Late in the evening on Friday, October 30, 1987, three individuals are murdered by at least one gunshot to the head in a house located at 2188 Consolidated Road, in Eaton, Ohio. The names of the murdered individuals are David Smelser, Melinda Newcomb, and Donnie Marker. The bodies were not found until the following Monday, 3 days later, at approximately 5:30 p.m.

In this episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum, talks with guest Greg Noble, a seasoned attorney, and former prosecutor, as they dive into the cold case of the 1987 Preble County triple homicide. As they navigate through the rural landscapes of Ohio and the mysterious Poos family cabin, they shed light on the victims' backgrounds, the lack of motive, and the alarming blood evidence. Sheryl and Greg's exploration of this cold case is not only a window into the past but also an urgent call for community involvement and the pursuit of justice.

 

Show Notes:

• [0:00] Welcome back to Zone 7 with Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum. Sheryl shares a personal story illustrating the importance of not assuming intentions 
• [3:27] Details about the cabin's location, implying the killer's familiarity with the victims
• [5:00] Sheryl introduces Greg Noble to the listeners. Greg is an attorney, a former prosecutor, and an analyst with the United States Secret Service.
• [6:01] Question: When you first got involved with this triple homicide case, what were your initial feelings?
• [8:30] Greg Noble shares the history of the Poos family and the cabin.
• [10:28] Discussing the victims, David, Donnie, and Melinda, and their backgrounds.
• [13:40] Speculation about the lack of motive for the murders.
• [17:10] Details about the blood evidence found at the crime scene.
• [19:11] Observation of the radio and outside lights being on at the time of the murders.
• [20:44] Question: Now, all of them being shot behind the left ear, what does that say to you? 
• [25:12] Sheriff Simpson receives a call about the 1987 triple homicide
• [26:24] The caller's specific details about the murder conspiracy.
• [27:29] Question: Did the caller give any information that he could not have just gotten from the newspaper? Was there anything that made law enforcement think he is credible?
• [28:36] Question: Is there anything you need from our community at large to help get this case solved? 
• [30:52] The potential of raising funds and attention to solve the cold case.
• [33:51] “Keep motivated. Even when you run out of leads, there's always another one around the corner. Just turn that way.” -V.V
• [33:55] Anyone with information about the Oct. 30, 1987 slayings of David Smelser, Donald Marker and Melinda Newcomb should call the Preble County Sheriff’s Office at 937-456-6262.
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Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an Emmy Award winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnLine, Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department. She is the co-author of the textbook., Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. Sheryl is also the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a collaboration between universities and colleges that brings researchers, practitioners, students and the criminal justice community together to advance techniques in solving cold cases and assist families and law enforcement with solvability factors for unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnapping cases.  

You can connect and learn more about Sheryl’s work by visiting the CCIRI website https://coldcasecrimes.org

Social Links:

• Email: [email protected]
• Twitter: @ColdCaseTips
• Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum

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