Peter Joseph Becci, a 35-year-old biochemist, was killed on February 6, 1987, in his home located in Shawnee Township, a suburb of Lima, Ohio. Becci was at his residence at 750 Kiowa Trail while his wife and children were out having dinner. In the early evening hours, someone entered his home and shot him four times at close range with a large-caliber handgun, including shots to his head and back. There were no signs of a struggle, forced entry, or any burglary, as Becci's personal belongings, including his Rolex watch and wallet, were left untouched. His wife and children discovered his body near the top of the stairs leading from the lower level of the house upon their return.
Becci was a respected professional, serving as the president of the Springborn Institute for Biological Research in Spencerville, Ohio. Originally from New Jersey, he had relocated to Lima two years prior to his death. His murder was highly unusual for the affluent neighborhood and drew significant attention due to its seemingly targeted nature. Investigators initially interviewed those close to Becci, including his wife, Joyce, who later moved to Florida. Despite police efforts, Joyce refused to provide a statement regarding the events surrounding his death, and investigators described her as uncooperative, labeling her a "person of interest."
The case went cold for many years, but Shawnee Township Police reopened it in 2012 in an effort to seek justice for Becci's family. Detective Jack Miller and Don Marik have continued to pursue leads, traveling out of state and placing billboards in Lima to draw attention to the unsolved murder. The police have requested anyone with information to come forward, as they aim to bring some resolution to Becci's family after decades without answers.
