Tag: Ohio

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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152 – 2025 International Game Warden Conference

Posted on August 4, 2025August 4, 2025 by nhfishcop10

For the third time, we were able to sit down at the International Game Warden Conference held this year in Erie, Pennsylvania, with Game Warden Chris Gilkey of Ohio, Game Warden Kris McCabe of the Maine Warden Service, myself, Wayne Saunders, host of the Warden’s Watch podcast, and Game Warden Andy Hueser of the Pennsylvania Game Commission who was also instrumental in the organization and implementation of this year’s conference. Tune in for a lively conversation!

141 CJ Alexander – The Podcasters

Posted on February 21, 2025February 21, 2025 by nhfishcop10

Wrapping up the CJ Alexander series, we sit down with Christian Babcock and Jake Gaylord, the dynamic duo behind the popular Hunters Advantage podcast. In early 2024, Alexander made a memorable appearance on their podcast, spinning his well-worn underdog tale of an unbelievably lucky trophy buck – a tale that took a dramatic turn when it was later revealed he had already confessed to poaching it.

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Here’s what we discuss:

Christian posts, then removes, a video questioning the Alexander buck
Hunters Advantage podcast invites Alexander to tell his story
All large deer taken can be controversial
Alexander tells the hosts a convincing enough tale
“I came out of it with kind of an uneasy feeling.”
Alexander had appeared on the podcast after confessing to game wardens
The court-ordered apology letter
Public opinion was split
Misdemeanor charges moved to felony levels
Podcast appearances could have been used in sentencing
Technology makes poaching hard to hide
Antlers are like fingerprints
Podcast generated both positive and negative feedback
“We’re just common men with a nice microphone.”

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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140 CJ Alexander – The Wardens

Posted on January 31, 2025February 19, 2025 by nhfishcop10

Picking up from our last episode, we sit down with two of the Ohio game wardens responsible for bringing this case before the court. Wildlife Officers Isaiah Gifford and Matt Roberts outline the meticulous effort and tiny details that led to the indictment and ultimate guilty plea of the now-infamous poacher, CJ Alexander.

See this episode on YouTube here: EP140 CJ Alexander Buck The Officer’s interview

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Here’s what we discuss:

Investigation began as a typical follow up when a trophy animal is taken
Alexander spins his tale
Wildlife officers visit the alleged kill site
The staged site seems unusual, but mostly believable
A video arrives showing the animal 10 miles away
Wardens take a closer look
A bait pile and other evidence is found
Trail camera photos show the deer in the area
A grid search locates more evidence
Tiny details in a photo confirm officers’ suspicions
“There’s a knife – and there’s another knife!”
Alexander admits lying about the site
Antlers had already been sold, and are confiscated
Foliage at the supposed kill site does not match photos
Search warrants solidify the evidence
The poacher continues to make false claims publicly
Charges include tampering with evidence and theft by deception
Investigators meticulously pore through the evidence
“At the end of the day, we knew what we had.”
An Ohio record for restitution

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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139 CJ Alexander – The Facts

Posted on January 30, 2025January 30, 2025 by nhfishcop10

For a time, Christopher “CJ” Alexander seemed to be everywhere; on the news in his native Ohio, in magazine articles, and featured on various hunting-related podcasts, telling the tale again and again of how he took a massive 18-point buck – a trophy in the running to be among the top three typical whitetails of all time. In the end, fame turned into felony charges, and the windfall he expected became instead a whopping $43,000 in fines. Hear the facts as read by an investigator involved in the case.

See this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/w_rulXxzkKE

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Here’s what we discuss:

Wayne reads a note from Alexander
Deer becomes an internet sensation
Everyone loved the underdog story
Ohio DNR follows up
Information casts doubt on Alexander’s story
A photo and legwork begin to unravel the lies
Animal was poached on private property
Cell phone records reveal a plan
They name the buck Megatron
“Buying a house type money.”
Alexander shoots the buck… poorly
The deer is found and removed under cover of darkness
An elaborate cover up is put into motion
High expectations for big profits
“Can cell phone location data be used as evidence against me?”
Alexander pleads guilty to 14 charges
Deer was targeted solely for money and fame

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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UPDATE: CJ Alexander – CONVICTED

Posted on December 12, 2024January 29, 2025 by nhfishcop10

In late 2023, an 18-point trophy whitetail buck was taken illegally in Ohio. After an intense, high-profile investigation, several men pleaded guilty and were sentenced. The ringleader of the group also pled guilty and was sentenced this week to 90 days in jail and ordered to pay a combined $43,000 in penalties.

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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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124 Kandy Klosterman – Ohio

Posted on March 22, 2024March 22, 2024 by nhfishcop10

From humble beginnings fishing the tranquil lakes of Ohio to her current position as Chief of Law Enforcement for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division, Kandy Klosterman is no stranger to blazing trails. As the state’s pioneering female wildlife investigator, she spearheaded numerous high-profile cases, earning multiple accolades along the way – including the prestigious Guy Bradley Award for lifetime contributions to wildlife law enforcement. With a career spanning nearly three decades, her commitment to safeguarding Ohio’s natural resources, mentoring the next generation of officers, and championing the inclusion of women in wildlife conservation sets the standard for excellence. We can’t wait to see what she does next!

