Facts of the cases
Based on previous reporting, here is what’s known about each open homicide investigation:
Margaret Allen
Allen’s body was found in the wooded area of Schmidt Field Park on July 27, 2008.
She was last seen by law partner Rodney Harris on July 24.
Police searched Allen’s home, 4503 Whitmore Lane. The search warrant was sealed on July 31, 2008. It is still sealed.
Three months before Allen’s death, her then-11-year-old niece called 9-1-1 for an assault. She said her “uncle” was beating up Allen. Her “uncle” was Allen’s live-in boyfriend, Calvin S. McKelton.
In August, Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper said a primary suspect has been identified, but did not release his name.
Double homicide
Police respond at 2:14 a.m. July 13, 2008 to a reported shooting in the 6700 block of Dixie Highway
Juan Carlos Enamoravo-Gomez, 21, and Evelvin O. Morales, 20, both originally from Honduras, were found shot in the head outside Arby’s next to Casa Tequila.
Morales died at the scene; Enamoravo-Gomez died at Mercy Hospital Fairfield.
Police had reported there may have been more than one gunman.
The language barrier was an initial challenge. The Fairfield Police Department had one Spanish-speaking officer on the department. Many witnesses’ primary language is Spanish.
Fairfield Vice Mayor Michael Oler said he believes the shootings were gang-related.
Fairfield police are still investigating three homicides in Fairfield in July 2008.
Monday, July 13, marked the one-year anniversary of two men found shot near a bar on Dixie Highway. Two weeks after those killings, on July 27, Margaret “Missy” Allen was found dead in a wooded area of Schmidt Field Park in Cincinnati.
Both investigations have had their problems, said Fairfield Police Lt. Kevin Haddix. However, he’s confident investigators can solve both cases.
“They’re not cold cases, they’re active cases,” Haddix said. “We’re going to do everything we can to bring (the cases) to a resolution.”
Margaret Allen
A day after Allen was found, Cincinnati police turned the case over to the Fairfield Police Department. She died of asphyxiation by strangulation.
Investigators believe Allen was killed in the city, but they haven’t said where.
Once they took over the case, police searched Allen’s Whitmore Lane home, but the search warrant remains sealed.
Investigators continue to work with Cincinnati police and Butler County Prosecutor’s Office.
“We’re trying to build a strong case that we can go to trial with,” Haddix said. “Information still continues to come in and we’re exchanging information with the Cincinnati PD.”
Haddix wouldn’t comment on any uncharged suspect, or about specific challenges of the case. However, he said, “Every homicide case is difficult. And this one here has presented its challenges as well.”
Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper could not be reached for comment, but said last year there is a “primary suspect.” At that time, he said then he didn’t think it would be long before an arrest was made.
Double homicide
Juan Carlos Enamoravo-Gomez, 21, and Evelvin O. Morales, 20, were found shot in the head near Casa Tequila in the 6700 block of Dixie Highway. Both men are originally from Honduras.
Morales died at the scene and Enamoravo-Gomez died at Mercy Hospital Fairfield.
“This is a case of unfortunate individuals who did not live in the Fairfield community, who just happened to come through the Fairfield community,” Haddix said.
Language barriers have been a challenge, but Haddix said, “We’ve been able to get the information that we needed from the people that we needed it from.”
Fairfield Councilman Mike Oler, a 38-year-police veteran, said more public communication is needed.
“I know you don’t want to jeopardize a case,” Oler said. “But sometimes you have to make a statement.”
Oler said he believes these homicides are gang-related and doesn’t believe the investigation would be hindered by stating that, or even if there is a suspicion of gang activity.
“Homicide’s a big deal, but it adds extra meaning to it if it is gang-related,” he said.
Haddix wouldn’t comment if they were gang-related.
“Our goal from the beginning was to identify the individual or individuals that came into this town and gunned down two people,” he said.
Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5112 or mpitman@coxohio.com.
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