On November 24, 2024, a tragic incident unfolded in Ohio City, Ohio, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. The Van Wert County Sheriff's Office received a call around 8:09 a.m. from an individual reporting that his friend, 51-year-old Paul A. Boldman of Ohio City, had confessed to killing his girlfriend and another man, and intended to take his own life.
Deputies conducted a welfare check at a residence in Ohio City, where they discovered the bodies of 29-year-old Shelby M.
Coats of Ohio City and 30-year-old Andrew C. Lause of Delphos. Both had sustained fatal gunshot wounds. The home was secured, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation was called in to process the crime scene.
Simultaneously, authorities located Boldman's vehicle at a different residence on Washington Street. After establishing a perimeter and obtaining a search warrant, the Van Wert Police Department's Special Response Team entered the home. Inside, they found Boldman alive but suffering from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was transported to OhioHealth Van Wert Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The investigation into this double homicide and subsequent suicide is ongoing. Authorities have not disclosed a motive for the shootings. The Van Wert County Coroner's Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol are assisting with the investigation.
In the wake of this tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign has been established to support the funeral expenses and children of Andrew Lause. Lause is survived by his two children, Tanner and McKenna.
