(CINCINNATI)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced that thousands of additional unsolved homicide cases will be featured on www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov thanks to the positive response from law enforcement agencies regarding DeWine's Ohio Unsolved Homicide Initiative.
Attorney General DeWine announced the initiative in September to create a public database of all of Ohio's unsolved murders. Many administrators from law enforcement agencies across the state including Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton, and Toledo voluntarily agreed to add all of their cold cases to the database.
According to the FBI there are more than 5,000 unsolved homicides in the state.
"Our website is another tool that law enforcement can use to solicit information on these unsolved cases," said Attorney General DeWine. "There are killers in Ohio who should be in prison, not in our neighborhoods, and we hope those who know about these crimes will take this new opportunity to come forward."
The initiative will also feature one cold case a month in a statewide news release and on the main page of the Attorney General's website, in addition to its regular place in the website's database.
"We hope the extra publicity each month will convince someone to go online and submit a tip, even if they do it anonymously," said DeWine.
Gregory Haworth and Lora Davis, Cincinnati
Among the cases recently added to the Ohio Attorney General's website are the unsolved homicides of Lora Davis and Gregory Haworth. The couple was murdered inside their Cincinnati apartment on July 19, 2006.
"Even six years later, I don't think you ever get over the shock," said Haworth's stepmother, Sherry Haworth. "I wake up thinking it didn't happen or I think about him and wonder how he's doing until I remember."
According to Cincinnati Police Detective Jennifer Mitsch, the manager of the apartment complex at 515 Lowell Avenue visited the couple's residence and found them shot to death approximately 12 hours after they had been killed.
"We need people to come forward with information on this case," said Mitsch. "We know there are people who know about what happened who are afraid to come forward, but they need to come forward."
Haworth's father believes his son's killer has likely killed again over the past six years.
"If perpetrators are allowed to go free, they are free to kill other people as well," Rodney Haworth said. "I would hope that if someone has information about this crime that they would consider the situation where this might have happened to their son or daughter and if they would want the crime resolved."
Police have not publicly spoken about a motive, but Mitsch said police believe it is possible the victims knew their killer.
"In Cincinnati we have methods in place to help witnesses who come forward," said Mitsch. "We can offer them protection if they are afraid."
To submit information on the deaths of Gregory Haworth and Lora Davis, or to see all the cases currently in the database, visit www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/OhioUnsolvedHomicides.
Images
Photo of Lora Davis (JPEG)
Photo of Gregory Haworth (JPEG)
Media Contacts
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Jill Del Greco: 614-466-3840