SALEM - Investigators continued to follow leads Wednesday, two days after the death of Melinda Todd in her Salem Township home, in hopes of making a homicide arrest.
Columbiana County Prosecutor Robert Herron confirmed Wednesday afternoon a person of interest is being investigated. Herron said some of the information being provided by tips appears to be turning out to be worthwhile.
"I would encourage anyone who knows anything to come forward at this time," Herron said.
On Monday, Todd, 43, was found dead, and her 5-year-old grandson, Cole Tyler Reed, with a gunshot wound to the head in Todd's home.
Deputies were called to the home at the intersection of state Route 45 and Salmar Drive shortly after 4 p.m. Monday after Todd's daughters, 12 and 8, discovered the crime scene when coming home off a school bus.
Sheriff Ray Stone said there have been some people eliminated as suspects after confirming alibis. For instance, the father of 5-year-old Cole Tyler Reed was in the Mahoning County jail. Todd's boyfriend and another friend also had alibis which checked out, the sheriff said.
Stone said he believes the crime may have happened sometime Monday afternoon, but had not received any official time of death window from the coroner's office as of Wednesday.
Investigators have been canvassing the neighborhood and Stone said no one claims to have heard anything out of the ordinary. Stone said there was no sign of forced entry at the home, but noted he did not know if the door had been locked.
On Wednesday, a deputy was once again going to the hospital to check on the 5-year-old. Stone said he hopes if the boy regains consciousness, he may be able to help investigators solve the case.
Stone declined to say who Todd's children are staying with, but believed it to be family because Children Services was not contacted to take them.
Johnson writes for the Morning Journal in Lisbon.