JACKSON COUNTY — The search for a motive in the shooting death of a rural Seymour man early Wednesday morning continues, police said.
Ryan Joseph Ross, 28, was found shot to death in an apartment at Sycamore Springs on Seymour’s far east side by officers responding to a call at 5:37 a.m. that a man had been shot.
Tobias Au, 30, of Hope made the call, Sheriff Rick Meyer said during a news conference Thursday afternoon outside the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown.
County officers Aaron Wilkins and Billy Dishman initially responded to the scene, while Meyer arrived a short time later.
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After an investigation, Au was arrested on a preliminary charge of murder in connection with the death of Ross, police said.
Meyer said Ross had previously been in a relationship with Dakota Anderson, who lived in the apartment at 2710 Bent Tree Lane.
The two also had a child together, but Anderson was now dating Au, Meyer said, and neither Au nor Ross lived with Anderson at the address.
A protective order was placed in January for Ross to stay away from Anderson, although it is unconfirmed if Jennings County, where Ross resided, had served him with the order.
Police said Ross had gone to the apartment to exchange their child, and Anderson let him in after he knocked on the door.
While Ross was inside near the door, Au, who had arrived at the residence shortly before Ross, shot him several times.
Au then called the sheriff’s department to inform them of the shooting. Once officers arrived, both Au and Anderson were taken to the sheriff’s department, where they were interviewed by county detectives.
After both interviews were conducted and crime scene technicians compared notes they had taken at the scene, Au was arrested for murder. He is being held without bond pending his initial hearing.
At this time, a motive is unknown. Meyer said that he was unaware of any previous animosity or incidents between Ross and Au.
Ross and Anderson’s child and a second child were present in the apartment during the incident, Meyer said.
A person charged with murder faces 45 to 65 years of imprisonment with an advisory sentence of 55 years and a fine of up to $10,000 if convicted.
Meyer said Anderson was released and is not currently facing any charges related to the incident; however, that may change as more details emerge.
An outside forensic pathologist will perform an autopsy on Ross in the next few days.
Meyer said the probable cause affidavit, which will hold more details of this case, could possibly be available within the next few days.
