On February 16, 2001, 83-year-old Ella Mae Grant was discovered murdered in her home in Londonderry, Ohio. Her friends, arriving to pick her up for church, found her body, leading investigators to suspect that she had been the victim of a violent burglary. Authorities believe Grant was killed sometime between the evening of February 16 and the morning of February 18. Known as a beloved real estate agent and respected community member, Grant’s death shocked Ross County and remains unsolved despite extensive investigation.
Thomas James McCray, a man later convicted of another murder in the area, emerged as a person of interest in Grant’s case. Although no concrete evidence has tied McCray to her murder, law enforcement has kept his name active in their investigation, leaving the case open and Grant's family hopeful for justice. To this day, the Ohio Attorney General and local authorities continue to seek information from the public, urging anyone with knowledge to come forward in the hopes of solving this cold case and bringing closure to her community and loved ones.
