I am so frustrated with this case. I feel as though because it has been weeks now that it may never be solved, especially since they are asking for CCTV video from locals. I'm also disappointed in the way that the AG's office is being scant on information. I realize that they can't reveal all to the public so as not to compromise the investigation, but it's pretty bad when the family and rag mags are providing more reliable information than our AG. It seems like he only makes comment, or half comment after media has gotten hints of information.
/rant over
I think that the reality is that this on is going to take some time. I suspect that it will turn out to be pretty complex with the actual killer(s) being just the low man on some organized crime totem pole. As an example, in Columbus, the courts have been slowly weeding through trials associated with the Short North Posse, a gang centered around drug sales and killing.
http://www.dispatch.com/content/sto...-about-murder-in-Short-North-Posse-trial.html
It has been awhile (couple of years, I think) since a big sweep brought in arrests, and these encompassed a number of killings that had been unsolved for a number of years. And it looks like informants and witnesses played a heavy role in being able to even make arrests--as opposed to shell casings, DNA and the like.
I have been saying for some days that I believe that the Rhoden killings centered around "business" rather than being "personal," and I still hold to that opinion--even more so given the number of agencies and manpower now involved (as well as the paucity of public information).
While the initial news about the grow op provided the first inklings of likely crime connections, I don't think that marijuana, in the amounts reported, are sufficient to engage the kind of economic threat likely to have spurred a killing on this scale. JMO. I am very interested in hauling of the cars, which at first looked just like a possible sideline--maybe purchasing hot vehicles from whomever they were distributing MJ through--and transforming them through the magic of altering VIN#s etc. Perhaps just a convenience given they were already tinkering with cars as a part of their demo involvement. Pure speculation on my part.
Now, if LM is to be believed, the number of vehicles hauled off (100-150) just upped the ante some on that one. First reports were about up to 18 vehicles, with about 40 being reported in various stages on the property. And I read the article someone posted about the guy in Logan County who spent years altering VINs on stolen cars, making quite a bit of money (and possibly killing off a couple potential witnesses), before there was sufficient evidence to arrest him. Now that one just opened my eyes to some possibilities. Again, just speculation about possibilities.
But, one other bit that has been nagging at me has to do with whether there are other drugs besides marijuana in the mix. The health care LLC, which could be a mechanism for providing home health care--could provide the means by which opiods or fentanyl are obtained from patients for sale. Pure speculation.
Also, while some folks object to the whole subject of "Mexican cartels," I tend to look for out-of-county connections--which might be Mexican runners/sellers, whether reaching a level that might be considered a "cartel" or not. Or equally possible, gang-connected distributors from cities along 23. But again--the amount of marijuana found is smallish. More than home use or sale in the county--but not major producer size. However, I do recall some Sheriff's interview (don't think it was Reader) about how the local grow-ops could not be specifically know by LE. The guy got a bit huffy and basically said "look--our problems out here are opiods and heroin, not pot." Which brings me back to looking at out-of-county connections. And about the end of my knowledge. Anybody know where heroin is coming from in Pike County? Could this family have been involved in dealing locally? Accepting stolen cars in exchange, perhaps?
Pardon my speculation--just trying to think big enough to fit the crime here.
