FBI – Tuscarawas County Stories

In the Shadow of Zoar: The 1947 Murder of John Myers, Conclusion

Closed circuit image captured during Delbert Sizemore's (in sunglasses) last bank robbery in May 1974. (Source: newspapers.com)

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

AI generated image depicting a suspect being interrogated by two law enforcement officers in 1947. (Source: Microsoft Designer)

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

AI generated image of a prisoner sitting in his cell in 1950. (Source: Microsoft Designer)

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

Newspaper photo of Delbert Hershel Sizemore in police custody in 1952. (Source: newspapers.com)

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

AI generated image depicting police and detectives examining the ditch where John Myers's body was discovered, 2025. (Source: Microsoft Designer)

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”