~*Rest In Peace Diana and Lil Cameron...See You On The Otherside...Love Ya and Miss Ya*~
Morrow County 17-year-old arrested in double homicide
Jillian Daley
Gannett News Service
By Jillian Daley
Gannett News Service
IBERIA - A 17-year-old Morrow County male was arrested Tuesday in connection with the apparent drug-related murders of a Galion woman and her 6-year-old son, according to the Morrow County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff Steven R. Brenneman, who did not release the name of the suspect, said detectives on Tuesday found items in a 1998 vehicle allegedly stolen from the home of Diana Cooper, 8532 Bucyrus St.
Cooper and her 6-year-old son, Cameron Bateman, were found dead inside the home on Monday afternoon. Both had been shot in the head, according to detectives. “As a result (of the search), a suspect was interviewed ... with information provided by the suspect, a 9mm handgun has been recovered, as well as pertinent other evidence,” the sheriff said Tuesday night. “Diana did know the suspect and there was no sign of a struggle,” Brenneman said in a written statement. “It appears at this time that the shootings were drug related. The sheriff said charges should be filed today and that officials would seek to have the juvenile tried as an adult. Brenneman praised the efforts of his detectives, along with officers from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification, as well as the METRICH regional drug task force. Check the print and online editions of Wednesday's News Journal for more details.
Officials probing 2 deaths in Iberia
Woman, son victims of possible homicide
By Jillian Daley, jbdaley@nncogannett.com
Gannett News Service
How to help
Those with any information about Iberia resident Diana Cooper, her son, Cameron Bateman, or Jason Bateman, may call the Morrow County Sheriff's Office at: (419) 946-6991.
IBERIA -- A friend who went to see 27-year-old Diana Cooper at her Iberia home Monday found Cooper and her 6-year-old son dead. Cooper's friend called authorities at 1:43 p.m. and when deputies arrived a few minutes later, they found two of Cooper's friends mourning the woman and child. The friends' names have not been released. Morrow County Sheriff Steve Brenneman said it appeared Cooper and her son, Cameron Bateman, were victims of a double homicide. Brenneman did not release any information on suspects or weapons. "This hits hard," said Brenneman, who has been in office for just two weeks.
Family members have been notified and are "very upset" and "understandably in shock," he said.
The boy's father, Jason Bateman, had visited the house earlier in the day, according to Brenneman. Bateman and Cooper were not married. Four Morrow County detectives and two Ohio Bureau of Identification and Investigation officials were investigating the cordoned-off home and the bodies Monday afternoon. The bodies were still in the home late Monday night. They will be sent to the Franklin County Coroner, Brenneman said. Those who knew the boy and his mother expressed shock at the deaths of the little family who lived at 8532 Bucyrus Street in this northern Morrow County village of about 300.
Iberia residents Frank and Eileen Reed said their granddaughter went to school at Iberia Elementary School, where Cameron was in kindergarten. The two live just a couple of houses away from Cooper and Cameron on Bucyrus Street. "I mean, he's just a typical little boy," said Eileen Reed, owner of Eileen's Family Restaurant on Ohio 309. "(Cameron) seemed to spend a lot of time with his grandpa."
She said the boy's grandfather lived a house away.
Frank Reed said the event was "a complete surprise," and Eileen Reed agreed, calling Iberia "just a quiet little town," where "not a whole lot goes on."
It is a more than a year since the Jan. 9, 2004 murder-suicide that took place in Cardington, another quiet Morrow County town. Brian Nutter shot and killed Jenna VanBuskirk and her mother, Kathleen VanBuskirk, his estranged girlfriend. Those who knew the VanBuskirks were caught off guard by the incident, and Cooper's neighbor are having a similar reaction of stunned horror.
"I'm horrified; I'm shocked; I'm sick," Bernadine Everly of Iberia said. She said she has prayed for the family next door before and is saddened by what has happened.
"Oh Lord, I can't believe it," Everly said.
Jillian Daley
Gannett News Service
By Jillian Daley
Gannett News Service
IBERIA - A 17-year-old Morrow County male was arrested Tuesday in connection with the apparent drug-related murders of a Galion woman and her 6-year-old son, according to the Morrow County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff Steven R. Brenneman, who did not release the name of the suspect, said detectives on Tuesday found items in a 1998 vehicle allegedly stolen from the home of Diana Cooper, 8532 Bucyrus St.
Cooper and her 6-year-old son, Cameron Bateman, were found dead inside the home on Monday afternoon. Both had been shot in the head, according to detectives. “As a result (of the search), a suspect was interviewed ... with information provided by the suspect, a 9mm handgun has been recovered, as well as pertinent other evidence,” the sheriff said Tuesday night. “Diana did know the suspect and there was no sign of a struggle,” Brenneman said in a written statement. “It appears at this time that the shootings were drug related. The sheriff said charges should be filed today and that officials would seek to have the juvenile tried as an adult. Brenneman praised the efforts of his detectives, along with officers from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification, as well as the METRICH regional drug task force. Check the print and online editions of Wednesday's News Journal for more details.
Officials probing 2 deaths in Iberia
Woman, son victims of possible homicide
By Jillian Daley, jbdaley@nncogannett.com
Gannett News Service
How to help
Those with any information about Iberia resident Diana Cooper, her son, Cameron Bateman, or Jason Bateman, may call the Morrow County Sheriff's Office at: (419) 946-6991.
IBERIA -- A friend who went to see 27-year-old Diana Cooper at her Iberia home Monday found Cooper and her 6-year-old son dead. Cooper's friend called authorities at 1:43 p.m. and when deputies arrived a few minutes later, they found two of Cooper's friends mourning the woman and child. The friends' names have not been released. Morrow County Sheriff Steve Brenneman said it appeared Cooper and her son, Cameron Bateman, were victims of a double homicide. Brenneman did not release any information on suspects or weapons. "This hits hard," said Brenneman, who has been in office for just two weeks.
Family members have been notified and are "very upset" and "understandably in shock," he said.
The boy's father, Jason Bateman, had visited the house earlier in the day, according to Brenneman. Bateman and Cooper were not married. Four Morrow County detectives and two Ohio Bureau of Identification and Investigation officials were investigating the cordoned-off home and the bodies Monday afternoon. The bodies were still in the home late Monday night. They will be sent to the Franklin County Coroner, Brenneman said. Those who knew the boy and his mother expressed shock at the deaths of the little family who lived at 8532 Bucyrus Street in this northern Morrow County village of about 300.
Iberia residents Frank and Eileen Reed said their granddaughter went to school at Iberia Elementary School, where Cameron was in kindergarten. The two live just a couple of houses away from Cooper and Cameron on Bucyrus Street. "I mean, he's just a typical little boy," said Eileen Reed, owner of Eileen's Family Restaurant on Ohio 309. "(Cameron) seemed to spend a lot of time with his grandpa."
She said the boy's grandfather lived a house away.
Frank Reed said the event was "a complete surprise," and Eileen Reed agreed, calling Iberia "just a quiet little town," where "not a whole lot goes on."
It is a more than a year since the Jan. 9, 2004 murder-suicide that took place in Cardington, another quiet Morrow County town. Brian Nutter shot and killed Jenna VanBuskirk and her mother, Kathleen VanBuskirk, his estranged girlfriend. Those who knew the VanBuskirks were caught off guard by the incident, and Cooper's neighbor are having a similar reaction of stunned horror.
"I'm horrified; I'm shocked; I'm sick," Bernadine Everly of Iberia said. She said she has prayed for the family next door before and is saddened by what has happened.
"Oh Lord, I can't believe it," Everly said.