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Here’s what we discuss:

Accepted Chief of Law Enforcement position in June 2023
Grew up fishing and hunting with her grandfather in Ohio
Mentors are essential
“You’re not born with a shotgun or fishing rod in your hand.”
Worked mowing grass on ODNR property
“I want to be a wildlife officer!”
Volunteering led to a part-time position
Only woman in the Academy in 1998
Mentoring the next generation of officers
All staff take part in educating new cadets
1920s saw the first female wildlife officer in Ohio
15 female officers in 120 years, but more all the time
Early career involved several areas of the state
Wildlife investigator for 21 years
Adventures in undercover work
Ohio’s Women Officers of Wildlife group
Female Wildlife Officers in OH wore men’s uniforms until the mid-90s
Ohio DNR organization and command structure
Nearly three-decade career
Statewide working groups: “I don’t have to know everything.”
Leveraging drone capabilities
Plans to expand Search & Rescue
Accreditation program for outfitters and guides
A fraudulent interstate outfitter case
Encouraging the next generation of female WOs
“Someone taught you, now you need to teach them.”
Working with cadets brings you back to your roots

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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116 Deadly Harvest – With Kevin Behr

Posted on October 21, 2023October 21, 2023 by nhfishcop10

In Appalachian Ohio and beyond, ginseng hunting is a centuries-old tradition. Prized for its medicinal value and prestige, American ginseng was one of America’s first exports to the Far East. Today, highly regulated but harvested to near extinction, its value has only increased, setting the stage for a black market that often results in arrests, prison time, and tragedy.

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Here’s what we discuss:

Kevin’s ongoing recovery and recent activities
Investigation began in Ohio in 2012, when a family reported an overdue hiker
Bobby Joe Grubbs had been dropped off for a walk, but did not return
Grubbs was known to police
Sherrif’s office pinged cell phone
Phone was located on 87-year-old Joseph Kutter’s property
Property owner gave police permission to search, but nothing was found
Cell phone had dialed 911 but disconnected
Kutter’s property featured a meticulously tended ginseng patch
A second search was launched using cadaver dogs
Dogs alerted on a loader bucket
Kutter immediately confessed to shooting Grubbs
Claimed Grubbs was stealing ginseng
A confrontation ensued and Kutter fired his weapon
Kutter then moved the body twice in the following days
Autopsy revealed ginseng in Grubbs’ pockets – and a business card
Grubbs had called family to report finding “the mother lode” of ginseng
Kutter pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter
Case highlights the mindsets of both ginseng growers and poachers
Easy money from ginseng often funds drug habits
Ginseng hunting (and poaching) can be a way of life passed down through generations
Black market is unnervingly similar to the drug trade

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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114 Operation “Root of All Evil” with Kirk Kiefer – Ohio

Posted on September 23, 2023September 23, 2023 by nhfishcop10

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.

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Here’s what we discuss:

Wild ginseng root is highly valued for its perceived medicinal properties
Grows very slowly, taking up to five years to reach maturity
One pound can be worth up to $1000
Seeds take over a year to germinate
Information campaign helped educate stakeholders on the damage caused by poaching
Many poachers are involved in other illegal activities
Legal ginseng plants must have three leaf sets, or ‘prongs’
Case also had multiple prongs
Prong 1: Undercover officers sold ginseng to licensed dealers
Compared the amount sold to the amount reported
Officers then sold ginseng outside the buying season to confirm illegal intent
Prong 2: Coordinated with US Fish & Wildlife Service to create a fake business
Business would receive inquiries from those looking to buy and sell illegal product
Prong 3: Obtain offenders’ assistance in exchange for a reduced penalty
Task force worked in multiple states
One offender had been featured on a popular reality show
The television show actually helped educate the public about ginseng poaching
Many countries overseas have decimated indigenous flora and fauna, creating a black market
110 defendants received multiple charges
Nearly six years of jail time served, $77,000 in fines
Kirk’s background; jack of all trades
Trapping academy
State officers were made aware of the ginseng operation
“Giving a little bit, we received a lot.”
Not all states have Wildlife Investigators
State of Ohio has done some major operations
Ginseng awareness for stakeholders training began in 2015
Operation takedown day finally arrived in 2022

Credits

Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores

Producer: Jay Ammann

Art & Design: Ashley Hannett

Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches

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113 Ian Obenshain & Brad Bailey – Big Boy: The Stolen Hunt

Posted on September 7, 2023September 7, 2023 by nhfishcop10

In the summer of 2009, Ian Obenshain and Brad Bailey began observing a colossal white-tailed buck feeding in an Ohio field. The friends had permission to hunt the area and immediately started documenting the huge animal’s growth, with the ultimate goal of Brad filming Ian harvesting ‘Big Boy’ during the fall archery season. Anticipation, however, soon turned to disappointment when the trophy buck suddenly disappeared – and then the story turned even stranger.

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