(I've done an update to keep this story in the public eye. Ohio has just released a list of what will probably end up being close to 2000 unsolved homicides. Southwestern Ohio has at least 500 crimes on that list. There had been no activity on this story since Ohio detectives came to see me in 2009 and asked me about my theory. I don't know if they followed up on what I told them, but a statement in the comment section makes me believe someone knows more about the crime than what has been released to the public by police.)At home, George Gibson, age 47, is found dead inside the tiny first floor bathroom, as if trying to escape his killer. A veterinary pathologist and a twelve year employee at Proctor and Gamble, he appeared to be caught by surprise while at the kitchen table and tried to escape into the bathroom. Gibson was shot nine times, seven small caliber bullets to the head and two to the chest.
One of his three pet Bernese mountain dogs was shot to death on the first floor. A second was shot in the basement. The third dog in the basement, with a puppy litter, was spared. According to police, the intruder slipped into the house through a basement window. Police rule out robbery because nothing was taken. But items had been moved around as if someone tried to find something. Police haven't released whether they think more than one person was involved, they haven't found the small caliber pistol, and they won't say whether the dogs were killed with the same gun. (Makes it hard to get theory from outsiders when they won't release all the information.) The FBI came up with a generic profile on the killer, which didn't help.
Gibson was married for fifteen years to Paige Smith, another Proctor and Gamble scientist. They had no children. Gibson baked bread, raised chickens for meat, tended an organic garden, organized Boy Scout camping trips, and treated his dogs like they were his kids. Gibson was the only homicide in Westchester, Ohio in the year 2000. Police interviewed animals-rights activists (because of his animal testing job) and a woman who says she had met Gibson through a telephone dating service. The leads all went nowhere.
On Thursday June 22, Gibson says goodbye to his wife as she leaves for the airport, where she will board a private plane for Norwich, New York. They had transferred from Proctor and Gamble in Norwich to the Cincinnati Lab. He leaves work at 5:00 to go home. His wife calls from New York that night and gets no answer. George doesn't show up for work on Friday. His wife makes calls and returns home. The neighbors, police, and his wife find him dead at 12:32 p.m. on Friday.
Police interviewed friends and neighbors. The couple seemed happy. Leads shriveled about two months into the investigation. Paige, the wife was cleared, and she sold the house the next April and eventually moved back to New York. She offered a 10,000 reward, but police do not whether the offer still stands. The crime remains unsolved.
(See the last two statements in the comment section from Eric. This information, as far as I know, was never released.)
(See the last two statements in the comment section from Eric. This information, as far as I know, was never released.)
"The couple seemed happy" but there was "a woman who says she had met Gibson through a telephone dating service"?
ReplyDeleteHi Dennis, I know this might be a bit morbid, but I really enjoy this sort of psychology. So I'm going to offer my two cents. My guess is that the killer was someone he knew, but not that he knew well. Perhaps someone he knew in the neighborhood or had just met a few times. Whoever it was went into his home that night specifically to kill him. This wasn't a surprised burglar, though the person might have looked around after the fact for a specific item or not. Maybe they were looking for something, maybe just being nosy.
ReplyDeleteKilling the dogs as well just makes me think this stronger because it's almost like the killer wanted to punish him more by killing the things he loved too.
This likely is not the first time the killer has shot someone, but it might be their first cold blooded, planned murder. The murderer also doesn't appear to be cruel, or hold an excessive anger toward the target nor does the killer appear to be a complete sociopath because (likely he) didn't leave him to bleed out or torture the victim in any way. It's almost like the killer was saying "Nothing personal, you just have to go".
Some people have pointed toward the wife, which with the info you have given might not be completely wrong, but women in general are less likely to kill with violence. Also, the thought that this might have been a hired killing shouldn't be completely dismissed, but it's not terribly easy to find someone professional (and be able to afford them) for the average person. Most hired killing probably involve thugs that can't keep their mouths closed and don't care enough to take precautions like gloves.
You're likely looking for an adult male, probably from the area and with reason enough to dislike the victim but not truly hate him.
I wish you had more information, too.
Here's the link that says he left work at 3:40 pm
ReplyDeletehttp://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-64055899.html
Lots of unanswered questions:
ReplyDeleteDid the wife really go to NY when she said. Unlike a commercial aircraft, I don't think there would be a passenger manifest. P& G flies their own planes, but did she fly on one of them?
