The bruising is consistent with initial reports from the 911 caller who first reported the crimes Friday.
“There’s blood all over the house,” the caller cried, gasping. “My brother-in-law is in the bedroom. It looks like someone has beat the hell out of him.”
Meanwhile, a fierce thunderstorm whipped up Tuesday night as scores of state, federal and local officials worked through the fifth day of the investigation without an arrest. The rural southern Ohio community went about its business knowing one or more killers are on the loose.
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader released an update saying 61 additional items of evidence were taken to the state crime lab for analysis, in addition to 18 “high-priority” items already submitted.
Investigators continued to serve search warrants, but wouldn’t disclose how many or where.
Tips to state and local investigators now number more than 300, officials said, and anyone with additional information is urged to call 855-BCI-OHIO.
To date, more than 251 law enforcement officials have contributed to the investigation, including manpower from 23 sheriff’s offices from across Ohio. FBI and U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency agents provided limited technical expertise.
Investigators and prosecutors previously said three of the four murder scenes contained marijuana grow operations of a commercial scale, at least one of them indoors.
DeWine has characterized the killings as “execution style.” The victims were Hannah Gilley, 20; Christopher Rhoden Sr., 40; Christopher Rhoden Jr., 16; Clarence “Frankie” Rhoden, 20; Dana Rhoden, 37; Gary Rhoden, 38; Hanna Rhoden, 19; Kenneth Rhoden, 44.
Three children under the age of 3 in the homes were spared.
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