MURDER
CASE #: 2002-26
Craig Eugene Roberts
Also Known As:
Hillbilly
Status:
Open
Date of Offense:
Date of Offense:
Jurisdiction:
Offense Location:
Wellsville, Ohio
Summary:
Craig Eugene Roberts, 43, known by the nickname 'Hillbilly,' was found shot to death in his home at 502 Wells Hollow Road in Wellsville, Ohio, on August 26, 2002. He was shot twice in the head while in his bed. Initially, authorities suggested it was a suicide, but his family and investigators have pursued the case as an unsolved homicide with multiple household suspects but insufficient evidence for indictment.
Vital Statistics
Circumstances of Offense:
Craig Eugene Roberts was found shot to death in the master bedroom of his home at 502 Wells Hollow Road in Wellsville, Ohio on August 26, 2002. The incident occurred sometime after midnight and before 6 a.m. when a household member discovered his body and called police. Roberts was shot twice in the head while in his bed asleep. He was initially transported to a hospital in Pittsburgh, where he was declared brain dead. At the time of discovery, there were multiple people present in the household. The initial police assessment suggested the death was a suicide, but his brother and subsequent investigators pursued it as a homicide.
Additional Details:
Roberts' brother Steve has been actively investigating the case for over two decades. An assistant Columbiana County prosecutor stated there are several suspects because many people were present in the home when Roberts was killed, but police have never been able to gather sufficient evidence to obtain an indictment. According to prosecutors, inconsistencies in statements from those questioned did not align with how Roberts died. A person came forward years after the incident claiming to have been present during the murder and having a hand in it, but the former prosecutor did not believe the confession and it did not advance the case. The Columbiana County Prosecutor's Office has maintained the case file, noting it is one of the largest cold files in their office. The case is featured on the Ohio Attorney General's website under cold cases and is one of six cases from Columbiana County dating back to 1999 listed on the state's database.
Case Last Updated:
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Associated Persons
Steve R. (Sibling) - Living
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