Bloody, naked body found in Ohio shed
Police in Columbus, Ohio, investigate the discovery of a bloodied, naked man in a garden shed Monday.
January 18th, 2011
11:22 AM ET

Bloody, naked body found in Ohio shed

Police in Columbus, Ohio, are trying to identify and retrace the final hours of a naked, bloody man found dead in a backyard garden shed.

Someone had knocked on neighbor Dennis Hoover's door at midnight, but Hoover refused to open the door because he couldn't see the man, he told CNN affiliate WBNS-TV.

Hoover called 911 but police could not find anyone, the station reported. Bloody handprints were visible on Hoover's door in the morning.

After daylight, Hoover followed footprints in the snow into a neighbor's yard, where he discovered the bloodied body in the shed.

"He was covered (in blood). It looked like he went through a briar patch," Hoover told WBNS. "Just scratched all up."

Investigators were hoping an autopsy would tell them who the man was and how he was injured.

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Filed under: Crime • Ohio • U.S.
soundoff (333 Responses)
  1. ICUnurse

    The dead man was described as naked and "looking like he'd gone thru a briar patch" - I've had patients that looked like that, and they were either psych patients, very intoxicated, very much under the influence of drugs, or a combination of all 3. You absolutely call the cops, you do not want to be alone with a paranoid schizophrenic who's off their meds, especially if they happen to be intoxicated; you have no idea how strong these people can get unless you've been in EMS/ER/ICU or public safety. It's sad the man's dead, but our lack of mental health resources are such that this happens all the time.

    January 18, 2011 at 12:44 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Nate C

    Of course the cops didn't see the bloody handprint or footprints...cause they probably didn't even get out of the car. They just cruised by, maybe shined the light around for 3 seconds, then left to go eat some donuts.

    January 18, 2011 at 12:47 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Joe

    Obviously, the cops dropped the ball. If there are bloody hand prints on the door where the man reported hearing the noise, they should have investigated the door a bit closer. Sad that this person had to die this way.

    January 18, 2011 at 12:48 pm | Report abuse |
  4. stlman

    Didn't the police officers have a flashlight? Perhaps they need to invest in more equipment.

    January 18, 2011 at 12:49 pm | Report abuse |
  5. tjkvl

    Hindsight is always 20/20. It's so much easier to sit around and say what other people should have done. Enjoy your glass houses while they last.

    January 18, 2011 at 12:53 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Fricsaid

    If appears that a few people on here have confused courage with common sense. After an auto accident one night, I drug my bloody a$$ to a nearby home at about two in the morning looking for help. This was long before cell phones. Anyhoo, the guy answered the door with a gun and I don't blame him one bit. Some bloody stranger, knocking on your door at 2 in the morning, I probably scared the poor guy to death.

    Thankfully, he seen I was sincere about needing help and he called the authorties for me. My injuries were not life-threatening, but with a broken ankle and a face that looked like a cherry pie, I was in no condition to fend for myself. Till this day, it amazes me I could walk to his home on a broken ankle, but could not walk back to my car to await authorities. He was kind enough to let me stay on his porch.

    I dont blame this poor guy for not opening the door. Too many nuts out there.

    January 18, 2011 at 12:54 pm | Report abuse |
    • MrsFizzy

      Exactly. And at least you stayed where the man could see you and told him what had happened. This homeowner didn't even see a bloody man after he knocked so he didn't even know there was someone who needed help.

      January 18, 2011 at 1:47 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Kate

    It is not likely that the man even looked out of the door or window to see if anyone was there. And, it is not likely that the police even showed up. Why? Because there was blood on the door and in the snow. The man left footprints in the snow showing where he came from and went to. No one bothered to look.

    IF a robber knocked on the door on the door AND there was no answer THEN the robber would break-in. Why? A robber would likely assume that no one is home if the door is not answered or lights not turned on, etc.

    January 18, 2011 at 12:55 pm | Report abuse |
  8. ahunter

    I have always called 911 when somone is knocking late and/or i don't know who it is

    January 18, 2011 at 12:57 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Bubba

    Last time I opened my door in the middle of the night, a possum got in and I spent twenty minutes chasing it.

    January 18, 2011 at 12:58 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Rosemarie from Illinois

    Why the police did not investigate is totally crazy. I live in a small town where the police investigate even when loud truck drives down the street late at night. Only if that guy just looked out the window he could of gave than injured man a blanket or something.

    January 18, 2011 at 1:00 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Ted

    I wouldn't call the homeowner a coward. But, 1) Why didn't the police follow the bloody hand prints and foot prints before morning? And, 2) To those of you who would absolutely ignore this, what if this person was just an innocent young man escaping a horrifying situation, with no other options? Remember they too could be someone's missing child. You can keep yourself safe, but still provide help.

    January 18, 2011 at 1:00 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Jim

    The poor victim was probably beaten and trying to get help from his neighbor. Most likely he retreated to the shed for warmth becasue Ohio would have been freezing last night? Would be interesting to know what actually happened though, considering the state he was found.

    January 18, 2011 at 1:02 pm | Report abuse |
  13. dfwpks

    Ummm...folks, really? I didn't read all of the posts, but I read enough to ascertain that I'm thankful none of y'all are investigating. 911 called. Police found nothing. In the morning there were bloody handprints AFTER the police had been there. I don't know, but I will tell you if it were me, I'd be also looking at the homeowner as a possible suspect. One POSSIBLE scenario is the 911 call was a rouse to begin an alibi. If it's all on the up and up, he is certainly no coward to not open the door. I just wonder if he's involved.

    January 18, 2011 at 1:03 pm | Report abuse |
    • LL

      Certainly worth investigating, but highly unlikely. Why were the bloody fingerprints on the OUTSIDE of the door? If the guy had attacked him outside and then went inside, it's a bit unlikely the victim would have gone to THAT door, don't you think? Also, why would he put the body in the shed next door? Wouldn't he have simply taken the body away from his property? What I'm wondering about is why the cops didn't see the bloody handprints the evening before? Something is off about this, but I suspect it's the reporting.

      January 18, 2011 at 1:18 pm | Report abuse |
  14. SAClay

    Actually, if you read the Columbus Dispatch. The man did call 911 (way to report that CNN). The police came, seached for the guy and couldn't find him so they left. I live in Columbus, the snow is melting and in patches so following tracks would have been extremely difficult.

    January 18, 2011 at 1:04 pm | Report abuse |
  15. itsmeashley

    so was the body covered in blood i couldn't tell from the artical

    January 18, 2011 at 1:04 pm | Report abuse |
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