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Sunday, April 24, 2016

Ohio Slayings 'A Sophisticated Operation'

Authorities have described the killing of eight family members in southern Ohio as "a sophisticated operation" that has shocked the rural community.

Attorney General Mike DeWine said seven adults and one teenage boy were found with gunshot wounds to their heads, adding that the killings appeared to be the result of planned executions.

Investigators also revealed that several marijuana-growing operations were found at the crime scenes, although it remains unclear whether what role, if any, the operations had in the killings.

Authorities earlier released audio from 911 calls made after the slayings. In one call, a frantic female voice is heard describing the horrific scene inside one of four homes where the killings took place.

"There is blood all over the house," the woman tells an emergency dispatcher. "My brother-in-law is in the bedroom. Looks like someone has beat the hell out of him."

In a separate 911 call, a relative of one victim says: "I just found my cousin with a gunshot wound."

"Is he alive?" the dispatcher asks.

"No, no," the man responds.

Authorities said the first 911 call came in shortly before 8am on Friday, with the second call coming several hours later from a different location.

Eight family members were killed in what police believe were targeted killings at four separate homes in the Ohio community of Piketon, in Pike County.

The victims have been identified as Christopher Rhoden Sr, 40, Christopher Rhoden Jr, 16, Dana Rhoden, 37, Kenneth Rhoden, 44, Gary Rhoden, 38, Clarence Rhoden, 20, Hannah Gilley, 20, and 19-year-old Hanna Rhoden.

An infant and two other small children who were in the homes at the time of the shootings were not hurt.

The exact timing of the shootings remains unclear, and the gunman or gunmen remain on the loose.

Local law enforcement urged the victims' family members to take precautions while investigators continue to hunt for suspects.

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