James Edward Bartee, 48, was found dead on May 18, 1980, in Columbus, Ohio, after being stabbed multiple times. His body was discovered at his residence on Sullivant Avenue, and the case has remained unsolved since that time. Bartee's death, ruled as a homicide, has perplexed investigators for decades, with no viable suspects or clear motives emerging from the investigation.
The Columbus Police Department has been the leading investigative authority on the case, but despite numerous attempts to uncover more information, no breakthroughs have been reported. Bartee's death is one of many unsolved homicides included in the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s cold case database, which seeks to bring greater visibility to unsolved crimes across Ohio and encourage public participation in solving them. The agency hopes that by keeping cases like Bartee’s in the public eye, someone with pertinent information may come forward to provide new leads that could help solve the case.
James Bartee was buried at Kirkwood Cemetery in Union Township. The Find a Grave memorial page also commemorates his life and offers an opportunity for friends, family, and community members to leave tributes. However, the case's prolonged lack of resolution continues to leave a gap for those who seek closure regarding his tragic death. The Ohio Attorney General's Office has made ongoing efforts to highlight such cold cases in hopes of finding justice for victims like Bartee and providing answers to their families.
