Nancy Lourie Grigsby, a 23-year-old White female from Withamsville, Ohio, was tragically murdered in 1976. She was one of several victims in a string of killings that spanned from 1975 to 1977. Nancy disappeared on May 4, 1976, while on her way to meet her boyfriend in Fairfax. Her remains were discovered months later, on November 15, 1976, in a wooded area along Moore-Marathon Road in Clermont County's Jackson Township.
Nancy's murder was linked to Larry Ralston, a serial killer responsible for the deaths of multiple young women in the Tri-State area. Ralston, an unemployed 28-year-old dropout from Norwood High School, had previously worked at the Hamilton County morgue and a state mental hospital. His lifestyle—marked by late nights and associations with young women—raised concerns among his family. His father had warned him that his reckless behavior would lead to trouble, while his mother described him as a 'likable boy' who could easily strike up conversations with strangers.
Ralston's killing spree began in September 1975, with the murder of 17-year-old Linda Kay Harmon, whose body was found in Felicity after being partially dragged to a porch by dogs. Over the next two years, several other young women were found in shallow graves, including Nancy Grigsby. Authorities arrested Ralston in November 1977, initially on charges of raping three 15-year-old girls. During transport to Clermont County, he unexpectedly confessed to multiple murders, leading investigators to uncover his role in the deaths of at least five women.
In 1978, Ralston was sentenced to four life terms for his crimes. Although one conviction was later overturned, he received another life sentence in 1984 for an additional murder. His confessions helped police solve cases that had remained unsolved for years, bringing some closure to the families of his victims.
