Officers received a call on Sunday for a man waving a weapon inside the store. He was gone by the time officers arrived on the scene where they found Keris L. Riebel, 22, dead.
Officers arrested the suspect, Bethel M. Bekele, 27, several blocks away. Investigations revealed that the attacker entered the store, approached Riebel, and struck her several times with a machete. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation responded and processed the scene while detectives with the Wyandot County Major Crimes Unit also began an investigation. Bekele has been booked under the charge of murder with, upon completion of the investigation, more charges likely incoming. Officers arrived at the store and found 22-year-old Keris Riebel dead at the scene. The man, who police identified as 27-year-old Bethel Bekele, left the store before police arrived.
One of the officers found the suspect a short time later on South Fifth Street and arrested him.
Investigators learned Bekele entered the store with the machete and struck Riebel multiple times. The weapon was found at the scene. Police said the motive behind the fatal machete attack is unclear. Detectives are looking into whether Riebel and Bekele knew each other.
10TV spoke with the victim’s family who said they are devastated by the loss of Riebel. They say she was a newlywed and describe her as “an amazing, kind and sweet young woman who lit up the world with her smile.”
Residents of the tight-knit community say they are horrified by this loss.
“It’s like terrifying to see something like this in Upper Sandusky, because this is a nice community,” said resident Jason Pierce.
The Chief of Police Jason Lucas said nothing like this ever happens in Upper Sandusky. The last murder was in 2001.
The Wyandot County Major Crimes Unit is currently investigating the incident. Police said additional charges could be forthcoming once the investigation is complete.
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