Man, 18, 'bludgeoned his girlfriend's prominent attorney father, 56, and mother, 59, to death with a sledgehammer a week after she was brutally stabbed'
The boyfriend of a girl whose parents
were found bludgeoned to death with a sledgehammer in their home on
Tuesday has been arrested for the killings, police said.
Shawn Eric Ford Jr., 18, has been accused of the brutal murders of prominent attorney Jeffrey Schobert, 56, and his 59-year-old wife, Margaret, in their home in Portage Lakes, Ohio.
Their murders came just a week after one of their daughters, Chelsea Schobert, suffered stab wounds and a fractured skull in an attack at a home in Akron. She is now recovering in hospital.
Police had previously speculated that the crimes could be linked. While the connection has still not been confirmed, reports reveal that Ford witnessed the attack on his girlfriend, the Akron Beacon Journal reported.
The bodies of her parents were discovered by workmen carrying out renovations on the couple's house on Tuesday afternoon.
Investigators found a sledgehammer on the bed in their master bedroom next to Jeffrey Schobert's body, a Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office report stated.
Mr Schobert, who was wearing black boxer shorts, suffered a 'large laceration' in the center of his forehead, while his wife had lacerations to the face, the right eye and forehead, investigators said.
Ahead of her death, Mrs Schobert had spent all of Monday night at her daughter's bedside in Akron Children's Hospital and arrived home shortly after 6am on Tuesday.
Police
records noted that at that time she send a text message about Chelsea's
boyfriend, but there was no further information on the contents of the
message.
New Franklin Police Detective Mike Hitchings added that Mr Schobert was last seen walking his dog around 7pm on Monday.
Workmen let themselves into the home at 8am, as per a previous arrangement with the couple, and carried out renovations until one came across the bodies shortly after 2pm and called 911.
Authorities pronounced the couple's deaths at 2.39pm, but when the medical examiner's investigator arrived at 5pm, the bodies were 'cool to touch', suggesting they had been dead for much longer.
Money was also taken from the home,
police said. The couple's SUV was also taken and later found abandoned
in West Akron on Wednesday.
Ford was taken into custody on Tuesday night and is being held in Portage County Jail on a charge of obstruction of justice.
The Beacon Journal reported that he has another case against him after pleading guilty last month to felony robbery. He had been freed on bond and was scheduled to appear in court on April 15.
He has now been charged with two counts of aggravated murder, two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of aggravated burglary and grand theft in connection with the slayings.
At a press conference, Det. Michael Hitchings said that police had found 'physical evidence in different locations' that they believe connects Ford to the murders.
Hitchings added that he has
spoken with Ford, but would not say if the teenager admitted to the
crimes. He would also not reveal if Ford is the only suspect in the
case.
On Chelsea's Facebook profile, she laments bad boyfriends and hints that she has recently been through a break up. It is understood that Chelsea is adopted.
Jamayne Ruiz, 24, was arrested for the attack on Chelsea Schobert and has not been released. He is being held in jail for felonious assault on a $250,000 bond.
The couple was well-known in the community and active in community affairs.
Jeffrey Schobert was a prominent and well-liked health-care lawyer in Akron and had carried out mock trials for students at Archbishop Hoban High School, which his two daughters had attended.
He is listed on the Hanna Campbell & Powell, LLP website as leading the firm's health-care trial group, representing physicians, hospitals and other providers through the state.
Schobert successfully defended some of the firm's most serious cases since starting there in 1987, and was elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates as an associate member in January 2003.
He was also named one of the state's 'Super Lawyers' from 2005 to 2011 and has been on a list of 'Best Lawyers in America' since 2006, the bio noted.
His wife, who went by 'Peg', was involved with charities, including the Rotary, Interval Brotherhood Home and Junior League.
Shawn Eric Ford Jr., 18, has been accused of the brutal murders of prominent attorney Jeffrey Schobert, 56, and his 59-year-old wife, Margaret, in their home in Portage Lakes, Ohio.
Their murders came just a week after one of their daughters, Chelsea Schobert, suffered stab wounds and a fractured skull in an attack at a home in Akron. She is now recovering in hospital.
Police had previously speculated that the crimes could be linked. While the connection has still not been confirmed, reports reveal that Ford witnessed the attack on his girlfriend, the Akron Beacon Journal reported.
The bodies of her parents were discovered by workmen carrying out renovations on the couple's house on Tuesday afternoon.
Investigators found a sledgehammer on the bed in their master bedroom next to Jeffrey Schobert's body, a Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office report stated.
Mr Schobert, who was wearing black boxer shorts, suffered a 'large laceration' in the center of his forehead, while his wife had lacerations to the face, the right eye and forehead, investigators said.
Ahead of her death, Mrs Schobert had spent all of Monday night at her daughter's bedside in Akron Children's Hospital and arrived home shortly after 6am on Tuesday.
Killed: The bodies of Peg Schobert, left, and
her lawyer husband Jeffrey Schobert, right, were found in their home on
Tuesday by men working on their house. They had both been attacked with a sledgehammer
Attack: Their daughter, Chelsea Schobert, was brutally stabbed just one week before the deaths
New Franklin Police Detective Mike Hitchings added that Mr Schobert was last seen walking his dog around 7pm on Monday.
Workmen let themselves into the home at 8am, as per a previous arrangement with the couple, and carried out renovations until one came across the bodies shortly after 2pm and called 911.
Authorities pronounced the couple's deaths at 2.39pm, but when the medical examiner's investigator arrived at 5pm, the bodies were 'cool to touch', suggesting they had been dead for much longer.
Together: Police have revealed that Ford, left, witnessed the attack on his girlfriend in March
Couple: Another man was arrested for the attack that left Chelsea with stab wounds and a fractured skull
Ford was taken into custody on Tuesday night and is being held in Portage County Jail on a charge of obstruction of justice.
The Beacon Journal reported that he has another case against him after pleading guilty last month to felony robbery. He had been freed on bond and was scheduled to appear in court on April 15.
He has now been charged with two counts of aggravated murder, two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of aggravated burglary and grand theft in connection with the slayings.
At a press conference, Det. Michael Hitchings said that police had found 'physical evidence in different locations' that they believe connects Ford to the murders.
'Attacker': Jamayne Ruiz, left, was arrested for allegedly stabbing Chelsea, right, and remains in jail
Scene: The couple's home is surrounded by investigators after their bodies were found on Tuesday
On Chelsea's Facebook profile, she laments bad boyfriends and hints that she has recently been through a break up. It is understood that Chelsea is adopted.
Jamayne Ruiz, 24, was arrested for the attack on Chelsea Schobert and has not been released. He is being held in jail for felonious assault on a $250,000 bond.
The couple was well-known in the community and active in community affairs.
Jeffrey Schobert was a prominent and well-liked health-care lawyer in Akron and had carried out mock trials for students at Archbishop Hoban High School, which his two daughters had attended.
Horror: Workmen had let themselves into the home on Tuesday morning and found the bodies hours later
Beloved: Neighbours said the couple was well-liked and involved in the community
Schobert successfully defended some of the firm's most serious cases since starting there in 1987, and was elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates as an associate member in January 2003.
He was also named one of the state's 'Super Lawyers' from 2005 to 2011 and has been on a list of 'Best Lawyers in America' since 2006, the bio noted.
His wife, who went by 'Peg', was involved with charities, including the Rotary, Interval Brotherhood Home and Junior League.