West Liberty, KY Area Cold Cases
Name
Mackenzie BranhamAge
27Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
On april 27, 2006, 8 year old mackenzie branham had only recently moved to her mother's house when it caught on fire overnight while she was asleep. She died in her second floor bedroom. The fire was later determined to be an arson by the ohio fire marshal's office.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Carl SchoberAge
73Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
The victim was located in a cornfield near fitchthorne road in fayette county, ohio on august 22, 1991 with a gunshot wound to the head. The victim was a transient and was last seen by friends in nashville, tn on august 16, 1991. The victim told the friends that he was going to kent, oh, and was last seen alone. The victim had last been living in a commune center on short mountain in liberty, tn.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Theodore LongAge
63Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Theodore long was last seen in toledo, ohio in november 1981. On november 17 1981, he was located deceased in a creek on lampe road in northwest fayette county, ohio.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Samuel RiserAge
61Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Cold case spotlight samuel riser had just paid his december rent and mailed out a letter; then he disappeared. The 61-year-old glasgow, west virginia man has not been seen or heard from since december 8, 2010. Blood was discovered in his home during a welfare check after mr. Riser didnât show up for work. Police responded to the scene and, while remaining tight-lipped about the investigation, acknowledge that foul play is suspected in samuel riserâs disappearance. Investigators have said publicly that they have received a lot of tips, but keep hitting dead ends. They have asked that anyone with information reach out to them in this unsolved case. Mr. Riser, known by some as sam or dickie, was a hard-working, loving father. His children have kept fighting to find their dad, all along knowing the likely outcome. Mr. Riserâs information has been uploaded to namus, a database that provides an opportunity for families, law enforcement agencies and investigators to search nationwide for missing persons using a variety of powerful search features. His case was also featured on the charley project, a website that profiles approximately 9,500 âcold caseâ missing people, mainly from the united states. Project cold case is featuring mr. Riserâs case in conjunction with the week of the 6th anniversary of his disappearance and asking, on behalf of his family, that you share his case on social media in hopes that someone will come forward with answers. If you have any information about the disappearance of samuel riser, no matter how small you think it is, please call the kanawha county sheriffâs office at (304) 357-0156.Agency
Kanawha County Sheriff's Office
Name
Cleo BurdetteAge
78Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Cold case spotlight on august 13, 2004, cleo burdette was beaten to death in his on home. The victim's sister found him the next morning after he didn't answer her phone call. Investigators found broken windows, a cut phone line and a ransacked home and believe robbery may have been the motive. Mr. Burdette was a cattle farmer and had sold a number of cattle at auction the day he was killed. Several witnesses reported seeing a red or orange toyota truck near mr. Burdette's residence. There is a $10,000 reward being offered by the family in this case. If you have any information about the 2004 unsolved murder of cleo burdette you are asked to please contact the kanawha county sheriff's office at (304)357-0169.Agency
Kanawha County Sheriff's Office
Name
Melanie MethenyAge
21Cause of Death
MissingInfo
On the morning of wednesday july 19, 2006, melanie metheny left her residence in campbells creek with two of her children and the child of her current boyfriend. It is believed that she dropped off the boyfriend’s child between 7:30 and 8:00 am at the home of the child’s paternal grandmother in the dry branch area of campbell’s creek and then continued to the country kids daycare located in the 3000 block of east dupont ave belle. There she dropped off her two children between 7:50am and 8:00 am. Friends, family, and daycare workers said melanie told them she was going to garnett career college in charleston that day to pick up her transcripts and deliver them to west virginia state college where she intended to start classes. Melanie never returned to pick up her children from the daycare. According to melanie’s cell phone records, she placed two calls between 9:00 am and 9:30am that morning, one of which to her voice mail, and both calls had been placed from the western kanawha and eastern putnam co. Areas. A check was done at west virginia state college and garnett and no contact was made with melanie that day. Melanie’s van, 1998 gold chevrolet venture van, was located 4 days later on july 23, 2006, parked on the street in the residential area of wyoming street and beuhring ave on the west side of charleston. One witness in the area said that the van had been parked there since around the afternoon of wednesday july 19, 2006. Melanie metheny was 21 years old when she was reported as missing. She has long strawberry blond hair, brown eyes, 5’3”, and approximately 100lbs. She didn’t have any tattoos but has a scar on her lower right leg/ankle and a plate and two screws that she received from a car accident. Melanie metheny is the mother of 3 children. Their ages at the time of her disappearance were 1, 3, and 5 years. Since the time she was reported missing the kanawha county sheriff’s office has expended numerous man hours while conducting this missing person case. We have received hundreds of tips since her disappearance and conducted follow-up investigations on each tip. We actively follow up on any leads that are brought to our attention. We know that someone in the public has information that could lead us to a closure in this case.Agency
Kanawha County Sheriff
Name
Samuel RiserAge
60Cause of Death
MissingInfo
Samuel “dickie” riser went to work on wednesday, december 8, 2010, and at the end of his shift, returned to his home in glasgow, west virginia. On saturday, december 11, 2010, the family received a call that mr. Riser had not been to work in three days. His family went to his house and found mr. Riser’s vehicle was still parked at the residence. Mr. Riser’s residence was locked, the television was on, but mr. Riser was gone. Based on evidence found at mr. Riser’s residence, foul play is suspected. Mr. Riser was 60 years old at the time of his disappearance, he is 6’1” tall, 205 pounds, and goes by the nickname of “dickie”. Mr. Riser is a white male with gray hair, blue eyes, and wears metal-rimmed eyeglasses.Agency
