Bryan police forced way into victim's home

Folks, this is VERY close to home for me... This elderly woman only lived 1.8 miles from me. I mapped it and was going to put a copy of the map in here with this post, but can't copy it. There are a LOT of people around here that are scared as hell. We live in a town of 8,300 people. It is a small community to where a lot of people still do not lock their doors. I'm sure that their doors will be locked now though. I have never been one to leave my doors unlocked when I leave. I will also remember to lock my doors when I am home alone now also..... This is very scary and has the town in an uproar.... I will keep you updated as I find out new information on this woman.....

By CARL RYAN
BLADE STAFF WRITER

BRYAN - Officers called to check on Grace Kennedy, who is believed to be the city's first homicide victim in more than 60 years, had to force their way into the elderly woman's house, where they found her body last week, the Bryan police chief said.

Chief Jeffrey Arnold yesterday would not discuss details of what else officers found in Mrs. Kennedy's home, but said, "Just from obvious evidence at the scene, we are investigating it as a homicide."

The officers were responding to a request to check on Mrs. Kennedy at her home on the city's west side. They found her body at about 9 p.m. Wednesday in her home at 407 John St. Mrs. Kennedy, an active community volunteer, lived alone.

Chief Arnold said he has assigned Detective Colin Rose to the case full time and that the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation is processing evidence. Sergeants and shift officers are working the case as needed.

"We have not questioned any suspects, but we have done quite a few interviews," he said.

The chief said an arrest was not imminent, "unless something happens. We are hoping that with information, we will be able to develop a suspect."
Williams County Coroner Dr. Kevin Park said the preliminary autopsy findings indicated Mrs. Kennedy's death was a homicide, but he declined to release details until toxicology test results were in. The Lucas County Coroner's Office performed the autopsy.

Bryan's last murder was in 1948, when a 14-year-old boy shot to death an elderly couple who would not lend him their car, which he wanted to drive to his junior high prom.

The convicted murderer, Ervin Ingle, served time in juvenile jail and the state penitentiary before Gov. Michael V. DiSalle commuted his sentence in 1962 and he was paroled.

Bryan Councilman Mark Kelly said he has received calls about Mrs. Kennedy's case. "People are scared and upset, which is natural because this doesn't happen very often here," he said.

Mrs. Kennedy was a volunteer at St. Patrick Catholic Church and Community Hospitals and Wellness Center, where she worked in the gift shop and at the front desk.

Contact Carl Ryan at:
carlryan@theblade.com
or 419-724-6050.



UPDATE

Coroner still waiting for toxicology results before releasing cause of death
By LYNN THOMPSON
Time Reporter
Published:
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 10:25 AM EST

There is no Detective Wilson in Williams County.

As the Bryan Police Department continues to investigate the death of Grace Kennedy, area law enforcement agencies have received several reports of an individual identifying him/herself as “Detective Wilson,” of the Williams County Sheriff’s Office. The individual asked residents to come to his/her office to be fingerprinted in connection with the ongoing investigation. The latest call was reported at 8:10 p.m. Sunday.

“The calls are bogus,” according to Sheriff Kevin Beck who issued a press release Monday. “There is no Detective Wilson affiliated with the Williams County Sheriff’s Office.”

Kennedy was discovered in her home Dec. 23 during a routine welfare check. Area residents and law enforcement continue to wait, for 17 days, on results of toxicology reports from an autopsy conducted by the Lucas County coroner.


Dr. Kevin Park, Williams County coroner, has not released any details of Kennedy’s death. He is awaiting the toxicology reports to make those results a matter of public record as required by law.

In the meantime, the police continue to investigate Kennedy’s death as a homicide and have called on the services of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation.

The bogus calls being investigated by the sheriff do not appear to be related to the suspected crime, Beck said.

The calls are being investigated in cooperation with telephone companies throughout northwest Ohio.

“This is a criminal offense,” he said. “If the perpetrators are caught, they will be charged.”

Anyone with information concerning this offense can call the Williams County Sheriff’s Office, 419-636-3151, 866-845-6760, or Williams County Crime Stoppers, 419-485-9302..



UPDATE

Kennedy was beaten

She died as result of blows to face, head, coroner says


By LYNN THOMPSON
Times Reporter
Published:
Friday, January 15, 2010 9:51 AM EST
Grace Kennedy was murdered. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and face.

“She was struck repeatedly,” said Dr. Kevin Park, Williams County coroner, on Thursday, “and probably died within minutes. It was obviously not a natural cause.”

The 91-year-old’s body was found at 8:59 p.m. Dec. 23 in her home at 407 John St. Bryan police officers were called to conduct a wellness check when neighbors noticed newspapers collecting on her front step. He estimated the time of death to be late in the evening Dec. 22 or early morning Dec. 23, Park said.

Park and Bryan Police Chief Jeff Arnold released the information Thursday after toxicology reports from the Lucas County coroner showed no sign of drug or alcohol impairment.


“We had to be diligent and cover all the bases,” Park said. “Toxicology is an important part of explaining what happened from a medical standpoint.”

The coroner would not release information on where the body was found, pending further investigation. Nor would he divulge information on the nature of the attack or the weapon used to kill Kennedy.

When asked if it appeared to be a random act or perpetrated by someone known to the victim, Park responded, “I do not believe Bryan is any less safe than it used to be.”

He also said the police do not have a prime suspect at this point.

“She was found within hours of her death,” said Park, who was called to the scene.

Bryan police and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification continue to investigate the homicide.

“We’re doing everything we possibly can,” Arnold said of the investigation.

Evidence from the scene is being processed by the state crime lab in Bowling Green.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact the Bryan Police Department at 419-636-4233 or Williams County Crime Stoppers at 419-485-9302.

The Bryan Police Department and the family of Grace Kennedy are offering a $6,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the death of Grace Kennedy.

lthomposon@bryantimes.com