Shooting death of Amish girl believed to be from stray bullet
Chief Deputy Nathan Fritz said the death of Rachel Yoder, 15, Saltcreek Road, is believed to have been caused by a muzzleloading rifle bullet fired into the air far from where Rachel was shot.
"What we are looking at is the distinct possibility that this was accidental," Fritz said. "The reason we are leaning this way, is in the area at the time (and) within a mile, a mile and a half radius, we had an individual who returned from hunting and discharged a muzzleloader into the air."
Fritz said the individual who fired the muzzleloader and family members have been interviewed and "have been forthcoming...obviously this is weighing very heavy on them."
"They were really timely reporting it," Fritz said. "They felt compelled, in light of the circumstances, that this was information we needed to hear."
Fritz said the identity of the individual who fired the muzzleloader is being withheld pending the investigation.
Rachel was discovered lying in the driveway of her family residence with a head injury at approximately 10:47 p.m. Dec. 15. She had been at a Christmas party and was on her way home alone in a buggy when she was struck in the head by a bullet near the intersection of County Road 229 and Township Road 614 in Holmes County.
The horse brought the buggy and Rachel back home, and Rachel fell from the buggy into the driveway.
Initially it was believed Rachel suffered a head injury falling from the buggy. A CT scan at Akron City Hospital revealed the injury to be a gunshot wound.
Rachel died from her injuries Dec. 16 at Akron City.
Fritz said the bullet that struck Rachel has been identified as a conical, saboted muzzleloader round.
A specialist with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI & I) will complete an investigation into the trajectory of the bullet, tracing it from the point it was fired to where it is believed Rachel was shot, Fritz said.
The muzzleloader was fired in an area southwest of the County Road 229 and Township Road 614 intersection, Fritz said.
While deputies feel "fairly confident" that the incident is proceeding toward a resolution, Fritz said anyone with information should contact the sheriff's office at 330-674-1936.
Published: December 20, 2011
