Murder Indictment Issued In Ohio Cold Case

LISBON, OH — On December 3, 2012, Melinda Todd was found dead inside her home in Salem, Ohio. Her 5-year-old grandson, Cole Reed, was severely injured and found alongside his grandmother. Both Todd and Reed had been beaten with a blunt instrument, investigators said.

Reed would survive the attack but he required several surgeries and months of physical therapy. Todd, 43, did not live to see her grandson's recovery.

For nearly seven years, police and prosecutors labored to determined who killed Todd and attacked Reed. On Monday, state prosecutors announced a Columbiana County grand jury had indicted Kevin Kirby, 44, on two counts of aggravated murder, one count of attempted murder and one count of tampering with evidence.

The Columbiana County Prosecutor's Office worked with Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigations to advance the case. Both groups called in the help of the Columbiana County Sheriff's Office and re-examined the cold case.

After additional investigation, prosecutors sought an indictment against Kirby. He was served his charges at Belmont Correctional Institute where he is currently incarcerated on an unrelated charge.