The woman he met through the dating service is intriguing. Why was he doing this having been happily married for 15 years?
There are conflicts regarding the killing of the dogs. Killing the two dogs and saving the third with the litter could indicate the suspect was familiar with the dogs and had time to think about the choices of killing.
The small caliber weapon could indicate an amateur did the job. Nothing fancy, just a purse gun.
The description doesn't mention forced entry. The window access and the condition of the crime scene could easily have been done to make it look like a burglary.
Seems likely that this killer had plenty of time to plan the crime. There's a good chance that the killer knew the victim - either a lover or acquaintance of his, or a lover or acquaintance of the wife.
It would have been good to check wireless and landline phone records for a few months to run down any leads.
It would be interesting today to see what kind of relationship the wife is in today. She may be totally innocent. But you just never know.
Thanks for the comments so far. Homicide victims should never be forgotten, and any ideas may help catch the killer.
ReplyDeleteI'm Paige Smith's nephew. I came across this page while looking for the old newspaper articles about George's murder. I'd just like to respond to a few of the comments here:
ReplyDeleteBev Vincent:
> "The couple seemed
> happy" but there was "a woman
> who says she had met Gibson
> through a telephone dating
> service"?
All I can say is that people can keep secrets from the ones they love. I can't speak to George's mind, but Paige was very happy. I also don't know for a fact that the woman they interviewed was legit. As stated in Dennis' post, that lead went nowhere.
Michele Lee:
> Some people have pointed toward
> the wife, which with the info
> you have given might not be
> completely wrong
I'd point out that the key phrase in this sentence is "with the info you have given." It *is* completely wrong. Lest I be accused of bias, the police exonerated Paige after *extensive* interviews and corroboration of her story.
Dave S.:
> Did the wife really go to NY
> when she said.
Yes. Again, the facts of Paige's story have been corroborated by the police.
Dave S.:
> It would have been good to check
> wireless and landline phone
> records for a few months to run
> down any leads.
The police did this.
Dave S.:
> It would be interesting today to
> see what kind of relationship
> the wife is in today.
My aunt has not been in a relationship since George. Her life was destroyed by this brutal crime, and the person she loved most was taken from her.
I realize you don't mean to be insulting, and that it's easy to speculate about people you don't know, but Paige has been through hell.
There are a couple of errors in the body of the article related to where and how George's body was discovered, and also about the dogs. I won't elaborate further, as this case summary seems well-researched from the info made public at the time, and there may be a reason that the police aren't releasing certain info.
Michele Lee:
> The murderer also doesn't appear
> to be cruel, or hold an
> excessive anger toward the target
I will say one thing: The police were specifically looking for a revolver. (At least in the early stages of the investigation. As they ran out of leads, they began looking at anyone with a connection to George who owned *any* type of small-caliber firearm, including my brother, who owned a .22 rifle, but lived in New York and verifiably had not left city limits -- much less the state -- during the period between the last time anyone saw George alive and the discovery of his body.)
First point: How many small-caliber revolvers hold nine rounds? The murderer -- unless he owned some sort of custom-made pistol with that capacity -- shot George until he was out of bullets, reloaded, then shot him some more. (To the best of my knowledge, the police were only looking for the one murder weapon.)
Second point: Seven rounds to the head definitely qualifies as overkill.
So the murderer either harbored a lot of anger toward George, or toward whatever George represented.
Dennis Latham:
> [Paige] offered a 10,000 reward,
> but police do not whether the
> offer still stands.
I don't see why it wouldn't, but if not, *I* will. In fact, even if Paige's reward offer *is* still in effect, I'll add an extra $10,000 to it for information that directly results in the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for George Gibson's murder. It won't bring George back to Paige, and it won't heal her heart, but it would at least give her a little closure. That's all she wants -- to know why her husband was taken from her. She's not looking for revenge or punishment; she just wants the answers.
Me, on the other hand, I want this guy nailed to the wall.
Information about this case can be submitted to the West Chester police department: http://www.westchesteroh.org/police
If you wish to collect the reward, you'll have to provide them with your information. But you can certainly submit tips anonymously, if you so wish. Please -- if anyone knows anything about this case, please let the West Chester PD know.
