The path of Joseph McClain led from his rural Tennessee roots to a dramatic shooting spree in the heart of Dover, Ohio. Joseph L. McClain (1909-1969) was born in Tennessee in late 1909 or early 1910, the son of farmer Charles McClain and his wife, Laura (Skillern) McClain. Recorded as four months old in theContinue reading “Intent to Kill: The 1946 Joseph McClain Shooting Spree”
Tag Archives: 1940s true crime
In the Line of Duty: The Murder of Deputy Myers
A tense standoff between a veteran sheriff’s deputy and an unstable Tuscarawas County farmer ended in deadly tragedy. Martin L. Myers (1890-1940) was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the son of Victor E. Myers (?-1892) and Ella McBarnes Myers (1872-1943). After his father’s death in 1892, young Martin grew up in Dennison, Ohio, where he livedContinue reading “In the Line of Duty: The Murder of Deputy Myers”
Jealousy on the Farm: The 1940 Murder of Nellie Kail
A devoted farm wife, a jealous husband, and a fatal morning confrontation – unraveling the tragic, forgotten story of Nellie Vansickle Kail. Content warning: If you or someone you know has a mental illness, is struggling emotionally, or has concerns about their mental health, there are ways to get help. Click here for resources to findContinue reading “Jealousy on the Farm: The 1940 Murder of Nellie Kail”
In the Shadow of Zoar: The 1947 Murder of John Myers, Conclusion
The murder of John Myers ended his life, but not his legacy. Meanwhile, the question of who murdered him remained unknown. Click here to read part six. John Myers, the man senselessly murdered outside a tavern in Zoar in November 1947, was on his way home to his wife and daughter in Bolivar, Ohio. AContinue reading “In the Shadow of Zoar: The 1947 Murder of John Myers, Conclusion”
In the Shadow of Zoar: The 1947 Murder of John Myers, Part Six
Delbert Sizemore’s life of crime—spanning armed robberies, violent assaults, and state-hopping schemes, possibly included the 1947 murder of John Myers where his own words and actions pointed to his guilt. Click here to read part five. Delbert Sizemore was in and out of prison from at least the age of 18, and possibly even earlierContinue reading “In the Shadow of Zoar: The 1947 Murder of John Myers, Part Six”
In the Shadow of Zoar: The 1947 Murder of John Myers, Part Five
Was it probable that Delbert Sizemore was responsible for the murder of John Myers in November 1947? There were reasons to doubt it. Click here to read part four. Tuscarawas County law enforcement had, by the end of December 1947, a man they believed was responsible for the murder of John Myers outside a tavernContinue reading “In the Shadow of Zoar: The 1947 Murder of John Myers, Part Five”
In the Shadow of Zoar: The 1947 Murder of John Myers, Part Four
Who was Delbert Hershel Sizemore, the violent Indiana convicted felon, and what was his connection to the murder of John Myers on the evening of November 19, 1947? Click here to read part three. Delbert Hershel Sizemore’s life began quietly enough in 1914, in the small Indiana town of Center Point. But beneath the surfaceContinue reading “In the Shadow of Zoar: The 1947 Murder of John Myers, Part Four”
In the Shadow of Zoar: The 1947 Murder of John Myers, Part Three
The murder of John Myers sparked a complex investigation involving local, state, and federal law enforcement, as they struggled to untangle conflicting witness accounts, trace potential suspects, and pursue elusive leads across state lines. Click here to read part two. The investigation into who killed John Myers and why began immediately and included law enforcementContinue reading “In the Shadow of Zoar: The 1947 Murder of John Myers, Part Three”
In the Shadow of Zoar: The 1947 Murder of John Myers, Part Two
The events of the evening of Wednesday, November 19, 1947 left one man dead in a ditch beside a tavern in Zoar, Ohio. The timeline presented below is based on newspaper accounts from witnesses and officials. Click here to read part one. On the cold evening of November 19, 1947 John Myers, a railroad employeeContinue reading “In the Shadow of Zoar: The 1947 Murder of John Myers, Part Two”
In the Shadow of Zoar: The 1947 Murder of John Myers, Part One
From a life of hard labor to a mysterious death outside a quiet tavern, the story of John Myers unravels a forgotten Tuscarawas County tragedy. John Russell Lee Myers (1892-1947), who occasionally went by the name Russell or Lee, was born in Pine Grove, West Virginia in 1892. His father, William H. Myers (1861-?), wasContinue reading “In the Shadow of Zoar: The 1947 Murder of John Myers, Part One”
Tuscarawas County Stories 