Kirk Kiefer – Warden's Watch

In July 2021, a peaceful family camping trip in Ohio’s vast Appalachian Hills Wilderness Area turned into a chilling crime scene. Two lives were lost, and a community was shaken. In this gripping episode, we sit down with ODNR Investigator Kirk Kiefer to uncover the layers of a complex and haunting double homicide.

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Here’s what we discuss:

Investigator Keifer appeared in a previous episode
International Game Warden Association Officer of the Year
ODNR’s nomination submission
The ‘ginseng detective’
Nomination was kept secret!
A missing persons / suspicious activity report on State land
The couple’s phones – and daughter – were left behind
Suspect claimed the couple had gone to CA and were expected back
A concerned camper contacted ODNR
The couple’s license plate had recently been checked on the Interstate
Suspect had a ‘tell.’
“He was convinced I was a human lie detector.”
The sudden confession: “I killed ‘em.”
Killings had happened 13 days prior
Suspect led investigators to the bodies
Defense attorney admitted there was no defense to be mounted
Claimed he was ‘rescuing’ the child
Body cameras were used in case the suspect did not testify
Appeared to feel badly about killing the female.
“Sometimes there is no ‘why’.”
Never expected to be investigating homicide
Attended the couple’s memorial services
Inter-agency cooperation was key to this case
Killer received two automatic life terms with no parole

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Warden’s Watch logo & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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Kirk Kiefer has been a wildlife investigator with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for the past 15 years. In this episode, he walks us through Operation “Root of All Evil,” a lengthy and complex investigation into the illegal ginseng trade that spanned multiple states, included unmarked vehicles, extended surveillance, buys and sales by undercover officers, and even a fake business.