Mother, daughter among victims of Butler Twp shooting: Suspect still at large

BUTLER TWP, Ohio (WDTN) — Police have announced a multi-state manhunt for the man suspected of killing four people in Butler Township.

According to Butler Township police chief John Porter, law enforcement in several states is on the lookout for 39-year-old Stephen Marlow. Marlow is now the primary suspect in the deaths of four people in a Butler Township neighborhood Friday morning.

Around 11:30 a.m. Friday, Police were called to the 7200 block of Hardwicke Place on reports of shots fired.

When officers arrived on the scene, they found a total of four victims at multiple crime scenes suffering from gunshot wounds, said Butler Township Police Chief John Porter. All four of the victims died on the scene.

Two victims were found in the first home, 82-year-old Clyde Knox, 78-year-old Eva Knox. Officers then found two more victims at a second home: 41-year-old Sarah Anderson and her 15-year-old daughter Kayla.

Kayla Anderson was a student at Vandalia Butler Schools, Superintendent Robert O'Leary said.

"In the words of those who knew her best, Kayla was a friend to many," O'Leary said. "She was kind and as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. She was a ray of light."

The FBI and Butler Township police have been joined by multiple law enforcement agencies in several states in the search for Marlow.

Marlow is described as being 5-foot-11 and weighs 160 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing shorts and a yellow T-shirt.

His vehicle is a 2007 white Ford Edge SUV with the license plate number JES 9806. Police said he was last seen traveling west on I-70. He remains on the run and is believed to have left the state of Ohio.

If anyone sees Marlow, they are encouraged to call 911 immediately and do not approach him, as he is considered to be armed and dangerous.

"This is the first violent crime in the neighborhood in recent memory. We ask that anyone with any possible information involving this incident or whereabouts of Marlow are asked to call our dispatch center at 937-233-2080," he said. " We are working to determine if there was any motive to this horrible tragedy or if mental illness played any role."

2 NEWS spoke with Marlene Lorten, who grew up in the neighborhood. She and other people in the area said it's usually a quiet, friendly place, so the shooting especially comes as a shock. 

"It's a tragic thing and I would have never believed that it would happen here in Butler Township,” said Lorten. “I mean. I just can't believe it."  

The loss of the four people hits especially hard for the neighborhood where everyone knows each other. "We're going to miss them very, very much, I know that.” said Lorten. 

Stay with 2 NEWS as this story develops.