Three pot growing operations were found on the rural Ohio farms where a family of eight was killed in what authorities said Sunday was a “pre-planned execution.”
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said the Friday murders of eight Rhoden family members was a “sophisticated operation” that will take a long time to investigate.
The gruesome slaying occurred at four different homes in Piketon, a desolate area about 60 miles outside of Columbus.
Police said they had interviewed more than 30 people but the killer or killers were still on the loose.
Authorities allow crime scene investigation vehicles to pass a perimeter checkpoint near the crime scene in
“This was very methodical. This was well planned. This was not something that just happened,” said Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader, saying most were targeted while they were sleeping.
The attorney general said marijuana-growing operations were found at three of the four crime scenes.
Ohio State Attorney General Mike DeWine said the killings were part of a "sophisticated operation" that will
But he stopped short of linking the marijuana farms to the murders — saying there wasn’t enough evidence yet to know if there was a connection.
The victims were identified Saturday as 40-year-old Christopher Rhoden Sr.; his 16-year-old son, Christopher Rhoden Jr.; 44-year-old Kenneth Rhoden; 38-year-old Gary Rhoden; 37-year-old Dana Rhoden; 20-year-old Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden; 20-year-old Hannah Gilley; and 19-year-old Hanna Rhoden.
Rhoden was in bed with her 5-day old baby at her side, authorities said.
While Rhoden was killed, her baby was not hurt. Hannah Gilley’s 6-month-old baby, and one other small child were also unharmed, cops said.
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