Dennis Latham:
> Homicide victims should never be
> forgotten, and any ideas may
> help catch the killer.
Thanks, Dennis.
why should you believe anything coming from the relative of a murder suspect
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link to the Westchester police. I called the sergeant in charge and left a message awhile back, but he never called me and I could never catch him in the office. As I stated, I have a theory but I would like to talk to the police about it first to see if it is something they have already considered. I'm glad the article has some comments because it keeps the interest in the case alive.
ReplyDeleteDennis I stumbled onto your blog and wondered if you were ready to tell us all about your theory since the police have failed to listen?
ReplyDeleteI remember when this happened and it scared us all, I hope they catch the person responsible.
Jason
I had a surprise visit today (March 5) from two cold case state homicide detectives from Ohio. We talked for about an hour and I explained my theory on the lead I thought they should check out in this case. It's a long shot, but with some luck it may lead to something. I hope they do the research on the lead. It would really be a great miracle if something I came up with helped to solve this crime. I must also add that I was considered the same as a suspect because of my interest in the case. It gives me a lot of hope for our justice system when I see cold cases are being worked years later. There are people out there who care and won't give up.
ReplyDeletesee this link. P&G is listed as a company that takes out life insurance policies PAID TO THE COMPANY if an employee dies
ReplyDeletehttp://deadpeasantinsurance.com/
Do you have the names of the police involved in the cold case. I am not sure what probably cause they would have for investigating a life insurance policy taken out by the company but it would be a motive....
ReplyDeleteI wonder Dennis if you still check this blog? Ever since seeing Capitolism a Love story I can't help but wonder if George was about to become a whistleblower on something and had a company life insurance policy taken out on him by P&G and someone decided to gain money and prevent whistle blowing. The crime was so bizarre that it almost makes sense. We took pre-med courses together in college. George cut down ugly billboards in the late 60s as a teenager.
ReplyDeleteHi, Ellen:
ReplyDeleteI think, given the circumstance of the murder, at least the circumstance I read in the paper, it was too unprofessional to be a hired hit to collect insurance. I have the cold case police officers cards somewhere, but I think you would be better off contacting the Westchester police with your theory. The case certainly is strange.
It would be made to look unprofessional and as bizarre and clueless as possible I would think. Hopefully the cold case detectives are aware of these "dead peasant" policies as they are called and will look into whether there was a policy collection in this case.
ReplyDeletei know some about this case because i was questioned by police and detectives about it because i was the boy friend of the 14 yearold girl george was talking to on the date chat lines and now there saying that some new forensics evidence has came along to catch the guy and i cant wait to see who it is. so now let the truth come out. . .
ReplyDeleteThat would be awesome if they catch the killer.
ReplyDeleteThe killer/killers....were directed to the house. It couldn't be seen from the road. They tried the sliding glass door and instead came in right on top of the mother dog and her pups. Some of them were killed in the ordeal.
ReplyDeleteTHere are tons of facts missing.....if you don't have them its because the authorities aren't revealing them.
Paiges trip to New York was of tremendous interest to the authorities. That and the alleged boyfriend she had whom it is assumed broke into the house with a friend. Note that The home cannot be seen from the road.
ReplyDeleteThis is back in the news 3/02/13
ReplyDeletehttp://www.middletownjournal.com/news/news/crime-law/cold-case-project-slayings-of-west-chester-man-and/nWczR/
This case is very much being close to cover something. As many of you are speaking similar ideas let me give you some more: The phone call surely can be tracked that came into his work place.
ReplyDeleteBut this murder is tied to P&G by the work that they both were researching (P&G has always been a target of animal rights groups) This is either to protect something from P& G or the murderer got vital information from him before he was shot.
Let me add that Dennis's life could be more complicated than the surface facts. Married couple, both researchers, no kids, he works with Boy scouts, nice to people. What I dont see is any friends! This couple both could be different than what we think. I have my CSI thoughts too.
ReplyDeleteI'm also interested in this case, as I now live in "that" house! It was totally remodeled - doubled in size - ten years ago, so there are no remaining bits of the crime scene. I have the original police report, which says little beyond "discovered the comp with no signs of life".
ReplyDelete