A K9 officer helped officers track down the weapon used in a weekend murder in Pike County, Ohio. According to the Pike County Sheriff’s Office, the initial report of a stabbing came into Pike County Dispatch just after 6:30 pm on Saturday. A caller reported a stabbing at home on State Route 220.
When officers arrived on the scene, they found a grisly sight. There was a man in the bathtub with what police called a “severe” stab wound to the upper chest. Deputies and EMS personnel performed CPR on the man but were unable to revive him.
The Sheriff’s office identified the victim as 35-year-old Paul David Valliere, of Salt Creek Road. EMS personnel and the Pike County Coroner pronounced Mr. Valliere dead at the scene. The initial investigation revealed the name of a suspect and police located John Allen Warren, 51 of Waverly. Officers took Mr. Warren into custody.
K9 Sniffs Out Evidence
When a search by deputies failed to turn up a murder weapon, the Pike County Sheriff’s Office called in the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. They responded to the scene with a K9 officer and began a search for the evidence. The K9 team located the suspected weapon. The Pike County Sheriff’s Office took the weapon into evidence.
Officers transported Mr. Warren to the Pike County Sheriff’s Office for questioning. They eventually charged Warren with murder and for tampering with evidence. Officers took him to the Butler County Jail where he will be held until a scheduled appearance in Pike County Court.
The Sheriff’s Department said the case will be presented to the next Pike County Grand Jury.
Earlier in the year K9 Mattis, along with human partner Wildlife Officer Chris Gilkey provided assistance to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation in the search for a firearm that was believed to be linked to a homicide.