By Holly Zachariah, Mary Beth Lane and wire reports
PIKETON – Four homes at crime scenes where eight family members were shot to death in southern Ohio are being relocated to a secure location as the investigation continues.
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Work to move the mobile homes near Piketon began Thursday after a Pike County judge approved the moves via sealed court order and will take several days, Attorney General Mike DeWine and Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader said Thursday.
DeWine says the intent is to preserve the crime scenes the way they were found to help with the investigation and any future prosecution.
Seven adults and a 16-year-old boy from the Rhoden family were found dead April 22. Authorities have interviewed dozens of people, processed more than 100 pieces of evidence and received over 500 tips but haven’t made an arrest or identified who is responsible for the slayings.
There is precedent to move houses that are crime scenes to secure them, but it is certainly rare, DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney said.
“The fact that we are talking about four mobile homes is obviously what’s allowing us to do this more easily,” Tierney said.
The three mobile homes and a camper will be moved to a secure location at the investigation command center in Waverly. The command center is located on the grounds of a local chemical plant, a large, fenced and secure property that includes garage bays and loading docks. Vehicles, truck trailers and excavation equipment already removed from the Rhoden properties are visible at the command center.
By Holly Zachariah and Mary Beth Lane