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When a police chief dies in a high speed chase, his family suspects he was actually murdered.
CASE DETAILS In the late 1960s, a group of young men began terrorizing the quiet and peaceful community of Rock Creek, Ohio. According to former Police Chief Andrew Ceder of neighboring town Jefferson Village:
 Hamrick was in a high speed chase The town counted on the Sheriff’s Department for protection, but they seemed unable to stop the crime wave. So the citizens decided to start their own police department. In July 1969, Robert Hamrick was the third man in less than six months to take charge of the new police force. The other two had both left after receiving threats from members of the Rock Creek Gang. But his wife, Myrtle Hamrick, was confident her husband could clean up the town:
 A fellow officer found Hamrick barely alive Almost immediately Hamrick and his family were harassed. Myrtle Hamrick knew there was not much her husband could do:
Five months after he was sworn in, Chief Hamrick investigated an abandoned building on the edge of town. Inside, he found an expensive sports car that had been stolen. Police officer Gary Martin assisted in the investigation:
The suspects were believed to be members of the Rock Creek Gang. They were arrested and released on bail. Soon after, the threatening calls began. One day, Myrtle Hamrick answered the phone:
One month later, on March 10, 1970, during a routine patrol, Chief Hamrick called in to report that he was in pursuit of a car heading west out of town. An hour and a half passed with no further radio contact. Finally, the dispatcher requested that deputies try to find the missing chief. Four hours later, Hamrick’s patrol car was located on an isolated road. It had hit a tree. Hamrick was semi-conscious and barely alive. Former Ashtabula County Deputy Chief Dennis Chapman was first on the scene:
 Was Hamrick murdered in his police car? Blood covered the back seat of the car, Hamrick’s service revolver and nightstick were missing, and the car’s ignition and lights were switched to the off position. Ashtabula County Sheriff William R Johnston suspected foul play:
Robert Hamrick never regained consciousness and ten days later, he died. Despite all the evidence that pointed to murder, his death was officially ruled accidental, the result of a vehicular pursuit. Myrtle Hamrick believes otherwise:
Six hours after the crash, the car that Hamrick had been chasing was found at a nearby gas station. It was splattered with mud and had a damaged tire. The owner of the car said that when she dropped the car off for repairs the previous day, it was in good condition. One of the station employees was known to be a member of the Rock Creek Gang. Sheriff William Johnston knew the suspect’s history:
One local woman who wished to remain anonymous claimed that she overheard members of the gang bragging that they had murdered Chief Hamrick:
Chief Hamrick’s daughter, Brenda Hamrick Lewis, still believes the people who killed her father can be caught:
Watch this case now on Amazon Prime in season four with Robert Stack and in season five with Dennis Farina. Also available on YouTube with Dennis Farina. Various seasons available now on Hulu. SUBMIT A TIP |
My.Story
First, my heart goes out to the grandaughter- daughter & Bob’s whole family. People need to understand that times are very different then. I’m the daughter of someone who had some information. I was just little- I overheard a conversation about it and basically it just verifies all of the above. Pistol whipped- beat with his own night stick. If the person who was supposed to be protecting everyone died in this horrible manner you can see why no one else came forward. From what I understand the gang was only about 10 people (not 30) and only a few of them were involved. 1 ended up in prison in NM shortly after- 1 died in a fight shortly after. And the a few left the state. Pretty sure they are all dead at this point. I can tell you the members that weren’t involved were very angry- and remorseful because it was not supposed to happen- the people involved were not given the “go ahead” they acted on their own. The guy with the hot vehicle was one of them. I was young- but he was tearing up as he talked about it. Life/God/Karma is real.
Anonymous
My uncle owned 52 acres of land on Callendar road back in the late 50’s to early 60’s. Across the road from the Nevison farm. I was wondering if the murder took place close to there.
Mike
They can escape Justice in this world but you can bet he’s waiting for them in the next.
Jim
John daughtry was involved and knows who all was involved
Don Corbett
Jim give me a call 614-565-7189 concerning the Hamrick investigation 624-565-7189.
David
Did he ever call you?????
Anonymous
How does john know why did they kill him i heard rumors but im not sure of them im trying to find the truth of what really happened that night but if you see this please reply to this so i can get the full story of what happened and maybe bring some truth to this story and bring some closure
Bill Blaski
His revolver, billy club were missing. The headlights shut off and car ignition switched off. Obviously more than a car wreck
D Ross
The chief’s son is Sexy… Mmmmmmm
Truth
Keep it in your pants..
Mike
lol
Kyle
I nearly fell out of my chair when I watched this episode. Rock creek is a super small town and Callender road is in the middle of nowhere with hardly a house on it to this day. I worked at a kids camp that was on that road many summers. I actually talked to my old director and he said the unsolved mysteries crew stayed at our camp while filming this.
As far as evidence, all I know is my friend who was the camp directors son works in the area. He asked a Rock Creek fellow if he knew anything about the case. The man simply replied “More than I could ever talk about”. There was definitely a cover up.
No one important
Seems like a lot of people have a lot of different “he said, she said” information they “supposedly” heard. But this entire site is FULL of liars, attention seekers, self-proclaimed psychic frauds, and just plain nut cases. So take everything you read with a grain of salt.
Every case on here has at least 2 or 3 people in the comments claiming they have the answer. Even though none have ever been solved because of this site.
This is a 50+ year old case that never had any single lead suspects aside from a town gang that probably had at least 20-30 members. Most of whom are most likely dead or dying.
Sorry to say this case will NEVER be solved unless they get a deathbed confession.
Gabi
It’s me again his granddaughter I’m glad people have faith still. I know it was a murder but we still have hope we still think about him but there really probably is like a 20-40% chance they will find themy. We never talk about him. The first time I saw him was when I was 4 I never had met him but in my dreams I did again I was 4 I didn’t know who this man was in my dream until I woke up and walked in my dad’s room and said DAD DAD I MET GRANDPA! yeah it’s one of these story’s but true. So he showed me pictures of him and his brother who look a lot alike and asked me who is my Gpa I got everyone right. My dad was 3 when he died and my aunt 1. So yeah
SPKE, KD, VD.
Talked to one of the brothers involved a month after the murder, in short he said how they got the Chief to chase them down a dirt road (sorry it’s been 48 year’s so some of the details are hard to come by) with another car behind the cruiser, the car behind the cruiser actually caused the accident, he went on to say they all ran up to the car to find the Chief dazed or knocked out, then they pulled him from the car and started beating the hell out of him. After they put him back in the car (and I quote) we stabbed him once with what he thought was a piece of antenna. I called the FBI and told them what was told to me, but I never heard back. I was only 15 at the time, maybe that’s why I never heard back.
Anonymous
Please, start a change.org petition before these old p.o.s. murderers die!!! They can arrest people for non-violent crimes but these slime balls get away with killing one of our heroes. Someone needs to post the names of every suspect involved!!!!!!!
richard
Do you know of their current whereabouts? Still in Rock Creek perhaps!
Johnny
I think this Chief Hamrick case can be solved. Some of the gang would be late 60’s or in their 70’s depending on their ages. It only takes 1 of these old gang members to talk. There is the missing gun and billy club and probably fingerprint evidence left on the car and scene. A perfect Cold Case Squad review for experienced investigators and arm chair detectives.
CHamrick-King
I agree… I’m sure there is multiple prints on and in that car and DNA if it wasn’t destroyed!!
Anonymous
It’s really sad because my father heard members of this gang at the Grand River Manor bragging about comitting this horrible crime. The suspects supposedly threw the evidence in the river by the manor.
john
If you give me the information I will call the FBI.
Anonymous
So one of the gang members mom was the mayor at the time this all happened. I been really looking into all this I have some people I have learned alot of stuff from they happened to be around during all this!
john
Give me the info and I will call the FBI.
richard
If that’s the case, and proven that there was intensions to conceal solid evidence w/ “conflict of interest” with the mayor at that time; then she “the mayor” could be charged with being an accomplice for evading an officer!
seriously????
From the beginning this case has details that scream to be investigated! How can You take a bloody back seat and a badly beaten body and call it an accident or the result of the collision with the tree. That is a really far stretch even for me to believe. with the Woman coming forward with what She over heard and common sense, isn’t that enough to open the case. Can the Family not ask for the body to be exhumed and tested to be conducted on Him to prove the car accident did not cause the damage inflicted on him? I have issues with the fact the coroner signed accidental death. Seriously??? Pistol whipped by a steering wheel? Yep!! An accident!! The community simply hired a Lamb for Slaughter and then did not stand behind Him. Shame on those People who have information who are not forth coming with information about this obvious MURDER. Just saying, I think the Police Department, Coroner, and Community at the time all let this Man down.
Jenny
This was no accident. His skull was crushed from front to back on the left side, but none of the windows were broken. In a car accident, the ignition wouldn’t have been switched off, and the key wouldn’t have been broken off in the lock. It’s laudable that the police did not investigate their chief’s murder. This was planned and executed by the gang.
Stephanie
It’s sad that cheif hamrick died like that I watched that episode and I cried my eyes out my love and prayers for the Hamrick family
Tom
Can one of those TV sta. that go into COLD CASES try to get into this ? We have DNA and a lot more stuff to hunt them down…
Anonymous
What road was this on?
Gabriella lacey hamrick
I’m the grandchild of Hamrick I hope that they find whoever killed my grandpa I never got to meet him I’m only 10 I never seen this episode all I know is that IT WAS NOT A ACCIDENT
steve hamrick
my last name is also hamrick i was told years ago i had family in kansas ,ohio and washington i wonder if any relation dad has been dead for 25 years been trying to look up family for years his name was charles dean from stover,mo
david d.
Would like to know who the suspect was from the gas station and who was in the gang…
Jea . Prinkey
Bobb . Wa . A. Good. Man. I. No. Because. He. Wa . My. Step. Uncl . And. Yes. Th . Gan . Was. Ba . Every. One. Was. Afraid. Of. Them. I. Think. It. Should. Be. Opened. A . . Cold. Case. Fil . Ther . Is. N . Status. O . Murder. Com . On. Dose. That. Even. Sound. Lik . It. Accadentel.
thomas p.
“I think it’s Positively disgusting that the authorities in that state & community would not investigate this matter for what it is, an “unsolved murder”. “when evidence clearly points in that direction, you have to wonder, “were the local authorities that stupid to ignore the obvious, or were they afraid to investigate?”
Anonymous
I have learned that there was alot of corruption going on and that it was heard the mayor at the time had alot of money maybe paied people off! They made it clear for no one or other departments should ask any questions
richard
I think it’s safe to say that the mayor “one of the gang members mother” posted the bail money for those 2 gang members that were caught with that stollen hot rod car! They were caught red handed with a stollen car and still turned up with NO CHARGES against those 2 members! Definitely an example of blatant political corruption in a small town setting.
Marc
It was a 1967 R-Code 427 Ford Galaxie with a four speed. They had a 2.91 rear gear which meant that the car had a top speed of over 150 mph.