On July 1, 2023, John Thomas Grooms, a 76-year-old resident of Lucasville, Ohio, was found dead in what authorities are investigating as an apparent murder-suicide. The incident unfolded at around 3:53 p.m. when the Scioto County Sheriff's Office received a distressing 911 call from John Thomas Grooms II, his 27-year-old son. During the call, Grooms II reported a fire at their residence on U.S. Highway 23 and confessed to killing his father before setting the house ablaze.
Emergency responders were dispatched to both the Grooms' residence and another location on Nesbitt Road, where additional fires were reported. Upon arrival, deputies and firefighters discovered the bodies of both John Grooms and his son at the respective sites. The elder Grooms was confirmed to be the victim identified by his son during the call. The bodies were subsequently transported to the Montgomery County Coroner's Office for autopsies to determine the exact causes of death.
Authorities have characterized the event as a tragic case of murder-suicide, with investigations ongoing. The Scioto County Sheriff's Office has urged anyone with relevant information to come forward as they piece together the circumstances surrounding this devastating incident.
