Category Archives: true crime

Cold Case Quest, true crime

Cold case Quest: Darchelle Stone

Leave a comment
Darcelle Stone
Ohio Attorney General website

Darchelle Stone was only 19 years old when someone took her life on September 2, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio. She died due to injuries from stab wounds.

Although Stone’s photograph is not listed on the Ohio Attorney General’s website, it was published with her obituary. She was a young mother who was involved in community service. Stone and her mother helped to clothe and feed the homeless and other people in need.

From the little bit of information that I found, it doesn’t seem like she had enemies. Who would do such a horrible thing to such a good person?

I’m sure that the police ran into the same problem of not finding any viable suspects.

If there were any witnesses, no one has said anything. Hopefully, someone will come forward with information. It would be a travesty if they kept silent. Please honor Darchelle Stone’s memory by helping to solve her case.

The area where Darcelle Stone was found.

Who to contact:

If you would like to submit information, contact the Columbus Police or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers. Rewards may be available for information on a case that leads to a conviction by contacting Central Ohio’s Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-8477 or visiting their website.

If you have any information or questions about any Columbus area cold case, please contact the Columbus Police Department. The Homicide Cold Case Unit number is available (614) 645-4036 during the hours of 6 a.m. – 4 p.m. You can also call the Investigative Subdivision Duty Desk at (614) 645-4624, after hours.

Cold Case Quest, true crime

Cold Case Quest: Sheronda Norris

2 Comments
Sheronda Norris

21 year-old Sheronda Norris of Columbus, Ohio was last seen alive by her family on September 15, 1991. She was on her way to her aunt’s house but never arrived.

A bus driver found her body on the afternoon of September 16, 1991. the coroner determined that she had been strangled and left in the area of Agler and Sunbury Roads.

The police are not sure what happened after she left her house. They did say that the case could be connected to several other cases. No one has said which cases but I think that Norris’s case could be connected to Frances Smith, Janet Amar and Rene Combs.

Norris left Richmond Ave. She was on her way to E. 23rd Ave. Her body was found at Sunbury and Agler Roads.

There have not been any suspects or arrests. No one knows or has said if she was seen with anyone before her death.

Norris was about to be served a warrant for aggravated burglary. The warrant was vacated shortly after her death. She was a former go-go dancer who was trying to get her life back on track. Norris wanted to provide a better life for herself and her young son, who was two at the time.

Do you think her death was related to the burglary? Was she going to testify against someone else? Was Norris chosen at random? Was the person who killed Norris the same killer as the other cases? If I had to bet money, I would say that they are connected and there are probably more homicides committed by the same person.

Who to contact: 

If anyone knows anything about any of the cases of Sheronda Norris, Rene Combs, Frances Smith or Janet Amar, contact the Columbus Police or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers.

Contact information: Rewards may be available for information on a case that leads to a conviction by contacting Central Ohio’s Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-8477 or visiting their website.

If you have any information or questions about any Columbus area cold case, please contact the Columbus Police Department. The Homicide Cold Case Unit number is available (614) 645-4036 during the hours of 6 a.m. – 4 p.m. You can also call the Investigative Subdivision Duty Desk at (614) 645-4624, after hours.

Cold Case Quest, true crime

Cold Case Quest: Gladys Taylor

Leave a comment

Columbus resident Gladys Taylor, 54, was shot in the bedroom of her home on July 26, 1987. She was home with a 10 year old relative. On that Sunday evening, her husband had been at a church service. He found his wife when he returned at 10 p.m.

The area of the Taylor home

There weren’t any suspects that the police have mentioned. They did question the relative that was home at the time. The child was the only one that heard the gunshot. I hate to even think that a 10 year old could kill someone. However, It is also not totally out of the realm of possibility. Maybe it was an accidental shooting.

If I had to say, I suspect that it may have been a burglary. Maybe the killer didn’t think that anyone would be at home and was surprised by Taylor.

Lack of suspects and evidence didn’t help this case at all. I cannot say that the crime scene was contaminated but it’s possible.

If anyone happens to know anything about Gladys Taylor or if you have a photo of her, you can send a message to my Facebook page, Chasing Destino. More importantly, if you have any information about the homicide itself, please contact the Columbus Police Department.

Blog, Cold Case Quest, true crime

Cold Case Quest: Rene Combs

1 Comment
https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Files/Law-Enforcement/Investigator/Cold-Case/Homicides/Combs

Rene Combs was a loan officer at a bank in the Columbus area. She was married with two children. Then on August 4, 1991, Combs left a note saying that she was going to visit a cousin. Apparently, she never made it to the cousin’s home.

Three days later, her vehicle was found at an apartment complex close to her home. On August 12, her body was found in a wooded area near Grove City, which is southwest of Columbus.

The curious part about this case is that a cousin and a psychic both said that she would be found in that area. The cousin said that they had a dream about where to find Combs.

The cousin’s information even practically led police to the body. I’m not sure if the cousin or the psychic were ever investigated. The cousin was never named publically.

It was such a secluded area and Combs’ body was hidden fairly well. I suspect that the cousin knows more about what happened. I’m not buying that it was just a dream.

There had been a $7,000 reward offered by the bank and other community organizations. No one ever came forward with information that led to finding the person or persons who killed Rene Combs.

If anyone has any information, contact the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office or click on the link under the photo.

Franklin County Sheriff’s website: https://sheriff.franklincountyohio.gov/