Rally focuses on improving Chillicothe
CHILLICOTHE – Shouts of "take it back," echoed in the area of Second and Bridge streets Monday as a city desperate for information rallied to tell the world it is more than a place where women disappear.
The rally was held to continue awareness of missing women Charlotte Trego and Wanda Lemons while also remembering Tameka Lynch, Shasta Himelrick, Timberly Claytor and Tiffany Sayre. More than 100 people stood on the steps of the Ross County Court of Common Pleas to march.
"It makes me feel good that we have other people involved," Angie Robinson, mother of Tameka Lynch said. "Now it is blowing up all at once. It took 13 1/2 months to get to today."
Chillicothe Police Chief Keith Washburn announced a new initiative to focus law enforcement efforts south to Fifth Street, north to Riverside Drive and from Watt to Mulberry streets. Agencies involved include the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ross County Sheriff's Office.
"We are now unifying to create a different enforcement effort," Washburn said. "This effort is aimed of ridding our streets of illegal activity such as drug trafficking, prostitution and other crimes which effect the quality of life."
Officials will target any and all offenses from traffic violations to criminal activity, Officer Bud Lytle said.
"That's the area we have had the most trouble with and the ladies that are missing have ties and are associated to that area," Lytle said.
"We are doing a lot of things behind the scene as far as the missing ladies here," Ross County Sheriff George Lavender said.
Lavender said the task force dedicated to locating the missing women and seeking information about those found dead receives about 40 tips each day.
"That's information we can compile together to see what is going on," Lavender said. "Who is the common denominator, what names are coming up between all of the girls and things like that."
The Southern Ohio Crime Stoppers announced a reward of $5,000 for information related to each of the remaining missing women.
In the meantime, officials continue to ask those who see suspicious activity to report it.
"We are taking our streets back from this point forward," Lytle said. "Each and every one of us will hold each other accountable for everything we do."