Saturday, November 6, 2010

Martins Ferry, WV: Cops Probe Murder-Suicide

Man allegedly kills girlfriend, hangs self

November 6, 2010 - By KIM NORTH

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MARTINS FERRY - City police have identified the victims of an apparent murder-suicide that occurred early Friday morning.

Sergeant in charge John McFarland said in a Friday afternoon telephone interview that the deceased are Julie Neer, described by McFarland as being in her early 20s, and Ricky Perko, who McFarland said was believed to be in his mid- to late-20s.

Although the investigation is still ongoing at two sites - 1825 Hill St. in Martins Ferry and a South Sharon Road home in Colerain Township - McFarland said it appears Perko killed Neer in the Hill Street apartment about 9 a.m. then went to the South Sharon Road address and took his own life.

It is still unclear how Perko killed himself.

"The suspect in the Martins Ferry incident and the victim in the Colerain incident are the same person," McFarland said, adding that reports that Neer was stabbed are unfounded.

"It has been determined that Ms. Neer died of blunt force trauma to the head area," McFarland said. "We do not know at this time what type of weapon was used. We probably won't know that until the autopsy comes back."

McFarland said the probe into what actually occurred by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation could take well into Friday night.

"They (BCII) are still at the Martins Ferry address analyzing the crime scene," McFarland said.

According to McFarland, a call came into his office about 9:20 a.m. Friday stating a female had been killed in an apartment at 1825 Hill St.

Calls to Belmont County Sheriff Fred Thompson have not been returned.

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