(MARIETTA, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Washington County Sheriff Larry R. Mincks Sr. announced today that the former deputy charged with the 1981 death of Washington County Sheriff's Deputy Lt. Ray "Joe" Clark is now facing additional charges.
This week, a Washington County Grand Jury indicted Mitchell Ruble, 64, of Lowell, Ohio, on five felony counts of unlawful possession of a dangerous ordnance, one count of illegal manufacture or processing of explosives, and one count of attempted illegal manufacture or processing of explosives.
The charges are in addition to the aggravated murder charge filed against Ruble in 2014 for the death of Lt. Clark.
While serving a search warrant in connection with the murder investigation in September, authorities with the Washington County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Squad, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and Washington and Morgan Major Crimes Task Force found that Ruble was illegally in possession of a modified AR-15 fully automatic rifle, hand grenades, three dozen grenade fuses/blasting caps, and a blast simulator overpack. Authorities with the Columbus Fire Department Bomb Squad responded to the scene after the explosives were located.
“While executing a search warrant, our agents and local law enforcement found these illegal, military-grade explosives on Mr. Ruble's property,” said Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.
"I'd like to thank the Attorney General's Office and our Cold Case Squad for conducting such a thorough investigation," said Sheriff Mincks. "I believe that investigators have left no stone unturned, and they should be commended for their outstanding actions."
Special prosecutors with Attorney General DeWine's Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case.
Ruble is currently in the Washington County Jail on $2.5 million bond in connection with the aggravated murder charge and is scheduled to appear in court on the new charges next month.
Lt. Clark was shot to death at his Marietta home on Dodd's Run Road on February 7, 1981. Investigators allege that Ruble waited outside of Lt. Clark's home and shot him with a shotgun through the kitchen window.
Ruble worked as a deputy with the Washington County Sheriff's Office until December 1979, when Lt. Clark terminated his employment due to the use of excessive force while on duty.
The murder trial is currently scheduled to begin in May.
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Media Contacts:
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Jill Del Greco: 614-466-3840