The crimes had happened on Dec. 26, 1864. The Roosa family, who lived on a farm one mile north of Deerfield, now called South Lebanon, was attacked while sleeping.
An ax was used to murder four people and severely injure Mrs. Malinda Roosa. She sustained 14 wounds to her head but survived. One child escaped harm.
John W. Rossa, the father of the family, was a farmer and the treasurer of Union Twp. He was in the Dayton Lunatic Asylum, where he had admitted himself a few days prior. Apparently he had periodic mental problems and realized when he needed help.
The victims were three of the Rossa children, Alice, age 12, Frances, age 9, and Harry age 2 and an employee of the family, Jesse Couzens, age 60.
Jeanette Rossa (Nettie) age 7 hid and was not hurt. At dawn she ran to the neighbors for help.
A few days earlier Rossa had sent his wife a letter telling her to sell the barley crop and keep the money in the house to pay bills. A friend read the letter aloud in a store in Deerfield and was overheard by several people. Authorities believed the motive for the crimes was robbery, but when the perpetrator was recognized murder followed. This was based on the fact the murderer asked the occupants where the money was located. He stole about $20.
The house where the crime was committed is gone. The land is now occupied by the elevator research and test tower built by Fujitec near Interstate 71.
Coovert was a former resident of Deerfield and had worked for the Rossa family but now lived in Middletown.
He became a suspect when he accused David Hicks of the crime. As Coovert told prosecutor George Sage details about the crime while accusing Hicks, Sage realized the man was too familiar with the details to not have been at the scene. The charge against Hicks was proved false and Coovert went to prison for five years for perjury.
While he was in prison, the authorities continued to investigate. The coroner said the murderer was left handed. Coovert was left handed. A red handkerchief was found near the Roosa’s house. Coovert owned a red handkerchief but had lost it.
At the first trial he was found guilty, but a juror had told someone before the trial he thought the accused was guilty. The verdict was thrown out.
A second trial also found Coovert guilty. Malinda and Nettie testified in both trials.
Before he was hung, Coovert is quoted in the W. H. Beers Co. book “The History of Warren County, Ohio” as saying, “Gentlemen, I am about to leave this world. I have had two dreadful trials … . While my end is near, I call God to witness that I never murdered that innocent family.”
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