64-Year-Old Ohio Father Shoots 24-Year-Old Daughter to Death Over Smoking Dispute
Photo: Hamilton County Sheriffs Office/ GoFundMe
A quiet Sycamore County neighborhood was shattered early Monday when 64-year-old Franklin Thompson allegedly shot and killed his 24-year-old daughter, Heather Thompson, following an argument about smoking in the house. Thompson now faces first-degree murder charges, as confirmed by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident unfolded around 1 a.m. when Thompson reportedly fired multiple shots at his daughter during a heated confrontation. Heather’s 18-year-old sister discovered her unresponsive near the front room of their shared home on the 12000 block of 6th Street. She immediately called 911 and attempted CPR, but Heather was pronounced dead after being rushed to Bethesda North Hospital by paramedics.
Franklin Thompson was found wandering a block away from the scene with the alleged murder weapon in his pocket. During an interview with sheriff’s detectives, he “admitted to shooting his daughter several times during a verbal interaction,” according to local Fox affiliate WXIX.
At a brief hearing on Tuesday, Thompson’s bond was set at $1 million after prosecutors argued he posed a significant danger to others. “If he’s willing to do this to his own daughter, we’re very concerned about what he’d be willing to do to a stranger if he were to be released,” lawyers stated, as reported by local NBC affiliate WLWT.
Neighbors expressed shock, describing Thompson as a “nice guy” with no known history of violence. Edgar Martinez, a neighbor, said, “Just a normal family over there. This is sad.” Another neighbor, Vidalinda Roblero, added, “He was very good. Well, when we came to live here, he welcomed the family.”
However, court records reveal a more complicated history. In 2016, Thompson’s wife filed for divorce, citing years of abuse allegations. In 2023, he was arrested for trespassing at a Kroger store. Despite these incidents, there was no documented record of mental illness or violent behavior prior to this tragedy.
A grand jury date has been scheduled for February 6, where Thompson’s case will be further examined. The community, meanwhile, remains in disbelief, grappling with the loss of a young life and the shocking actions of a man once seen as a quiet neighbor. As the legal process unfolds, the case serves as a grim reminder of how domestic disputes can escalate into unimaginable violence, leaving families and communities to pick up the pieces.
