Determined detective work cracks decades-old murder case

ST. MARYS - The evidence from a gruesome and senseless murder of a local farmer was filed away for decades in a room at the police department.

Periodically when the budget allowed and officers had time, they would scan through the neatly preserved contents of the nearly 34-year-old cold case, hoping to find a tiny shred of information to spark a new lead.

"For a period of time, there were no leads or no one to pick up the case," St. Marys Police Chief Mark Ernst said Thursday after the last of three men charged in the murder of 72-year-old Marcellus Reineke was sentenced in court.

The investigation into the heinous crime went cold shortly after Reineke was stabbed and slashed 39 times during the botched burglary Oct. 13, 1981, in his home on South West Street in St. Marys.

Brian Guggenbiller, who authorities said repeatedly stabbed Reineke on that fateful day, was sentenced on Thursday. He and his accomplices each will serve seven to 25 years behind bars.

Several members of the police force who worked the case, including recently retired detective Kim Reier, were in the courtroom Thursday. Their faces showed relief; a horrible crime that shocked a community was finally solved and justice was served.

"We're just very proud, very happy right now," Ernst said.

Several generations of police officers worked the case through the years, the chief said.

"(Detective) Tim Eberle's father, retired Sgt. Al Eberle, encouraged him to pick up the case and he did," Ernst said. "(Solving) this was the result of good, old-fashioned police work."

Auglaize County Prosecutor Ed Pierce described the dedicated work by police and his staff as "dogged persistence."

"I'm proud. Our office got to play a very small role. ... You have to credit those officers now on the St. Marys PD, those that retired and, unfortunately, those who've passed on who did the ground work in this case," Pierce said. "They did a remarkable job."

The investigation took officers to several states chasing numerous clues, he said.

"They just never gave up," Pierce added.

He also credited assistant prosecutor Benjamin Elder, who became involved in the case about six months before the first suspect was indicted.

Elder said the case ended the way he had hoped.

"I'm glad we got to where we got today. This was very important to me," he said.

One at a time - beginning in Dec. 2013 - each of the three fugitives was indicted for aggravated murder and convicted in a plea deal on a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter.       Elder said the case took a positive turn when the first suspect, Paul Hoover, agreed to cooperate with authorities in exchange for the reduced charge.

The second man indicted, Tracy Mabry, agreed to the same deal with authorities, Elder said.

"Each one helped build the case for the next one," he added.

The family of Marcellus Reineke on Thursday told the newspaper how frustrating it was at times when it seemed the case might not get solved. During Thursday's hearing they expressed deep gratitude to the police department for bringing them closure.

"The people of St. Marys are really lucky to have them ...," Reineke's nephew, Bernie Reineke, said in court. "So from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you."

In a prepared statement, the victim's family said they are grateful and fortunate for Reier and the police department "who did not give up on solving the case." They also thanked Elder and the prosecutor's office for their persistence.

Pierce told the newspaper that even a small piece of evidence can lead to a conviction in an otherwise cold case.

"Auglaize County still has a cold case out there and anybody with information should share it with the Auglaize County Sheriff's Office," Pierce said.

The case involves the murder of Roger Parent during a robbery at the P and S Carry-Out in St. Marys on Dec. 29, 1978. Pierce said it remains the only unsolved murder in Auglaize County.