DeWine said he did not believe the drug trade had fomented the murders.
“There was an undercurrent of drugs” he said.
“There’s no evidence of the speculation that this was necessarily drug related in the sense of motive”
My blanket disclaimer:
NO disrespect to Victims, Rhoden, Gilley Families.
NO accusations related to any truck owners or names in evidence.
Keeping in mind TOS.
Theory and speculation. MOO :
The truck. Previous ownership may be important if only to lead to possible individuals, other than registered owner, who may have had access to the truck or may have driven it, used it, borrowed it for periods of time.
Seems as if Legal transfer of vehicle title and registration (and insurance, valid drivers license) is not always a concern in this area of Ohio.
I’m speculating the truck MAY have been used at any time by various friends, relatives, employees of various owners.
With or without permission, knowledge of owner.
At some point the truck MAY have been used, borrowed, by ‘associates’ in the ‘Undercurrent’ business/activities DeWine referred to.
“Business Associates” assumed to be random individuals, from near and far, possibly with a history of criminal activities/variety of charges ranging from - drugs, trafficking, theft, forgery, arson, weapons violations, prison gangs (KF), even other murders.
Some “Business Associates” may have had no record at all.
As Mike DeWine said while trying to avoid answering a question....
“...Pieces of a puzzle...we must see where they merge...”
Pieces of the puzzle - some of activities on UHR on 4/21 & 4/22 2016 - Phone calls, 2 am text, vehicles, could be related to the other undercurrent business at UHR.
Activity unrelated to murders.
Remember - there were people who did not know what horror was going to happen on Union Hill Road later on, in the morning hours of 4/22/2016.
There could be many points where the pieces of the puzzle merge...and I think undercurrent business activities was one area.
I’m theorizing someone was arrested on other charges, unrelated but serious, and that person made a deal or gave important information.
Sheriff R would have the local knowledge, ability, to connect these dots.
Speculating that unknown person(s) gave LE information LE needed (plea deal or voluntarily) in weeks prior to 4/21/2017 ( guessing prior to 4/13/2017) and that moved the investigation forward. Time frame dates are a guess.
The press conference of 4/13/2017. (Good find)
Logical to assume at the one year anniversary, DeWine would want to say something. However, in hindsight, it seems to be more of a cover story (by DeWine) to demonstrate all the work LE did and emphasize fact that LE received so much evidence, so many people talking....look at this billboard, reward... public will never know who gave information....
As CC noted, also on 4/13 - LE interview with Jake W - could be critical.
And that could also be time frame of JM polygraph, said to have failed.
Hindsight, one can see it, feel it, in that public press conference, DeWine and Sheriff R had something solid.
In some way, the GPS on the truck (placed 4/22) may have forced an issue or put pressure on others, or someone, other than JM.
As Loomis said, ...”speed up W’s getting out of Dodge?”
We don’t know where that truck traveled in the few days the gps was on the truck. But LE knew.
JM was probably hiding information about someone or something ...but not involved in murders.
Possibly hiding info about other business ventures, as he was said to have failed a polygraph done in the weeks before the 4/21 date. Very curious how charges against JM just went away.
Still a mystery how, why, that red truck finally ended up on Union Hill Road at M residence. No accusations. Just questions.
Re reading this, sorry it’s long, so much speculation.