Southern Ohio Police Blotter Features Murder, Rape and Gun Threat to Elementary School

Police blotter activity for the southern Ohio area shows kidnapping and drug crimes once again dominating the time of law enforcement officers. A stolen gun and threat lead to a frightening experience for elementary school staff.

The Plains, Ohio

Jamie R. Boyd, a 26-year-old man from The Plains, a village in Athens County, was charged with kidnapping and rape. Boyd was charged with raping 18-year-old women and was taken into custody. Boyd remains housed at the Southeast Ohio Regional Jail. The alleged incident occurred December 28. The victim sought medical treatment at the O'Bleness Memorial Hospital in Athens, where authorities were alerted to the attack.

Athens, Ohio

Three men were arrested on felony drug-trafficking charges by Athens County Sheriff's Deputies. All three of the men are residents of West Virginia. Louis Haddad, 48, Jason Spiker, 34, and Lyle Talbott Jr., 40, were arrested January 10 in Athens. Law enforcement officers found in excess of 2 pounds of marijuana in the vehicle the men were driving in an irregular manner.

Ronald Hendrickson Jr. is appealing his 2008 murder conviction. Hendrickson was found guilty in Athens County Common Pleas Court for the stabbing death of his former girlfriend, Jodi Blankenship. Both the victim and the convicted criminal were Hocking College students at the time of the murder. Hendrickson was sentenced to 30 years in prison. The murder conviction appeal is beginning the review process by the Fourth District Court of Appeals.

Circleville, Ohio

James M. Boltenhouse will not see the inside of a jail cell for the death of his two-year-old stepdaughter, Aubrey Boltenhouse. Municipal Court Judge, Gary Dumm sentence Boltenhouse to twelve months of probation, 180 days of suspended jail time, and a $250. Boltenhouse pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of child endangerment in the infant's death.

Shawn L.Heskamp, a 28-year-old Circleville resident, died as the result of a traffic accident January 9. The Franklin County Sheriff's Department responded to the accident scene on State Route 104. Heskamp was driving toward Stringtown Road when his vehicle went off the road, rolled first into a ditch, and then landed in a shallow creek.

Ross County, Ohio

The Ross County Sheriff's Office warned the staff at Unioto Elementary School, near Chillicothe, to lock down the building January 13. Working from a tip received from the Vinton County Sheriff's Office, the building went into immediate lock down mode. The Vinton County Sheriff's office had been made aware of a gun missing from a residence -- a viable threat to safety. A resident informed the law enforcement agency a gun was taken from his residence. According to reports, the spouse of the alleged thief was concerned her husband would use the gun and force to take their daughter from Unioto Elementary School. The suspect in the theft and threat was detained in Jackson County, Ohio. No evidence of the suspect having traveled to Ross County was found. The suspect was detained on outstanding warrants not related to the incident. Unioto Elementary School was released from lock down mode before the student lunch time.