On May 21, 2001, Lisa Ann Gross, a 39-year-old woman, was found dead in the bathtub of her home at 6758 Damson Place in Westerville, Ohio. The discovery was made by her two daughters, ages 11 and 7, when they returned home from school. Upon arriving, they found the house flooded, with water from the bathtub overflowing throughout the residence. Lisa had sustained a puncture wound to the back of her head, which was determined to be the cause of death.
The murder weapon was never found, and there were no signs of forced entry into the home.
The scene presented unusual elements, such as shredded paper from Lisa's home office scattered over her body and the bathroom floor. Investigators speculated that this detail, along with the lack of forced entry, might indicate that Lisa knew her attacker. Despite extensive efforts, which included gathering DNA samples from over 100 neighbors in the Orchard Lakes subdivision, the case remains unsolved. In 2008, unidentified hair samples found at the scene were sent to an out-of-state DNA lab, but no matches were found.
The investigation into Lisa Gross's death remains ongoing. Her family and law enforcement are still hoping for leads that could bring closure to this cold case. Her daughters have since founded "Hope for Surviving Children of Violent Crime," an organization intended to help children cope with the aftermath of violent incidents, drawing on their own tragic experiences to support others in need. The Delaware County Sheriff's Office continues to encourage anyone with information to come forward, with a reward being offered for details that might lead to an arrest or indictment.
