Davis
A local man was arrested Saturday on a preliminary charge of murder in the ongoing investigation into the death of a Columbus resident.
Joshua R. Davis, 43, of 3780 Peppertree Lane, Columbus, was being held without bond Monday in the Bartholomew County Jail after he was booked early Sunday morning on a preliminary charge of murder, jail officials said.
Columbus police said Davis is accused in the death of Coy Wayne Thompson, 61, of Columbus, whose body was discovered Friday near a treeline about 50 yards from Indianapolis Road and Tellman Road.
At approximately 1:40 a.m. Friday, Columbus police officers were dispatched to the area regarding a disturbance, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman.
When officers arrived, they located Thompson along a woodline near the roadway, Harris said.
Thompson was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital where he was later pronounced dead at 4:40 a.m. by medical staff, said Bartholomew County Coroner Clayton Nolting.
Police log records indicate police and first responders were sent to the location in regard to a reported stabbing.
Thompson was taken to the Hamilton County, Ohio Coroner’s office for an autopsy as the usual local pathologist was not available, Nolting said.
While the investigation continues, and autopsy results are not expected back from the Ohio coroner for six weeks, Nolting did say the manner of death will be homicide and that there were stab wounds on Thompson’s body.
As a result of the investigation conducted by Columbus police officers in conjunction with the Bartholomew County Death Investigation Team, law enforcement officers arrested Davis, Columbus police said.
The Bartholomew County Death Investigation Team — which consists of law enforcement officers from the Columbus Police Department, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, the Indiana State Police as well as the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office — is assisting with the ongoing investigation, Harris said.
