LUCASVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) – The murders in Pike County are bringing back some fresh, painful memories for another southern Ohio family.
It happened in early January in Lucasville, Ohio in neighboring Scioto County just 15 miles from the murders in Pikeville. Candy Newsome and her 16-year-old daughter Mykal were shot.
Many in the community have raised questions about similarities in the cases. Scioto County Sheriff Marty Donini admits there are similarities between the Lucasville murders and those in Pike County. But he says the Bureau of Criminal Investigations doesn’t think the cases are related.
“Complete devastation, I mean complete unbelief, I mean just shocked,” says Roy C. Johnson. “You don’t know who it was, what it was, nothing and they have no witnesses, I don’t think they have any DNA or anything like that to tie anybody into this.”
On the morning of January 4, his step daughter Candy Newsome and her 16-year-old daughter Mykal were found murdered in their home, right down the hill from Johnson’s.
“In the back of the head is where they was shot,” he says. “Candy was shot in bed and Mykal running for the front door.”
The Pike County murders just miles away have brought all the raw emotion of Candy and Mykal’s murders rushing back for Roy and his wife. She lost her only daughter.
The mother and daughter were injured so badly there was no open casket at the funeral.
Both the Sheriff’s office and family have said Candy may have been involved in drug trafficking.
Detectives have interviewed more than 30 people and served multiple search warrants. Now, they’re testing a possible weapon, but still don’t have the break they need.
“Obviously weapons were involved in both and there’s speculation about drugs in both case,” says Sheriff Donini. “So yeah there are some similarities, but you’ve gotta have more than just that.”
Back up at his home on the hill, Roy just wants justice.
“People need to come forward if they know anything,” he says. “If they know anything at all.”
Sheriff Donini says he doesn’t even know if drugs were a motive in this case. He says there are leads, but he wants to make sure the case is strong enough for a conviction, not just an arrest before it’s presented to the grand jury.
If you have any information that could help call the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office at (740) 354-7566.What others are clicking on: