Restaurateur withdraws $25K reward in Ohio slayings

CINCINNATI — Restaurateur Jeff Ruby has withdrawn his $25,000 reward in the slayings of eight family members in Ohio because of the “recent complex criminal developments” surrounding the case, according to a tweet he made Thursday.

Ruby told The Enquirer his advisers have asked him not to talk publicly about his decision and he declined comment.

The restaurateur had made the reward offer on Saturday, one day after eight bodies were discovered at four locations in Pike County. Authorities called the slayings a “pre-planned execution” targeting the Rhoden family and loved ones.

Ruby reached out to Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, with help from Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters, to offer the reward.

“It was generous of Mr. Ruby to offer the reward, and it is his choice to withdraw it,” Ohio Attorney General’s Office spokeswoman Jill Del Greco said.

Ruby is no stranger to helping the community in big ways. In 2014 alone, he offered $7,500 to help find a missing University of Cincinnati student and bought 100 Cincinnati Bengals tickets for military families. More recently, he matched the Ohio Blue Ribbon Arson Committee’s $10,000 reward for information related to Hamilton firefighter Patrick Wolterman’s death.

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