Sheriff updates crime in wake of double homicide anniversary

MERCER COUNTY, Ohio (WANE) Friday marks the one year anniversary of a double homicide in Mercer County, Ohio.  Robert and Colleen Grube were bound with duct tape and shot to death in their Fort Recovery home.  The anniversary has brought the crime to the forefront of folks' minds in the small Ohio town once again.

Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey held a press conference Thursday with an update on the crime’s investigation.  Grey said the sheriff’s department has submitted more than 200 pieces of evidence to the lab for analysis and detectives have traveled through four states to interview more than 250 people.

“We have some individuals that I'm not comfortable calling a suspect at this point, but we're very curious about them and that is our focus at this point,” Grey said.

Folks around Fort Recovery hold onto hope for closure not just for the Grube family, but for a community still feeling the effects of the double homicide.

“Many people are talking about it again since it is the anniversary,” said Gerry Kaup, pharmacist at Kaup Pharmacy.  “Everyone would love to see that murder solved to try to bring some closure and finality to the situation.”

Kim Haines lives near Fort Recovery and agrees with Kaup.  “I wish for closure for everybody.  I think everybody's on edge about a murderer or couple of them running around here,” Haines said.  “It's kind of scary.”

A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect in the Grube double homicide.

Sheriff Grey also talked about November’s homicide in Rockford, Ohio.  A warrant has been issued for Daniel Charles Martin.  Mercer county police think Martin, 40, is responsible for the death of Melinda Shinn.  There's a $2,500 reward for information leading to his arrest.