Second killer suspected in Thurman murder
With no alibi for his whereabouts at the time of the crime — and the confession of an alleged murderer putting him at the scene — investigators say they are giving serious consideration to the involvement of a second killer in the slaying of 89-year-old Centertown resident Ruby Thurman.
“We can’t implicate him but at the same time we can’t rule him out,” said District Attorney General Dale Potter of the second suspect who remains free and uncharged. “What we need is information from the public, no matter how minor, regarding anything they know about this case.”
The name of the second suspect was announced in open court during the preliminary hearing for accused killer Joshua Jacobs, 20, last week. However, the name of the individual who is being labeled as a suspect is not being published at this time given lack of evidence against the local man.
It was his friend, Jacobs, who fingered the potential second killer, identifying him by name in his original murder confession. Jacobs actually said it was his friend who assaulted the elderly woman, both physically and sexually, when they broke into her house to steal her car. He also said the other man submerged her in the bathtub where her body was found.
However, Jacobs did not mention the second suspect when he tendered his second confession to lawmen, instead taking all the blame himself while saying he could not recall if he sexually assaulted the woman. Lawmen have confirmed sexual assault plus they have found Jacobs’ blood at the scene from where he broke in the window to make entrance.
At this point, lawmen have not revealed if they have scientific evidence of a sexual nature which, with the use of DNA profiling, could link the second suspect to the crime. However, investigators did confirm they have potential scientific evidence waiting at the state crime lab to be evaluated.
Given the continued evidence testing, sources say a decision on the second suspect could take quite a while unless there is evidence linking him directly to the scene. The second suspect is denying his involvement, admitting only that he was with Jacobs earlier in the evening.