SCDN broke the story and continues to seek justice for the families involved.
Two years have passed, and the McLaughlin Road triple homicide remains unsolved. But now, a family friend is speaking out, demanding justice—and sharing explosive new details that could crack this case wide open.
On the night of Saturday, July 22, 2023, Scioto County deputies were called to a remote property on McLaughlin Road after a panicked 911 call. One person was found dead in a camper. A second search revealed two more bodies in a second camper.
The victims:
- Heather James, 45
- Pete “O’Brian” Eldridge, 35
- James “Jay” Andronis, 68
Initially considered a murder-suicide, the Scioto County Sheriff later confirmed all three deaths were homicides.
Now, a family friend who spoke exclusively to SCDN says law enforcement never even notified the family until the next day—they found out through our reporting.
“Your articles are the reason we got the information,” she told us. “We didn’t even get the call about them being murdered until the next morning.”
💰 Motives, Money, and a Motorcycle
The family friend believes the motive could be tied to drugs, money, and a pending court case.
- Just two days before the murders, Jay allegedly stored a Harley at his father’s—unusual behavior that the family believes was an attempt to lay low.
- Jay was known to carry large amounts of cash.
- Heather and Pete, who were staying in campers on the property, had just been indicted for trafficking fentanyl and other charges in May 2023.
- The source also claimed Pete may have been working as a confidential informant.
“It was weird that they got murdered not long after that happened,” she said. “I think Pete and Heather lured someone there.”
Court records confirm Jay and his wife Peggy—who was in prison during the murders—had past convictions for drug trafficking.
The friend suspects someone from Pete and Heather’s “drug world” was involved and said Jay was a good man caught in the middle.
“Heather wasn’t a great person. Jay was a good guy. He just got caught up in that.”
💥 What Happened That Night?
The family believes this wasn’t the work of one person. Some chilling details include:
- Witnesses reported a dark-colored vehicle leaving the scene with three people inside.
- Two types of shell casings were found—suggesting more than one shooter.
- The family believes Pete was shot first, Heather was killed while trying to flee, and Jay was shot in bed.
- Jay’s safe was emptied and the home was ransacked, the source claims.
- Investigators reportedly recovered DNA from the safe, but no arrests have been made.
“Just knowing someone is out there and got away with it—it’s what I hate the most,” the family friend said. “Nobody cares that this killer is roaming around.”
😔 A Funeral Behind Bars
Adding to the heartbreak, Jay’s wife—Peggy Andronis—was behind bars during his funeral. Her children FaceTimed her from the service so she could watch from prison.
“It was horrible,” the family friend said. “His own wife couldn’t even say goodbye.”
🧊 Still Cold, Still Waiting
Despite the violent nature of the crime, no suspects have been named. The Scioto County Sheriff’s Office has not issued updates. But the family hasn’t given up.
“Someone’s got to do it,” the family friend told us. “I don’t know if I’m brave or stupid to push for it… But they killed three people. Someone out there knows what happened.”
🔎 Know Something?
If you have information, no matter how small, contact the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office or the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Three people lost their lives. Their families deserve answers.
Get Caught up from our previous reports.