Murder suspect from West Virginia nabbed near Anna

ANNA - A man accused of murdering his father in West Virginia was tracked down early Wednesday near Anna.

James Lohr Jr., 40, of Triadelphia, W.Va., was arrested around 5 a.m. near L&O Tire Service, on state Route 119 just east of Interstate 75. Deputy Brian Dotson found the van parked in high weeds and near some semitrailers in the truck parking lot. After backup arrived, Lohr was arrested without incident. His wife, Angela, 31, who was also in the van, was released without charges following a request by the West Virginia State Police.

Shelby County Sheriff Doug Schlagetter said his department was told to "be on the lookout" for a green Chevrolet van with West Virginia registration.

"We got the information last night, around 11 p.m., to be on the lookout for this guy," Schlagetter said Wednesday morning. "The information said he could be in the area around northern Shelby or southern Auglaize counties."

In response, numerous law enforcement agencies, including the Sheriff's Office, began to patrol the area. Deputies were able to start closing in after receiving information Lohr was making cell phone calls. His calls were traced to a cell phone tower in the northern part of the county, Schlagetter said.

Upon being taken into custody, Lohr complained of chest pains. He was taken, under guard, to Wilson Memorial Hospital in Sidney where he was checked and released, Schlagetter said.

According to Schlagetter and media reports from West Virginia, Lohr was wanted in connection with the murder of his father, James Lohr, 80. The elder Lohr's body was found last week in the Ohio River.

Lohr waived extradition during an appearance in Sidney Municipal Court on Wednesday morning.

Being asked to assist in tracking down a high-profile fugitive is nothing new, Schlagetter said.

"It's been awhile since the last time. It's not something that happens every day," Schlagetter said noting his office gets a couple of requests a year to be on the lookout for a suspect. "With the interstate being here it brings a lot of people through the area."