A Note of Caution!

[John Kepler]

Gentlemen: A word of caution regarding the "casual" buying/selling of firearms. FWIW, the Kohler's are friends of both my Dad and myself....Dick was the Administrator of the Sandusky County (Ohio) Sportsmens Club for MANY years. He and his wife didn't deserve this, but it's a mad world out there!

From the Port Clinton (Ohio) News-Herald

FREMONT -- Three men were arrested Wednesday in connection with the
beating and robbery of an elderly couple in rural Gibsonburg earlier this month.


Paul Biddwell, 32, of Fostoria, Jimmy Houston, 33, of Woodville, and Ronald Ruby, 32, of Toledo, are being held in Sandusky County jail on two counts of attempted aggravated murder, two counts of kidnapping, aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery and felony theft.

They appeared in court in Woodville where their bonds were set -- Houston on $325,000; Ruby on $175,000; and Biddwell on $425,000.

Sandusky County Sheriff Detective James Consolo said officials have known since July 12 these men were suspects, but they were just building their case.

"We knew that they were our suspects without a doubt," Consolo said. "Ruby and Biddwell have already confessed and have implied Houston was involved. Right now, they're looking at 65 years (in prison)."

Consolo said he expects additional charges to be filed in Sandusky County Common Pleas Court within 10 days.

Detectives had all three men in custody by 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Ruby was arrested first at Bowling Green Municipal Court by Sandusky and Wood counties sheriff deputies, where he appeared in court for a traffic violation.

Biddwell was the second arrested by the Fostoria Police Department at his Fostoria residence. Houston was picked up at his residence in Woodville by the Woodville Police Department.

Consolo said Houston has a prior theft conviction, Biddwell a prior domestic violence conviction and Ruby was recently released from the Lucas County jail.

Consolo said Houston allegedly set up the robbery on July 2 after hearing James Kohler was an avid gun collector. He visited the Kohler's Ohio 600 residence a month before the robbery attempting to sell Kohler a gun using a different alias.

"The other two men involved were acquaintances of Houston," Consolo said.

The early morning of July 2, Houston dropped Biddwell and Ruby at the end of the Kohler's driveway and the two men approached the house, Consolo said.

"They watched (James) Kohler sleep on the couch," Consolo said. "Biddwell kicked in the door and severely beat Kohler. ... Once Kohler was beaten senselessly, Biddwell went upstairs and beat up (Mary) Kohler."

The two were beaten, tied and gagged. Thirty-one guns were stolen from the residence.

Mary, 76, was released from the hospital and back to work days later. However James, 74, suffered more serious injuries because he was still recovering from a stroke in 2008. He was later released.

The family was relieved by the arrests, but their son Matt Kohler, one of the nine Kohler children, said their lives will be forever changed.

"This is going to change the way we go about our daily routine," he said. "But it's not going to change who we are."

He added he is not familiar with the names of the men arrested.

"We are very grateful to the Sandusky County Sheriff's Department and other surrounding law enforcement agencies for their timeless efforts they have put into this case. ... We presume the accused will have their day in court."

The family wants to express their gratitude for all the community's support and "overwhelming kindness."

A reward leading to the arrest of those responsible was being offered, and had reached about $10,000, but Overmyer said the investigation led to the arrest of the three suspects, so no reward will be given. Money will be returned to those who donated to the reward fund, he said.

"A day like this is a great day for law enforcement," Overmyer said. "(The Kohlers) don't have to be worried about them anymore."

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[M1 Rifleman]

In today's world, I would be extremely careful of who I let into my home, much less sell a firearm to.

I am not surprised about the older couple being so trusting of everyone. Many older folks trust everyone they meet, regardless of condition. It is sad that such a thing has to happen. That scum should fry...

[0311Shooter]

How sad. One must weigh the options of when to "be proud" of their collection and show it off to someone, or to refrain from even mentioning them.

I usually do the latter.

[Quarks]

How sad. One must weigh the options of when to "be proud" of their collection and show it off to someone, or to refrain from even mentioning them.

I usually do the latter.

Guns? I don't own no stinkin' guns . . . . .

[JohnMOhio]

Mr. Kepler, you said it correctly. Caution is a must. I know years ago, it was not popular to even let anyone know that you partook in the shooting sports. Now the idea is to let people know that you do and that your one of the good guys. Unfornuately, the bad guys will know it also. How do you change public opinion by being who you are, changing the idea that guns are evil and still maintain your security. The gun owners so to speak have "come out of the closet" and are targets along with the unarmed.

You can not now nor ever trust everyone. Sometimes you can not even trust you own family members as one poster noted not to long ago when a firearm was stolen by a family member. As you must be vigilant about your movements as you go around town, you must also be so about yourself and your collection. It is unfornuate again that the old are targeted in all ways by those seeking to get something for nothing. It is their way of thinking that it is the free enterprise system our country has been know for in their twisted minds, the self employment since the first theft occured in mankinds history.

[Vern Humphrey]

Frankly, I never got in trouble by keeping my mouth shut.

[rayg]

You're right, you can't be too careful. At a military show a couple of years ago, a CW gun collector told me a story of what happened to him.
He said there was a knock at the door and when he opened the door, a guy came in swinging and hitting him repeatly with a hammer. He fell back and down the basement stairs half un-conscience and the guy jumped on him and said if he moves he'll kill him. The guy then tied him up with duck tape around his arms and legs and body where he could'nt move. He could hear other people in the house and could judge by the footsteps he heard, that they knew just were his guns were and they took them all. About twenty CW carbines.
After they left he wiggled up the stairs and out the door where a neighbor saw him.
The police caught the guys later and one was a relative, I believe his wife's cousin. He got most of his guns back, Ray

[da gimp]

that old snubbie is loaded with plusP .38'sWin Silvertips, it don't weigh a thing and is very comforting. Better to have it & not need it, then not have it & try to scramble 4 it, regretting it.

be safe, enjoy life

da gimp

OFC, Mo. Chapter

[Gyrene]

There was no personal contact on my loss, and their timing was like a surgical strike, so I am almost positive the perpetrator is someone I know, and would never have been noticed, because his mother lives next door. The loss was 7 collectable firearms, worth at least $20,000.00, and an expensive Nikon digital camera with 2 f/2.8 lenses, 3 other lenses, flashes, and storage devices . . . , more than $5,000.00.

I am sure they (whoever), were waiting for a time when nobody was watching, and knew everybody who could have been watching the area around my truck (between 4:15 PM and 4:40 PM) in broad daylight, in front of the house. Usually there are kids playing around that time, and at least 3 adults who observe the area around the truck. The kids were down the street getting ice cream, the roommate took his stepson to the dentist at 4:15 PM, one of the adults returned from Monterey at 4:40 PM, and the other adult (80 years young) had fallen asleep.

Gyrene OFC

semper fi

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