10TV is uncovering new exclusive information into the investigation of a local police officer’s killing and the questions surrounding the suspect’s parole officer.
Herschel Jones III sits in jail on a probation violation in the wake of the shooting death of Danville police officer Tom Cottrell. The Knox County Prosecutor said it could be another week before murder charges are filed.
Jones’ sister said before Cottrell was killed, she warned her brother’s parole officer that the accused cop killer was spiraling out of control.
Parole officer Bill Baer was placed on administrative leave as the department of corrections investigates. 10TV has learned Baer was also the parole officer for two other convicts accused in two other high profile cases where someone died.
Sources said Baer was Curtis Hull’s parole officer, the man accused of running over and killing a Mount Vernon high schooler while allegedly under the influence of drugs.
Baer was also Travis Bonham’s parole officer. Bonham’s the Mount Vernon man detectives said was high on bath salts when he killed his 50-year-old mother and 32-year-old girlfriend. In all three cases, family members said they reported a dangerous use of drugs and erratic behavior by all three men before they committed their alleged crimes.
“For the Cottrell family, the Bonham family, and the girl that Hull killed, he didn't do his job for any of them and all of those lives could've been saved,” said Jones’ brother-in-law, James Fawcett.
10TV reached out to Baer by phone, but he declined to comment.
10TV also obtained exclusive surveillance video of a robbery in Danville last Friday. The owner of Longsinger’s Pharmacy said 600 Oxycodone and Adderall pills were stolen. Detectives were reviewing the video to determine if Jones committed the robbery with another person just two days before officer Cottrell was found dead.
Funeral Service Information
Services for Thomas Cottrell will be Saturday, January 23 at 11 a.m. at the OSU campus in Newark.
Calling hours are scheduled for Friday, January 22 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Brucker-Kishler Funeral Home in Newark. The family will receive friends and acquaintances 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Friday at Brucker-Kishler Funeral Home, 985 N 21st Street, Newark.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in the name of Tom Cottrell Jr. for a COTC Scholarship Fund for those involved in law enforcement is being established C/O First Knox Bank.
Online condolences to the family may be sent here, by clicking Obituaries/guestbook entry.
Fund Raising Efforts
Law enforcement from around central Ohio want to do their part to help support Danville and Officer Cottrell's family. On January 31, the FOP Capital City Lodge #9 in Columbus will host a spaghetti dinner from 12- 5 pm. 100% of the money raised will go towards the mission of helping Officer Cottrell's family heal - http://www.fop9.org/index.cfm
The event is being co-sponsored by Get Behind The Badge, a non-profit organization to help families of fallen first responders during their times of crisis - http://www.getbehindthebadge.org