While it is illegal to carry a radio for the purposes of
communicating with other members of your hunting party, it is not
at all illegal to use these as methods of contacting emergency
help and co-ordinating rescue or emergency operations. When
somebody is shot at, the hunting stops.
I have sent letters encouraging DNR, sheriff, and state
police to carry these radios set to channel 9, the emergency-only
channel. While talking to DNR officers, they have all stated that
they would not bother with you if the radio was set to channel 9,
especially considering the recent murders of hunters, and that it
would only be if they had a fairly reasonable guess that it was
actually being used to preclude fair chase that they would prosecute.
I purchased mine at a flea market for $5 each; they are 5w,
three and five-channel units, and I have only crystals for channel
nine in them. This virtually ensures I won't get nailed for
anything as channel nine is monitored by REACT and HELP volunteers
across most of the country, in addition to police.
<Dan Sorenson, DoD #1066 |"I see angels on Ariels in leather and>
<z1...@exnet.iastate.edu | chrome, Swooping down from heaven to >
<vik...@iastate.edu | carry me home." --- R. Thompson >
<ISU thinks I need more education, which they provide for a fee.>