BREAKING: Columbus dentist and wife found murdered. Police release video of person of interest 🚨
What we know right now
A Columbus dentist and his wife were found dead inside their Weinland Park home. Detectives are treating the case as a double homicide. The Columbus Division of Police has released surveillance video that shows a person of interest near the residence. Investigators believe someone in the community can identify this individual. No arrests have been announced, and police have not shared a motive.
The video is clear enough to help with identification, but police stress that the person is only a person of interest. They are seeking the public’s help to put a name to the face. If you recognize the individual, contact the Homicide Unit or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers. Do not confront anyone on your own.
The investigation and the law
Homicide detectives are leading the case, working with the Franklin County Coroner on cause and manner of death. Releasing surveillance footage is a lawful tool that can speed up leads, especially in the critical first days. It is also a window into due process. A person of interest is not the same as a suspect, and a suspect is not the same as someone charged.
Police must build probable cause before any arrest. Prosecutors, not police, decide on charges. Any future case would move through arraignment and pretrial stages, where evidence is tested in court. The public release of video does not replace that process. It is meant to gather information, not to seal anyone’s fate.
Do not identify or accuse private individuals online based on partial images. Send tips to police, not to social media.
Ohio’s Marsy’s Law protects the rights of victims’ families. They are entitled to notice of key court events, to be heard at certain stages, and to reasonable protection from intimidation. Those rights stand alongside the presumption of innocence for any person who may later be charged.
How you can help, lawfully
Detectives need eyes and ears right now. If you live, work, or travel through Weinland Park, your information matters.
- Watch the official video released by police and note any details you recognize
- Preserve any doorbell or security footage from the last several days, do not edit it
- Share tips with the Columbus Division of Police or Crime Stoppers, you can remain anonymous
- If you saw something unusual near the home, write down dates, times, and what you observed
If your camera captured the area, do not delete recordings. Note the exact time window and camera location, then tell detectives.
Your rights if police contact you
You can help and still protect your rights. Ohio law supports both.
- You can choose to speak with officers or provide a written statement
- You have the right to remain silent and to ask for a lawyer at any time
- You can refuse a search of your home without a warrant or your consent
- You may record police in public, as long as you do not interfere
If officers request video from your private camera, you can agree to share it or ask for a formal request. Cooperation can be vital in a homicide investigation. It also remains your choice unless a judge orders it.
Policy stakes for Columbus
This case tests how the city uses community cameras, private video, and anonymous tips to solve violent crime. Columbus has leaned on public partnerships to improve homicide clearance rates. Doorbell footage and neighborhood registrations, when shared voluntarily, can cut days off the timeline for identifying critical leads.
There is also a balance to maintain. Public safety calls for urgent action. Civil liberties call for caution with public identifications and pretrial publicity. Clear statements from police, careful handling of video, and regular updates can keep that balance.
Victim services matter too. The state must offer support to the family under Marsy’s Law, including information about compensation, counseling, and safety planning. Those rights should activate now, not later.
The bottom line
Two lives were taken inside a family home. The city deserves answers, and the investigation is moving. The surveillance video is a key lead, and someone knows the person pictured. If that is you, call it in today. Help the detectives do their job through proper channels, protect your neighbors, and respect due process. This is how a community stands up, and how justice starts.
