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VAN WERT - A Rockford man on Thursday was indicted on charges stemming from the murder of a 43-year-old Van Wert woman in September, according to a news release from Van Wert Police Chief Doug Weigle.
In an unrelated case, Weigle also announced that Van Wert police are searching for Larry P. Andrus Jr., Van Wert, who is alleged to have contributed to the death of a 59-year-old Van Wert man.
Ryan E. Houser, 38, Rockford, was indicted by a grand jury on one count of unclassified felony aggravated murder, third-degree felony tampering with evidence and third-degree felony possessing a weapon under a disability.
If convicted, Houser faces life in prison.
The charges are related to the death of Barbara N. Ganger at the Van Wert West Apartments in early September.
Officers were called to her apartment on Sept. 4 for a welfare check but received no answer after several attempts to contact her at the residence and by phone, according to the release.
Officers made entry into her apartment and found Ganger deceased on the floor. It was later found that she was shot once in the eye and twice in the abdomen, the release states.
Houser has been held at the Mercer County jail since Sept. 8 on an unrelated charge of third-degree felony possession of weapons while under disability and a probation violation.
Once his Mercer County case is settled, he will be transported back to Van Wert for the other charges, according to a Mercer County Sheriff's Office dispatcher. His next court date is Dec. 5 in Mercer County Court of Common Pleas.
A Van Wert grand jury on Thursday indicted Andrus, 48, 803 Elm St., Van Wert, on murder, voluntary manslaughter, strangulation and felonious assault in connection with the homicide of Roy D. Watts.
The Van Wert Police Department believes Andrus is in hiding, according to the release. Anyone with information about Andrus' whereabouts are asked to contact the Van Wert Police Department at 419-238-2462 or call Crime Stoppers at 419-238-7867.
The Van Wert Police Department on Sept. 30 was called to Ohio Health Van Wert to investigate a reported suspicious death, according to the release. Police officers reportedly learned Watts was deceased following an incident at his residence at 314 S. Vine St., Van Wert.
Lucas County Coroner's Office performed an autopsy and ruled Watts' death a homicide, according to the release.
A subsequent investigation revealed Andrus as a suspect who is alleged to have contributed to Watts' death, per the release.
