Evidence of marijuana grow operation, cockfighting at Ohio killing scenes, authorities say



COLUMBUS, Ohio -- As the investigation into the killings of eight family members in rural Ohio enters its fifth day, more details are being released.

Pike County Prosecutor Rob Junk told The Columbus Dispatch Monday that the marijuana operations discovered at three of the four crime scenes included a grow-house sheltering hundreds of plants.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine also says there's possible evidence of cockfighting at one of the properties, but he says he doesn't know what's relevant to the investigation.

No arrests have been made, and officials have not said if they have any suspects in mind. They have not released any details about a motive.

A coroner says seven of the eight victims were shot multiple times, and one had nine gunshot wounds.

The Hamilton County coroner said that autopsies showed some victims also had bruising. One victim was shot only once, but it's not clear who that was.

The bodies of seven adults and a 16-year-old boy were found Friday at four properties near Piketon, about 60 miles south of Columbus.

Investigators say some apparently were killed as they slept, including a young mother in bed with her days-old newborn nearby. The infant and two other small children weren't harmed.

The father of one of eight people slain in southern Ohio says he knew nothing about marijuana growing operations at three of the four crime scenes.

Leonard Manley is the father of 37-year-old Dana Rhoden. He says he first learned of the marijuana from news reports Sunday.

Manley told the Cincinnati Enquirer on Monday that he's sure his daughter couldn't have been involved in anything illegal.

Manley also says he found it strange that the killer or killers were able to get past his daughter's two dogs.