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Glouster Man Indicted For Aggravated Murder Of Father
By: Grant Burkhardt, Tom Hodson
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Paul J. Roberts, 41 of Glouster, Ohio, was indicted Monday on nine felony counts including the aggravated murder of his 63-year-old father Paul E. Roberts.
In addition to the aggravated murder charge, Paul J. Roberts was also indicted for one count each of: murder, gross abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, intimidation of an attorney, victim, or witness in a criminal case, grand theft of a vehicle, theft, theft of an elderly or disabled adult, and vandalism.
Roberts was also indicted on a prior charge of prohibited acts involving certificates of title.
No death penalty specification was made part of these indictments.
Paul J. Roberts is accused of murdering his father Paul E. Roberts and putting his body in a well under the porch at 68 Locust Street, Glouster, Ohio which was the deceased’s residence, according to Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn.
“Roberts also stole his father’s 2004 Jeep Liberty, John Deere riding lawnmower and credit card,” Blackburn said.
Shortly after his arrest Paul J. Roberts confessed to the crime to WBNS-10TV in a jail interview. Blackburn, however, said at a news conference that the state's investigation contradicts Roberts' televised confession. Evidence points to Roberts committing the murder while his father slept.
Roberts told WBNS that he used a pipe to kill his father. Blackburn says Roberts told police he used a hammer.
The prosecutor believes the dispute started the day before over a car, which Roberts admits to later selling for heroin.
Blackburn noted that heroin use is a big problem in the Glouster area, saying every person they talked to for the investigation had used the drug in the last 2 1/2 weeks.
At this point, Blackburn doesn't believe Roberts' wife was involved in the murder. However, Blackburn said the investigation will continue and additional charges “are possible.”
Paul J. Roberts, at this stage, has not expressed to police any remorse for his actions, according to Blackburn.