UPDATE: Store Owner Found Dead; His Wife Shares Her Grief
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Updated: 8:42 PM Dec 30, 2008
UPDATE: Store Owner Found Dead; His Wife Shares Her Grief
A murder investigation is underway in Portsmouth. Police found the body of man inside his own business Sunday morning.
Posted: 7:59 PM Dec 28, 2008
Reporter: Randy Yohe; Melanie Chapman
Email Address: randy.yohe@wsaz.com; melanie.chapman@wsaz.com
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Update on Tuesday, Dec. 30
PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (WSAZ) -- The widow of a weekend murder victim said her beloved husband was maybe too kindhearted.

Police agreed that Fred Rowles' killer might have also been a so-called friend. We talked one-on-one Tuesday with Jill Rowles, who is Fred Rowles' widow.

Among her family pictures, Jill Rowles pointed out the two grandchildren she and her late husband were raising and she continues to raise after their daughter got hooked on drugs and went through rehab.

"Somebody took my world away," Jill Rowles said of her husband. "We were in love. Our feet would touch when we were in bed, and now he's gone and I'm mad as hell."

With determination and strength, Jill Rowles took detectives back into the crime scene. The couple's downtown business was where police found the 57-year-old shot Fred Rowles shot and killed Sunday. All involved said the benevolent gentleman likely knew his killer

"It could have been somebody he knew," Portsmouth Police Department Detective Jim Charles said. "He would help anyone out."

Detectives say just before his death, Fred Rowles went to the store across the street for not his usual one cup, but two cups of coffee. The second may have been for the killer.

If you know any little detail that might lead to an arrest, you are asked to call Portsmouth police.

For more comments from Jill Rowles, click on the video link above.

Update on Monday, December 29
PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (WSAZ) -Police continue to investigate leads in the death of a Portsmouth store owner.

Fred Rowles body was found in the floor of his office at the Lookin Good Tanning and Hair Salon Sunday morning.

No one has been arrested, and police have still not released a cause of death.

We're told investigators are at Rowles autopsy in Franklin County, Ohio this morning.

Keep clicking on WSAZ. com for the latest information.

Original Story, Sunday, December 28

SCIOTO COUNTY, Ohio (WSAZ) -- Police made an unusual discovery Sunday morning. They were responding to an alarm when they found the body of the owner of the store.

No one has been arrested, but police say they have a few people they plan to question.

The body was discovered around 10:15 a.m. Sunday at the Lookin Good Tanning and Hair Salon. The business is located at 510 Offnere Street.

Police say they went to the store when the store security alarm went off. When police arrived, they found an open door. As they walked in to find the alarm, officers found the owner of the business, Fred Rowles, on the floor of his office. Rowles was 57 years old and from the Rosemont area.

Police say his wife was out of town at the time but she has been notified and is on her way back home.

A motive for the crime has not been determined. Police say if anyone has information call the Portsmouth Police Department at 740-353-4101. Police say all calls are kept confidential and callers can remain anonymous.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Dan on Mar 16, 2009 at 09:29 PM

The best advice I can give to the person who did this is turn your self in before your found its the only mercy you will get. and may God have mercy on your soul even though you don`t deserve it.
[ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Creshawn on Mar 16, 2009 at 10:41 AM

So sorry Jill. My heart goes out to you...sickened and saddened. If I hear anything...
[ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: concerned person on Mar 13, 2009 at 09:38 PM

why hasn't anyone had a update on this murder. It's like it has been swept under the rug.
[ Report Abuse ]
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