Officers cite gains in triple homicide

Stoney Thompson, top, and Kenya Sharp occupied the home behind the Ohio Street address when they were arrested Oct. 27; Goldy Thompson was arrested Nov. 17.

Kenneth Nicholson, Todd Archambeau, and Michael York, from left, were found dead Oct. 24.

It's been nearly five months since the murders of three men inside a boarded-up house in North Toledo, and after several search warrants and a few arrests, police believe they are close to solving the case.

But they're still looking for the public's help and hope thousands of dollars in reward money will give them the tip they need to snag the people involved.

"We feel that there are some people who know who committed these crimes, but while the murderers are still on the loose, they're afraid to talk," Detective Dan Navarre said.

Police are trying to fi nd the owner of this air compressor recovered after a triple slaying.

Kenneth Nicholson; his brother-in-law, Todd Archambeau, and a third man, Michael York, were found dead Oct. 24 inside 410 Ohio St., where Archambeau lived.

About 4:35 a.m. that day, a witness called police to report shots fired at the house about 20 minutes earlier. He told police he saw two men running from the house.

Initial autopsy results showed all three men were shot. Two also had sharp-force injuries, which the Lucas County coroner previously described as "something with a cutting-edge blade." They also found bloody footprints found at the scene, Detective Navarre said.

Nicholson, 41, died of gunshot wounds to the head and chest. He was shot twice.

Stoney Thompson, top, and Kenya Sharp occupied the home behind the Ohio Street address when they were arrested Oct. 27; Goldy Thompson was arrested Nov. 17.

Archambeau, 44, died as a result of blunt-force injuries to the head. He also had sharp-force injuries and was shot in the nose and back, the coroner said.

York, 44, died of extensive sharp-force injuries to his neck resulting in partial decapitation. He also was shot in the head, the coroner said.

Through their investigation, detectives believe York arrived at the house - where Nicholson and Archambeau were celebrating Nicholson's birthday - with the suspects.

They believe he was killed because he was a witness to the murders and could identify the suspects, the detective said.

Since the murders, police have searched three homes and a car. They said they've found evidence related to the homicides and made several arrests for property and drug-related crimes.

"I'm optimistic this will work out the right way," said Tom Archambeau, brother of one of the victims.

Three days after the slayings, police searched 407 Columbus St., which is behind the Ohio Street address. They recovered stolen property and filed misdemeanor charges against the occupants, Stoney Thompson, 27, and Kenya Sharp, 26, according to court records.

On Nov. 3, investigators searched 2640 Maplewood Ave., which Thompson owned and where police said York lived. They found stolen goods and charged Thompson with felony receiving stolen property. He was later indicted on the charge by a Lucas County grand jury.

Police then searched 431 Kenilworth St. on Nov. 17 and arrested Thompson's brother, Goldy, on drug-related charges. He was indicted on a felony charge of possession of crack cocaine.

Detective Navarre said police have found evidence related to the murder in an empty lot between the Ohio and Columbus addresses and in Goldy Thompson's car, which was towed from the Columbus Street driveway the day of the slayings.

The motive for the killings remains under investigation.

But detectives believe an air compressor stolen from a construction site off Oregon Road in Northwood and a television stolen from the Columbus Street address, both before the murders, may offer some clues.

Detective Navarre said the stolen television was found in the Ohio residence after the homicides. He said the compressor, which was stolen about four days before the murders, was found at the Maplewood address. Police are still trying to locate its owner.

Police have no descriptions of the murder suspects. But they believe one was wearing work boots and the other had on Nike tennis shoes - Air Uptempo Pro Low - based on footprints found at the scene, Detective Navarre said. He declined to release the shoe sizes.

The city has offered a $5,000 reward for information concerning the murders. Additional money also is available through Crime Stopper.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stopper at 419-255-1111.

Contact Christina Hall at:

chall@theblade.com

or 419-724-6007.