On September 7, 1997, Martha Oelman, age 47, was found murdered in her secluded cabin in Sugarcreek Township, Ohio. She was discovered lying face down on her bed by friends who went to check on her after she failed to arrive at an event. Martha's body was nude, and she had suffered blunt force trauma to the back of the head. Authorities determined that she had been killed about two days earlier.
Despite a thorough investigation and the involvement of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) since 1999, the case remains unsolved.
Martha Oelman was known as a gentle and private individual, dedicated to preserving nature. She lived alone in a family cabin on a large, wooded property near the Little Miami River, which made her death all the more shocking for those who knew her. The cabin showed no signs of forced entry or ransacking, leading authorities to suspect that the perpetrator may have been someone familiar to her. Investigators did not find any evidence of sexual assault, and the weapon used to kill her was never located.
Martha was the daughter of Robert Schantz Oelman, a former chairman of the National Cash Register Company. Despite her family wealth, she lived modestly and devoted her life to her work and passions, including homeopathy, as she served as a media liaison for the National Center for Homeopathy. Investigators have followed multiple leads and theories over the years, including examining possible connections to individuals within the LGBTQ+ community and even the possibility of a hate crime. However, none of these avenues have led to a conclusive resolution. Friends have offered varying theories, including potential motives related to property disputes or a stalker.
The BCI continues to seek public assistance in solving this cold case, and a reward has been offered for any information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for Martha Oelman's death. Friends and family, including her brother Brad, continue to hope for justice and closure.
