Joseph Rosebrook Awaiting Extradition to Ohio on Murder Charge
Chad South, of Dayton, the third man arrested for his involvement in the murder of Daniel Ott, 31, of Burton Township, in 2006, has been charged with murder. South is believed to be the hit man in the case, law enforcement told the Maple Leaf.
Chad South, of Dayton, the third man arrested for his involvement in the murder of Daniel Ott, 31, of Burton Township, in 2006, has been charged with murder. South is believed to be the hit man in the case, law enforcement told the Geauga County Maple Leaf.
He was arraigned Friday morning in Chardon Municipal Court and his bond was set at $3 million cash or surety.
South, 45, along with Joseph Rosebrook, 59, and his brother, Carl “Jeff” Rosebrook, 57, of 469 Country Road 142, West Mansfield, were taken into custody Monday and charged in connection with Ott’s death on May 26, 2006.
Carl Rosebrook was also charged with murder and had his bond set Friday morning at $1 million cash or surety.
Murder, an unclassified felony, which is the most serious crime in Ohio, carries a possible sentence of 15 years in prison to life in prison without parole.
Both men are scheduled to be back in court at 10 a.m. June 1o for their preliminary hearing on the charges.
Joe Rosebrook was arrested in Florida, where he moved after his release from prison in March 2014 after serving a 10-year sentence, multiple sources told the Geauga County Maple Leaf.
He also has been charged with murder, an unclassified felony, and is awaiting extradition to Ohio.
The elder Rosebrook was sent to prison in April 2005 after being convicted in Logan County on one count each of conspiracy to commit aggravated murder, receipt of stolen property, obstruction of justice and concealment of identity, according to Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction records.
His brother, Jeff Rosebrook, is a Perry Township trustee in Logan County. He was arrested at his residence and transported to the Logan County jail, a jail officer said Tuesday.
Charges against all three men were filed in Chardon Municipal Court, but the pleadings have been sealed by the court, Clerk of Courts Vicki Dailey said. South was represented Friday by Geauga County Public Defender Robert Umholtz.
All three men are charged for their roles in the death of Ott, who was shot and killed inside of the home he was renting at 16058 Claridon-Troy Road in Burton Township.
A man wearing a black ski mask and camouflaged hunting clothes, and armed with a shotgun entered Ott’s unlocked home, Geauga County Sheriff Dan McClelland said at the time.
Ott’s then 35-year-old girlfriend, Maryann Ricker, called 9-1-1 about 6:40 a.m. to report the murder.
Ricker told sheriff’s office detectives that she and Ott were in the process of moving to Michigan. She was sleeping on the floor of a first-floor bedroom and Ott on a mattress next to her when they were awakened at about 6:30 a.m. by the shotgun-wielding intruder.
The intruder bound Ott’s wrists together with duct tape and told Ricker to remain face down on the floor, the sheriff said at the time.
Ott apparently managed to free himself from the tape and began to scuffle with the masked intruder. He eventually was shot in the chest. Ricker was not harmed.
Ott was transported to UHHS Geauga Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced death.
According to several news reports, Joe Rosebrook has been suspected of ordering the 2006 hit that killed the wrong Daniel Ott.
Ott shared a name with another Northeast Ohio resident who was a federally-convicted car thief and a reputed associate of Joe Rosebrook, according to the Bellefontaine Examiner.
