Chester Joseph "Joe" Scowden, a 19-year-old male from Columbus, Ohio, was tragically killed on October 2, 1965. He was found dead at the Certified Oil Co. gas station on East Main Street in Columbus. Scowden, who was a one-time Golden Gloves champion, had been shot twice with a .25 caliber pistol – once in the heart and once in the back of the head.
His wallet and $80 were missing, indicating that the incident might have been a robbery.
The case quickly drew attention from local law enforcement, and a $1,000 reward was offered for any information that might lead to an arrest. Despite the reward and extensive investigations, no arrests were made, and the case remains unsolved to this day. The Columbus Police Department, along with the Ohio Attorney General's office, has continued to seek information from the public regarding this cold case.
The circumstances of Scowden's death suggested that he might have known his attacker, as it was considered unlikely that he would open the door to a stranger. This detail added complexity to the investigation, as authorities struggled to identify a suspect. The case is one of several unsolved homicides from that period in Columbus, which collectively are referred to as the Columbus murders.
Despite the passage of time, the Ohio Attorney General's office continues to encourage anyone with information about Chester Scowden's murder to come forward. The hope remains that new evidence or witness testimony might eventually lead to a resolution and justice for Scowden and his family.
