In this episode, the hosts of the True Crime Garage podcast provide an update on the unsolved Boardman Murders in Ohio. They discuss the breakthroughs made in two of the cases after over 50 years, the importance of preserving evidence in cold cases, and the potential connection to Joseph Norman Hill Sr. They express gratitude to listeners and recommend a dark supernatural crime novel.
Two unsolved murders of boys in Boardman, Ohio from the 1970s have been solved after over 50 years.
Joseph Norman Hill Sr. has been identified as the perpetrator of the murders and investigations are ongoing to find potential other victims.
Deep dives
Unsolved Homicides in Boardman
The podcast episode discusses the unsolved homicides of three young boys in Boardman, Ohio, in the 1970s. The victims were aged 12 to 15, and all were abducted or attacked while walking home. Two cases are considered cold cases, with leads drying up over the years. However, one case remains warm and is showing promise of being solved. The police received a letter in 1975, suggesting a man's guilt in all three murders, but the case remained unsolved until extensive DNA analysis in recent years. Joseph Norman Hill Sr. has been identified as the perpetrator of the murders of Brad Bellino and David Evans. The investigations continue to seek potential other victims of Hill's crimes.
Closure for Families
After over 50 years, the murders of Brad Bellino and David Evans have been solved, providing some sense of closure for their families. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Boardman officials announced that extensive DNA analysis linked Joseph Norman Hill Sr. to the murders. The Bellino case was solved in January, while recent developments revealed Hill's connection to the Evans case as well. The police had a list of 15 suspects in the Bellino case but confirmed that Hill was not on that list. The authorities expressed hope that Hill's identification would lead to further information regarding potential additional victims.
Investigation and Questions
Law enforcement remains committed to investigating other potential victims connected to Joseph Norman Hill Sr., as he lived in different locations, and little is known about his life. With a job that required travel, the police are now seeking information about potential victims across various areas. Given Hill's pattern of sexually motivated homicides of young boys, further investigations will examine other possible child victims. The unsolved homicide of Thomas Baird, a victim from 1970, still stands as a separate case, but with the new evidence, the police are actively working on it.
Reflecting on the Tragedy
The podcast episode acknowledges the tremendous impact these unsolved homicides had on the community in Boardman, Ohio. The panic and concerns of safety at the time were reflected in letters written to the police and the local newspaper, questioning the security of the area for children. The efforts of law enforcement, media coverage, and public support have played a crucial role in bringing closure to these cases after decades. While justice could not be fully served due to Hill's death, the identification of the perpetrator offers some sense of closure to the families and friends involved.
Last year we covered the unsolved murders of three boys. The murders all occurred in Boardman, Ohio in the early 1970’s. Those episodes are #567 to #570 on your Garage Radio Dial. In 2023 these three cases that remained unsolved for over fifty years, detectives made big breaks in two of the cases. Please join us this week for a couple of happier days in the Garage and we discuss the big breaks, the updates and finally getting the answers for the families and this wonderful community that has been haunted for decades by the killings of three of there own. If you have any further information regarding this case please reach out to the good detectives of the Boardman PD @ 1-330-726-4144
Beer of the Week - Nosferatu Red IPA by The Great Lakes Brewing Company
Garage Grade - 4 out of 5 bottle caps
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