Boxborough violent crime suspect had Pike Co. ties

WAVERLY – More details have been released involving the local arrest Aug. 22 of a Boxborough, Massachusetts, man with former Pike County ties accused of stabbing a man and assaulting a woman in Massachusetts before forcing them into a car and driving them to southern Ohio.

According to Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader, local authorities received a call from Adena Pike Medical Center stating that a man claiming to have been involved in an ATV crash could not provide adequate information to sustain the claim. When deputies arrived, they discovered the man appeared to have suffered several stab wounds, and he was sent to Grant Medical Center in Columbus for treatment.

While at the hospital, deputies located Keven Blakemore, formerly of Pike Lake Road before he had moved to Massachusetts. He was taken into custody on suspicion that he had been responsible for the stab wounds on his adopted brother. Blakemore was placed into the rear of a cruiser.

“It is believed that he somehow took his cuffs from his back under his legs and managed to get his hands in the front of him, where he opened the window to the cruiser cage and crawled through to the driver compartment,” said a release from the Pike County Sheriff’s Office. “In his actions, he accidentally activated the air horn of the patrol unit, which alarmed the deputies.”

Blakemore backed the cruiser up in an attempt to leave the area, but deputies drew their weapons and were able to stop him about 20 yards from where he started, taking him back into custody and transporting him to the Scioto County Jail.

While still at the hospital, Reader was told that a third party had arrived at the hospital with Blakemore and the stabbing victim. During questioning, the man said he thought a woman may be at a home on Ohio 124 being held against her will. Deputies responded and found the woman who had allegedly been transported by Blakemore from Massachusetts. She was fed and provided physical and mental health services through Adena Regional Medical Center.

Officials in Boxborough learned of the alleged crimes in that city after being contacted by Pike County authorities and launched their own investigation. That investigation has led to Massachusetts warrants against Blakemore for attempted murder, kidnapping with sexual assault, aggravated rape, assault with a dangerous weapon and kidnapping with serious injury.

According to Pike County Common Pleas Court records, Blakemore is facing local charges of fourth-degree felony grand theft, fifth-degree felony escape and a fugitive from justice count. During arraignment, his bond was set at $91,500 total cash or 10 percent bond with random drug testing as a condition. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. Monday.