Kanawha County Sheriff
Name
Charles ReppertAge
41Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
Anyone with any information on this case is encouraged to call the kentucky state police at 502-782-1800Agency
Kentucky State Police
Name
Minnie Lutes-JohnsonAge
20Cause of Death
StrangulationInfo
Minnie was found strangled by an electric cord, beaten, and stabbed. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the winchester police department at 859-745-7400Agency
Winchester Police Department
Name
Brittany StykesAge
33Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
On 08/28/2013, 22yr old brittany stykes was found murdered in her jeep along us 68, south of gooselick road in brown county, ohio. Stykes' 14-month-old daughter was also shot in the head, but survived. There is a $50,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in the death of brittany stykes. Contact the brown county sheriff's office at (937) 378-4435 ext 126.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
David GayhartAge
61Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
In november of 1992, a missing person report was filed with the manchester police department (presently adams county sheriff's office). David gayhart was last seen playing cards at approximately 3:00am at a housing project in manchester, ohio. Information obtained during the initial investigation suggests a physical altercation occurred between david and an unknown person(s). Approximately 16 months later, on july 30, 1993, david's remains were recovered inside his 1984 ford thunderbird which had been located submerged in the ohio river.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Cody GarrettAge
4Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Agency
Pulaski County Sheriff's Office
Name
Linda GibsonAge
21Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Agency
Pulaski County Sheriff's Office
Name
Lee ByfordAge
37Cause of Death
Gun/FirearmInfo
Agency
Knoxville Police Department
Name
Tammy SalyerAge
18Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
On february 27, 1990 eighteen-year-old tammy eleene salyer left her place of employment in bristol tennessee at approximately 11:50pm driving her red 1988 chevrolet sprint. She drove six miles and entered interstate 81 northbound at the 381 interchange in bristol virginia. Approximately two tenths of a mile from her normal exit at the seven-mile marker, her vehicle left the northbound lanes, crossed the median, the southbound lanes and side-swiped a highway marker post and tree before coming to a stop against the southbound barrier fence. At 12:15am (2/28/90) bristol virginia police received a call of a possible accident at this location. Officers responded and found the vehicle stopped at the fence with the engine still running. Ms. Salyer was found seated in the drivers seat laying over on the passenger seat. Officers found that ms. Salyers had been shot one time in the head. Ms. Salyer was pronounced deceased at the local hospital.Agency
Virginia State Police
Name
Cody MatneyAge
25Cause of Death
MissingInfo
Matney was last seen in bristol, tennessee on april 28, 2002. He was outside confetti's sports bar in the 3200 block of west state street. The establishment is off of exit 74-b along interstate 81. Witnesses told authorities that matney made a call from the bar's pay phone, then sat inside his 1991 ford ranger truck in the parking lot, talking to an unidentified person in another truck. He has never been heard from again. Matney's truck was discovered abandoned in the bar's parking lot five days after his disappearance. His checkbook was sitting on the dash, but there was no other evidence at the scene. There has not been any activity on matney's bank account since april 2002. He is known to have made eight telephone calls on his calling card around the time of his disappearance, but most of the numbers he called have been lost. Authorities believe that matney may have departed from the bar with an acquaintance and may have been taken to buchanan county, virginia. His disappearance remains unsolved. Namus # mp155Agency
Virginia State Police
Name
Deshawn KingAge
18Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
On 01/30/2013, Investigator responded to a shooting at Linden Avenue. Victim was found in the vehicle with gunshot wounds at 310 East New Street.Agency
Knoxville
Name
Leroy TharpAge
59Cause of Death
StabbingInfo
07/05/2001; Found stabbed near a storage trailer at 2209 N. Central AvenueAgency
Knoxville
Name
Mary OsborneAge
51Cause of Death
MissingInfo
Mary rebecca osborne was reported missing on 05/17/2017. She was last seen on 05/14/2017. Becky had been out with a friend, her son, and her son's girlfriend for mother's day. It is reported that she became upset and demanded to be let out of the car because her son wanted her to go stay at his house. Mary was let out approximately 1 mile from where she was staying with a male subject on hale gap road. Search and rescue along with other emergency services did a search of the area with no success.Agency
Virginia State Police
Name
Zachary AvinaAge
49Cause of Death
StabbingInfo
Agency
Pike County Sheriff's Office
Name
Frederick WalkerAge
92Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
On july 19th, 1999 the springdale police were dispatched to 11607 lawnview ave in the city of springdale. Neighbors reporting that they had not seen mr. Walker in several days. Officers found frederick walker beaten to death. The air conditioning had been left on high, with heavy condensation on all the windows. Officers also noticed a blood trail from the living room that lead down a hallway to the victim's bathroom. There was evidence of a violent struggle in the home that centered in the living room area of the home and followed down that hallway where mr. Walker was found dead. Mr. Walker had been deceased for only a couple days. The victim's 1971 buick was later recovered at the tri-county mall on just a short distance from his home. Within a few days, the victim's credit cards were being used in indianapolis indiana at local gas stations. There had also been a couple withdrawals from atms however, no video evidence. Detectives set up a month long surveillance of these gas stations and by august 17th 1999 carl travis was arrested for using one mr. Walker's credit cards along with another family member. During the hours of interview, travis would never admit his involvement and has never been charged with mr. Walker's death. As a result of travis's arrest numerous persons have been interview and detectives have also traveled to atlanta ga to interview a strong person of interest. Cause of death listed as manual strangulation and blunt impact to the head. Dna and latent print evidence has been submitted to a number of state and federal agencies with negative results.