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Last updated on Saturday, March 1, 2014
(BEDFORD) - Taylor M. Flynn and Dillon M. Hicks have been arrested in Ohio, but not before they led police on a pursuit.
19-year-old Flynn and 16-year-old Hicks, both of Bedford, were arrested by officers in Ironton, Ohio. They are suspected in the murder of 43-year-old Rodney Allender.
The teens were tracked through one of their cell phones and officers started searching for them.
Ironton Police Chief Dan Johnson says once they received a description of the car, an officer remembered seeing a similar car.
According to Sheriff Sam Craig, officers were able to track the teens to Ironton. Officers there located the white Chevrolet Berretta and a vehicle pursuit began.
"The pursuit went through several city streets before entering a housing addition, where the driver of the Berretta almost hit several children," Craig says. "Officers stopped the pursuit because of safety to the residents."
But it wasn't long until officers again located the Berretta.
"That is when the teens exited the vehicle and fled on foot," Craig says. "Officers were able to locate the two hiding in the back of a van. The two were arrested without incident."
Craig says Hicks and Flynn will be transported back to Lawrence County to face a charge of murder. Hicks is also facing runaway charges.
"They are facing charges in Ohio; it will be up to their prosecutor to determine if they will move forward with those charges," Craig says. "We will begin extradition proceedings on Monday."
Flynn was taken to the Ohio jail and Hicks is being held in a juvenile detention facility.
Also charged with murder is 18-year-old Austin M. Curtis. He is also facing a charge of robbery. He is being held in the Lawrence County Jail without bond.
Craig says Hicks and Flynn could also be facing additional charges.
"We want to let everyone know that all three are now behind bars and the community is safe," says Sheriff Sam Craig. "I know there was a lot of citizens concerned with their safety."
43-year-old Rodney Allender's body was discovered by his son and girlfriend Thursday night about 9:40 p.m. at his home in the 1700 block of Dutch Ridge Road. The home is in a remote area in northeastern Lawrence County.
Accordring to an autopsy performed Friday Allender died from blunt force trauma,
Sheriff Craig says Allender was the target of the crime.
"The motive was robbery," he added. "They took money and firearms from the home."
Craig added the public's cooperation helped with solving the case.
"The public participation in this investigation was forth coming which provided us with valuable suspect information. As a result of that information obtained from many witnesses an arrest was made," Craig says.
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