‘Blanket search’ turns up empty
No arrests or suspects in homicide probeBy Brad Bauer, bbauer@mariettatimes.com
Article Photos
Discarded appliances, tires, beer cans and several snakes were found by police and volunteers during a "blanket search" conducted Sunday afternoon along roads near the Patrick Arnold residence.
The search was aimed at finding a murder weapon or any other item that could help police identify a suspect in Arnold's death.
Arnold, 42, of 2410 Bells Run Road in Newport Township, was found gunned down Thursday afternoon on the front porch of his home.
To date, police say they have made no arrests and have no suspects in the case. Police continue to keep tight-lipped on the specifics of the investigation.
"We did not recover anything linked to the investigation in any way," Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks said of Sunday's search. "It was just a blanket search looking for anything that might have been evidence. It could have been bloody clothing, a weapon, a cell phone, a bullet casing ... Who knows what might have been thrown out."
The search extended about three miles in each direction from the Arnold home. In addition to police, firefighters from Newport and Lower Salem volunteer departments assisted in the search. Two groups of 12 people worked the area for about five hours before the search was called off.
Mincks said he has assigned eight officers to work the case full-time. He said the officers worked over the weekend conducting interviews and attempting to reconstruct what may have happened.
"There are a whole bunch of scenarios that are possible here," Mincks said. "You can let your imagination run. We still need more information, witnesses or evidence."
Anyone with any information about the murder, or who had contact with Arnold last week is asked to contact the Washington County Sheriff's Office at 376-7070.
Mincks said Arnold did have several security cameras installed at his property that might provide some insight into the killing.
"We are currently analyzing that information, but I can't comment on it," Mincks said.
Arnold's funeral is set for 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 309 Seventh St. in Beverly.
Arnold's death marked the second homicide investigation launched in Washington County last week. Police also investigated an attempted murder in New Matamoras last Tuesday.
There hadn't been a murder in Washington County in more than three years before Amber Wesley, 21, was strangled at her Lang Farm Road residence Tuesday. Her live-in boyfriend, Noal Quattlebaum, 22, was arrested the same day and charged with murder at his parents' Waterford residence.
Earlier Tuesday, police say Thaddeus Salomon, 19, of New Matamoras, stabbed Susan Lawson, 23, in the back and was charged with attempted murder.
"I'm glad they caught two of them, but I worry about this other one," said Sherri Nau, 36, of Marietta. "I just wonder why any of these (cases) had to end in violence."
