More homicide cases solved but families looking outside Columbus Police for closure

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Columbus Police are investigating nine homicides so far in May. That is an uptick from earlier this spring. Police also said they are solving 24% more homicides so far this year.

According to CPD, from January to May 16, 2021, they solved 48% of the homicides. In the same period of 2022, they have recorded a 74% solvability rate.

Despite that, some families are frustrated by the lack of an arrest in their loved one's case and taking matters into their own hands.

Senaca Turner said Tuesday that she has hired a private investigator to help find her daughter’s killer.

Makenzie Ridley, 17, was shot to death in an east side park almost a year ago.

Steve Chase, a PI with Silvania Investigative Services said he wants to work with detectives to bring the family closure.

“She is having it rough. What she is going through I don’t think we can really fathom,” Chase said.

Chase, who was in law enforcement for 20 years, said in the past six months they have seen an uptick of people from across the state seeking private investigators to help with cases.

“I think they are seeing benefits of hiring from the private sector," Chase said.

Columbus Police Lt. Wade Spears said people need to use caution when choosing a private investigator. Spears said detectives are seeing more help from the community as they work with neighborhood leaders and other partners.

“I think we are seeing more people willing to come forward to talk to us and giving us information," Spears said.

“We are well experienced, well trained, knowledgeable. We know what we can do and can’t do. At the end of the day, we got the same goal in mind. We want to help the families out. We got to work together to get them justice,” Chase said.