Charles Richard Rick Newman, a 56-year-old man from Heath, Ohio, tragically died on November 26, 2015. Newman was the owner and operator of Newman Excavating and was well-known in his community for his kind-hearted nature and love for NASCAR and his Harley Davidson motorcycle. He was a member of the Moose Lodge, Newark Eagles, and a Freemason. Newman is survived by his wife Ramona, his children Amanda, Thomas, and Christopher, and his grandchildren.
Newman's death was ruled a homicide.
On Thanksgiving Day, Milton D. Jarvis, a 69-year-old man with a prior murder conviction, went to Newman's home on Rosemary Lane in Licking Township. After an argument, Jarvis drew a firearm and shot Newman multiple times, hitting his chest, left arm, and head. A scuffle ensued, and Jarvis was also shot, but he later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The Licking County Coroner's Office performed autopsies on both men, confirming Newman's death as a result of the shooting.
Jarvis had a history of criminal activity, including a murder conviction from 1980 in Indiana and a conviction for aggravated preparation of drugs for sale in 1999. Jarvis was not legally allowed to possess a firearm due to his prior convictions. Detectives were still investigating the nature of the argument and how Newman and Jarvis knew each other at the time of the incident.
The tragic incident left the community in shock, and Newman's family and friends mourned the loss of a beloved father, husband, and grandfather. Funeral services were held at Reed-Egan Funeral Home in Newark, Ohio, where friends and family gathered to remember Newman and celebrate his life.