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Djuan MartinAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Djuan martin, 22 years of age, was shot at 1901 baymiller st., cincinnati, oh.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Stephen LarkinAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Stephen m. Larkin, 30 years of age, was shot at 3068 gilbert ave., cincinnati, oh. Larkin was last seen at approximately 5:00 am on 3/9/1997 when the car he was in broke down at reading and s. Crescent and they were helped by a police officer.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
James JohnsonAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
James l. Johnson, 44 years of age, was shot at 1329 william howard taft #13, cincinnati, oh.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Charles BarrowAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Charles barrow, 25 years of age, was shot at 37 glencoe place apt. B, cincinnati, oh.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Michael LammyAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Michael lammy, 25 years of age, was shot inside a vehicle at 500 straight st., cincinnati, oh.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Ronnie HallAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Ronnie hall, 56 years of age, was stabbed to death in his apartment at 686 gholson ave. #9, cincinnati, oh.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Seante LackeyAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Seante lackey, 20 years of age, was shot at 2395 symmes st., cincinnati, oh.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Morris JordanAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Morris jordan, 70 years of age, was shot at 563 w liberty st., cincinnati, oh during a robbery in the hallway outside of his apartment. The suspects were two black males.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Beth HillAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Beth ann hill, 29 years of age, was beaten to death in her residence at 47 w mcmicken st., cincinnati, oh. The suspect was a black male.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Leon LumpkinAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Leon o. Lumpkin, 33 years of age, was shot and stabbed to death in his apartment at 133 glenridge place apt. D, cincinnati, oh.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Henry BondsAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Henry bonds also known as khalil sami, 41 years of age, was shot at 910 race st., cincinnati, oh.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Tanan PeytonAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Tanan peyton, 19 years of age, was shot at 3078 moosewood court, cincinnati, oh. The suspects were 4 black males in a white 1979 oldsmobile delta.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Jerry VogtAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Jerry vogt, 54 years of age, was stabbed to death in his home at 6538 s. Oak knoll dr., cincinnati, oh.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Larue HardinAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Larue hardin, 19 years of age, was shot while stopped at a traffic light at 3 w. Liberty st., cincinnati, oh. The suspects were 2 black males.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Willie WilliamsAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Willie williams, 47 years of age, was shot while sitting in his vehicle at 5434 varsity circle, cincinnati, oh.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Suytton ThomasAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Suytton thomas, 26 years of age, was shot in his apartment at 2020h sutter ave., cincinnati, oh during a home invasion robbery. The suspects were 3 black males.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Floyd DavisAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Floyd davis, 23 years of age, was shot in the basement of his home at 3455 jay st., cincinnati, oh. The suspect was a black male.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Stacey JordanAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Stacey jordan, 25 years of age, was stabbed to death and placed in the basement at 3204 wold ave., cincinnati, oh.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Raymond BradfordAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Raymond bradford, 41 years of age, was beaten to death in his apartment at 423 whiteman st., cincinnati, oh.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Gregory ReedAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Gregory reed, 32 years of age, was shot at 740 morgan st., cincinnati, oh. The suspect was a black male.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Damon CaudillAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Damon caudill, 41 years of age, was shot while sitting in his car at 3755 westmont dr., cincinnati, oh.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Matthew WatkinsAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Matthew watkins, 28 years of age, was shot at 1706 frintz st., cincinnati, oh.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Sharman KinneyAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Sharman kinney, 40 years of age, was stabbed and strangled at an unknown location and found in a wooded lot at 616 glenwood avenue.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Elizabeth McCoyAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Elizabeth mccoy, 38 years of age, was shot at 1309 william howard taft rd., cincinnati, oh.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Ralph RalphAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Ralph ralph, 36 years of age, was shot at 3361 reading rd., cincinnati, oh.Agency
Ohio AG
Name
Louis WhitesellAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Louis whitesell, 49 years of age, was shot and found in a phone booth in the area of 234 playfield rd. (lunken airport), cincinnati, oh.Agency
Ohio AG