On December 8, 1985, John Pennington, aged 26, was murdered in Columbus, Ohio, while sitting in his car at the drive-thru of a Taco Bell located on West Broad Street. The incident took place late at night, involving an altercation between individuals in Pennington's car and the occupants of another vehicle ahead of them in the line. During the altercation, a person from the other car got out, approached Pennington's vehicle, and began stabbing Pennington and the other occupants. Following the attack, the assailant returned to his own vehicle and fled the scene.
Pennington was rushed to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Despite initial efforts by law enforcement, the case has remained unsolved, and no suspects have been identified in connection with his murder. The details of the incident remain unclear, and little information has been discovered regarding the other individuals who were in Pennington's car at the time. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office continues to seek information that might help bring justice to Pennington and his family.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), along with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, is encouraging anyone with information related to this case to come forward. Tips can be submitted through the Ohio Attorney General’s website, and authorities hope that renewed attention might finally bring some answers to this decades-old case (sources: Ohio Attorney General's Office, Defrosting Cold Cases).
