Gregory A. Raynor, a 32-year-old male of Caucasian ethnicity, was a dedicated deputy sheriff with the Clark County Sheriff's Office in Ohio. On April 18, 1978, he succumbed to injuries sustained from a shotgun blast three weeks earlier while responding to a rape call in Park Layne. Raynor was shot in the chest and head by an 18-year-old suspect, Jeff Reed, who was later arrested following a short vehicle pursuit and shootout.
Raynor was initially treated at Mercy Medical Center but
eventually fell into a coma and suffered cardiac arrest, leading to his death. The county coroner, Dr. George P. Anderson, stated that Raynor's death was indirectly caused by his injuries and the subsequent coma. The grand jury began an inquiry into the case, and further charges were expected against Reed in light of Raynor's death.
Reed, who was arrested shortly after the shooting, was held in the Greene County Jail on bonds totaling $150,000. He was later convicted of Raynor's murder and sentenced to life in prison. Reed has been denied parole multiple times, with his next parole hearing scheduled for August 1, 2027.
Raynor's funeral was held at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, and he was honored with a 21-gun rifle salute by members of the Springfield Police Division. The Clark County Sheriff's Office training facility was named the Greg Raynor Memorial Training Facility in his memory.
Raynor is survived by his wife and two children, and his ultimate sacrifice is remembered by his family, friends, and fellow officers.
