Murder Ridge: Three Is All

While sorting through the Cletus Reese story, I've discovered additional information.

There were questions raised about whether Reese should have been on the street. Politicians tried to make hay with the Reese murders by condemning the governor and the condition of state mental hospitals. One thing for certain: most people considered Reese harmless. Even after his stay at the mental hospital, he seemed innocent enough.

I spoke with Coshocton resident Cindy Bradford whose father worked with Reese at a gravel pit in Millwood. Because her father worked two jobs, he often slept in the car's backseat while Reese drove. Again, the description of "gentle giant" applied.

In written descriptions of Reese, he was described as a big man, known area wide, for his immense strength. In True Detective, a story told of Reese helping a neighbor change a flat tire by lifting the car while a block was put beneath the axle. Also, he didn't need a rope to hold cattle for de-horning. He simply held the neck and that's all that was needed. True Detective pointed out one oddity: Reese and a hound dog often stalked his fields at night.

Clyde Patton's disappearance brought the sheriff back to Reese's farm, but it wasn't the first time authorities had visited. Previously, Reese had been questioned about the disappearance of 58 year old farm hand Lester Melick. While investigating the Melick disappearance, the Knox County sheriff learned that Melick hitched a ride with Reese. During the sheriff's visit to Reese's farm, Reese told the sheriff he had given Melick a ride: all the way to West Virginia. According to True Detective, the sheriff and his deputy found nothing suspicious about Reese's demeanor.

Months later, yet another Knox County resident came up missing. 32 year old Paul Tish, an ex-con, walked away from the Cambridge hospital. While his foster parents worried, the disappearance didn't send up flares.

The Melick and Tish disappearances would remain a mystery until the demise of Clyde Patton.

More on Saturday.

(Source: True Detective, 1954)