Stolen UTV found abandoned following bloody crash with guns nearby
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (July 21, 2023) – The investigation continues into the discovery of a stolen UTV vehicle that was apparently abandoned after a bloody crash, along with a couple of guns.
Sheriff Orvis Campbell says a woman reported finding the side-by-side utility terrain vehicle on its side along Echo Road Southeast in Gnadenhutten around 11:45 a.m. Thursday.
“When the deputies got there, they noticed a good amount of blood, enough blood that it concerned them.”
One firearm was found with the vehicle. Sheriff’s K-9 “Rocky” then found clothing and another firearm some distance from the crash scene.
Campbell says it was later determined that gun and the UTV were both stolen from a nearby home on River Hill Road in Port Washington.
“I think we definitely know that there was a burglary here,” he said. “This stuff was stolen from that residence.”
Campbell says the sheriff’s office had the crime scene technician respond to document the scene and collect DNA evidence from the blood.
“We’re not sure who was driving the ATV,” he said. “We do have a couple of suspects that we’re looking into.”
Campbell says they were also checking in with area hospitals to see if they had any patients who could have been injured in the crash, but to no success so far.