NEWS

Bonham indicted for grand theft

Bethany Bruner
Reporter

KNOX COUNTY — Travis Bonham has been indicted on grand theft by a Knox County grand jury for reportedly stealing the vehicle of one of the victims of a double homicide.

Travis Bonham

Bonham, 31, is accused of taking a black Dodge Charger owned by Sandra and David Stelk. Sandra Stelk, 50, and 23-year-old Jaime Barber were found dead Wednesday morning inside Stelk's Coschocton Road home.

Bonham had been considered a person of interest in the homicides since Wednesday afternoon.

A warrant was filed Thursday in Knox County for grand theft, a fourth-degree felony, for taking the vehicle. Court records show that David Stelk told police Bonham had no permission to use the vehicle.

The Charger was found by Columbus police Wednesday night with a flat tire. It is believed Bonham was then traveling in another vehicle, which was located Friday in Reynoldsburg.

No charges have been filed against Bonham in relation to the homicides.

Police arrested Bonham without incident Sunday afternoon after he was spotted by a Mount Vernon police officer as a passenger in a vehicle, according to information released by Knox County Sheriff David Shaffer.

The traffic stop took place on U.S. 62, east of Lafayette Road. The driver of the vehicle, Ashli Price of Mount Vernon, was arrested on suspicion of driving under suspension.

Mount Vernon Municipal Court, Knox County Common Pleas Court and Licking County court records show no charges were filed against Price on Monday.

In a press release, Shaffer said police had information Bonham would try to attend the calling hours for his mother, held Sunday afternoon in Johnstown.

A Licking County Sheriff's Office report indicated the SWAT team had been activated to "saturate the area" where Bonham may be traveling in an effort to arrest him. Licking County deputies assisted in the traffic stop and arrest.