(This breaking story is likely to be amended as further details and information becomes available. - Jeffrey L. Frischkorn)
A
pair of 16-year-old males were each charged October 10th with
reckless homicide in the September 2nd death of Victoria Schafer of
Chillicothe after allegedly causing a 74-pound, six-foot long log to
strike and kill the 44-year-old woman.
Investigators
say Schafer was standing about 75 feet below and on a staircase at
Old Man’s Cave, located within 2,356-acre Hocking Hills State Park,
when she was killed instantly by the log.
The
youths are from Logan in Hocking County. They were unnamed at press
time due to their age and disposition of the case within the juvenile
court system.
A
charge of reckless homicide is the third-degree felony and carries
with it a fine of up to $10,000, jail time of up to five years, or
both. The charges may change, officials associated with the case have
said as well.
In
a statement made October 11th, Hocking County Prosecutor Benjamin E.
Fickel said that three days earlier a tip from a caller was received
by the Souther Ohio Crime Stoppers that “indicated that the one of
the juveniles sent text messages to a classmate stating he had did
(sic) something serious at the park with another juvenile.”
“Further
investigation by (the Ohio Department of Natural Resources) and the
Hocking County Sheriff’s Office led them to the two juveniles in
custody, who admitted that they were involved in forcing the log over
the cliff,” Fickel said.
Fickle
said also Natural Resources investigators “determined early on that
the six foot log was pushed or thrown off the cliff.”
“Investigators
spent countless hours following leads over the course of the past
month, most of which were dead ends,” Fickel said.
It
was the posting on social media by one of the accused youths that led
investigators to the pair in connection with the alleged crime, Fikel
said.
Fickel
said Schafer was at Old Man’s cave with five high school students
who were there for a graduation photo shoot.
Scahfer
was a married, mother of four who ran her own photography studio. She
stated on her official business
web site – which was still operating as of October 11 – how
“I'm
a no-frills, less is more kind of photographer. My style is informal,
fun and relaxed as I work to create images that cannot be created in
a studio alone. I take the time to take the best candid-lifestyle
portraits; the kind that can be cherished for years to come.”
Her
obituary included how
Schafer did candid photography for area first responders, and also
was the Human Resources Director for the Chillicothe-based Petland
pet store franchise.
Fickel
and Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz both said her agency
continues to
lead the ongoing investigation. Among
other agencies and groups involved with the effort are the Hocking
County Prosecutor, the
Hocking
County Sheriff’s Office, the
Hocking
County Coroner, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Ohio State
Highway Patrol, the
FBI,
the
Drug
Enforcement Administration, and the
Southern
Ohio Crime Stoppers.
“I
appreciate the public’s valuable contributions to this case and the
perseverance and determination of the investigators,” said Mertz in
her prepared statement.
Ohio Natural Resources Department stress its safety first objectives for Hocking Hills State Park
With
three fatalities – including one alleged homicide - thus far in
2019 at 2,356-acre Hocking Hills State Park, the Ohio Department of
Natural Resources is offering assurances how
the
agency remains
pro-active in protecting the visiting public.
The
matter of visitor safety at Hocking Hills State Park become
particularly relevant following the September 2nd
death of Victoria Schafer of Chillicothe. It is alleged that two
16-year-old males caused
a 74-pound, six-foot long log to strike and kill the 44-year-old
woman who was standing about
75 feet below and on
a staircase at the
park’s Old
Man’s Cave.
At
press time the pair have been charged with reckless homicide and are
said to have admitted to the alleged crime.
In
response to a series of questions
posed by this writer, Natural Resources department chief
of communications Sarah Wickman said the agency’s Natural
Resource Officers assigned to the Hocking Hills region “regularly
conduct enforcement patrols” at
the park.
“Hocking
Hills is one of the most heavily visited parks in the ODNR system,”
Wickman said.
“ODNR
works to ensure that appropriate park staff and law enforcement
coverage is maintained during both regular operations and special
events such as holidays to address the needs of the park and the
safety of our visitors.”
To
illustrate, Wickman provided documentation
of the Natural Resources Department’s on-going work at Hocking
Hills. This
documentation covers four areas: Public Safety Announcements,
Signage, Fencing and Barriers, and Training of Natural Resources
personnel.
Among
some of the specifics include using stone work, steel cable, piping,
wooden fencing and other materials to direct people to stay on
designated trails and paths; training of
staff in
first aid and rescue; frequent
use of unambiguous cautionary signage; meanwhile,
the park’s new Visitors Center has a simulated trail that features
signage and other information intended to stress personal safety.
As
for the policing, management and removal of objects that could be
used as projectiles along
with
the elimination of potentially hazardous dead limbs and trees from
along trails, Wickman says the Natural Resources Department is active
in that arena, as well.
“The
Division of Parks and Watercraft works closely with the Division of
Forestry in all state parks to remove dead trees and reduce potential
safety issues,” Wickman said.
JFrischk4@gmail.com
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