Five men have been charged by a federal grand jury in connection with the shooting death of a Grove City man in the Linden area and the killings of two witnesses. The dismembered bodies of the witnesses were found in the basement of a Hilltop residence in January.
Larry J. Williams, Jr., 40; Kyle Castle, 29; Jesse Climer, 30; Brian Muncy, 23; and Durone Ellis, 34, have been charged in connection with the murders of Connor Reynolds, 23; Henry Watson, 52; and Tera Pennington, 48. Castle is currently a fugitive, federal officials said.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio, Williams, Castle, and Clime allegedly robbed a drug house at 847 E.N. Broadway in 2018 with guns. During the robbery, Williams allegedly shot and killed Reynolds who was staying at the house.
At the time, police said residents of the home reported that strangers entered the house and shot the victim along with a couple of dogs inside.
The U.S. Attorney says Williams allegedly killed Watson and Pennington in August on the same day to prevent them from being witnesses for the murder of Reynolds.
Watson and Pennington's bodies were discovered in the basement of a residence in the 2400 block of Sullivant Ave under concrete in January of 2021. Watson and Pennington remained missing persons cases for almost three years until their bodies were found.
According to an autopsy report, Watson died after being shot in the head and Pennington died as a result of being shot in the neck. Both victims were found dismembered and badly decomposed, the coroner's office said in April.
Williams allegedly instructed the others charged with destroying evidence, including the gun and gun barrel, as well as clean the crime scene and get rid of the bodies of Watson and Pennington, according to authorities. The crime allegedly happened at 129 Stevens Ave.
Williams is charged with three murders and may be eligible for the death penalty if convicted, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Castle, who is on the run, and Climer are charged with murder and robbery.
Ellis is charged with obstruction for allegedly concealing the bodies of the witnesses along with Williams. Muncy was charged with robbery.
All five were charged with drug-related crimes.
The U.S. Attorney said Williams and the other used 129 Stevens Ave. as a drug house. The group also allegedly used 4594 Ava Point in Hilliard and 2849 Drew Heights Place #206 in Reynoldsburg to store drugs.
Four others – Stephanie S. Bouphavong, Lashawn L. White, Jeffrey Mason Ford and Richard Rodgers – have been charged with and pleaded guilty to related drug crimes, the U.S. Attorney said.
Anyone with information on Kyle Castle’s whereabouts can contact Homeland Security Investigations through the tip line at 1-866-DHS-2423.