Springfield police thank public for its help in arrests of fugitives in 2 homicide cases

SPRINGFIELD — Two fugitives -- a man sought in a killing in early July and a woman sought in a 2019 killing -- are in custody, the Springfield Police Division announced Thursday, and one of its sergeants was quick to thank the public for its assistance in the apprehensions.

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“The first thing is we definitely would like to thank the public for their input on these cases,” Sgt. James Byron told News Center 7′s John Bedell. “Without there assistance, these case would be much more difficult to pursue. So we appreciate the public’s input on these cases.

“And second, our detectives work around the clock, quite literally around the clock, to solve these cases. Our goal is to provide justice to the families of the victims in these cases,” the sergeant said.

Wednesday morning in Springfield, 21-year-old Kedric Holt was arrested by police with the help of the U.S. Marshals’ Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team. Holt is accused of killing 20-year-old Gregory Wells in July 8 and was being sought on a warrant issued through Clark County Common Pleas Court.

Holt is charged with two counts of murder, two counts of discharging a firearm, improper handling of a firearm, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence, according to online court records. He remains in the Clark County Jail.

“The U.S. Marshals and Springfield Police Division work together daily on the fugitive task force,” said Michael Black, U.S. Marshal. “Our combined forces are dedicated to making our community safer.”

A week ago, detectives arrested Brooke Jacks on charges accusing her of murder in the fatal shooting of 50-year-old Jose Hermilo Lopez Gutierrez of Springfield, near Clifton and East Grand avenues, in May 2019. He was the first homicide victim in 2019, according to police.

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Jacks remains in the county jail on $500,000 bond, according to online court records.

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