Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
295 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Forum Posts for John Ridenour:
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My grandmother was 8 months pregnant with John’s son at the time he was murdered. His son (my uncle John) passed away in 2018 never knowing who killed his father. I wish this heartbreaking case could be solved.
Does anyone know if there had been an increase in robberies or violent crimes in Franklin, Ohio, around the time John Ridenour was killed? I’m trying to understand if his murder might have been linked to a broader crime wave or if it was an isolated incident. It’s so unsettling to think that someone could have done this to a young person just starting his life. My heart goes out to John's family and friends. It must be incredibly difficult dealing with the lack of answers all these years. If anyone has any local knowledge or insight, it could help bring more context to this tragic case.
I recently stumbled across some old newspaper clippings about the unsolved murder of John Ridenour, the young man who was killed during a robbery at the Sunoco station back in '76. It makes me think about how terrifying it must have been for him in those last moments. One small detail that caught my attention was how close in time the robbery was to busy hours when people would have been getting off work. It baffles me how the perpetrators could have slipped away without someone noticing something suspicious. Franklin isn’t that big—surely someone saw something but just didn’t realize its significance? I really hope anyone who might remember something, no matter how insignificant it may seem, comes forward. John's family deserves some peace after all these years. The fact that it's still unsolved must be incredibly hard for them. If you know anything or even hear a rumor that might be related, please think about reaching out to the authorities.
I've been following the case of John Ridenour for a while, and one thing that always haunts me is the randomness of the crime. With the station being located on a busy street, you would think someone might have noticed something unusual that day. It must have been especially hard for John's family, knowing that he was just doing his job, a normal day at work, and then this. The fact that the perpetrators didn’t leave a trail has to weigh heavily on everyone involved in the investigation. I can’t help but wonder about all those cold case files sitting somewhere, and I really hope someday new technology or a fresh set of eyes will uncover something that leads to answers. My heart goes out to his family—I can’t imagine the pain they've lived with all these years. If anyone out there remembers even the smallest detail, please consider reaching out to the authorities. Every piece of information could be crucial.

Thank you for your interest in the case. Do you know where I can find more information about it?

Thank you for taking an interest in John Ridenour’s case. The best place to start for verified information is the Ohio Attorney General’s “Ohio Unsolved Homicides” listing for him (it’s Case #2029). That page usually has the official basics—date, location, time window, and the current tip info—so it’s a good anchor before going down any rabbit holes online.

If you’re looking for more detail beyond the short official summary, the next best source is often older local news coverage from around the time it happened. Since this was 1976, a lot of the deeper context tends to live in newspaper archives or library databases rather than modern websites. If you have access to a local library’s digital archives (or even a historical society), searching his name and the Sunoco location in Franklin can sometimes turn up articles with additional reporting.

You can also try reaching out to the Franklin Police Department, since they’re the investigating agency. They may not be able to share much publicly, but sometimes they can confirm what information is available or point you to official resources.

And if you happen to have any info yourself—even something that feels small—it’s always better to pass it directly to investigators rather than posting details publicly. The Ohio AG page should include the right tip route for the case.