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Click here to see a video interview with the daughter of one of the victims in the recent Adams County murders. Check out our local news section for the rest of the story and an additional video interview with Detective Shawn Cooley of the Adams County Sheriff's Office.
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Local News

Man in custody following double murder in Adams County
Wednesday, February 27, 2008 7:58 PM EST Print this story | Email this story
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MANCHESTER, Ohio -- A man has been arrested and charged in connection with the early morning murder Wednesday of an Adams County woman and her son.

According to Detective Richard Demint of the Adams County Sheriff's Office, Nicholas Wolke, 47, of Blanchester, Ohio, was arrested at approximately 10:30 a.m. near the community of Bethel, Ohio, in Clermont County after initial reports had the suspect traveling to Florida.

Demint said law enforcement officials responded to a call just after 2 a.m., Wednesday, in the 100 block of Brown Hill Road outside of Manchester to find a 38-year-old female and her 21-year-old son shot to death on their front lawn. Adams County law enforcement officials said they could not release the identities of the victims until all family members have been contacted. But other news sources identified them as Denise Blanton and Jonathan Gilkison.

Detectives also confirmed two juveniles were in the home at the time of the shooting. The juveniles were apparently unharmed in the incident.

According to Demint, the victim was the ex-girlfriend of Wolke. He said the couple was well known by law enforcement officials who had answered several domestic violence calls at that location in the past.

"We have responded to that location before several times," Demint said. "It's certainly been a volatile situation for some time and we've been to that location and dealt with these individuals before in a domestic violence sense."


Nicholas Wolke is led into the Adams County Detention Center after being arrested and charged with two counts of murder. -- Terry Prather/Staff
Initially, law enforcement officials feared Wolke was headed to Florida stemming from information received from the public.

According to Demint, Wolke was apprehended after a series of phone calls to family members were traced back to a residence in Bethel. Demint said the Clermont County Sheriff's Office responded immediately and apprehended Wolke.

Wolke was first transported to the Clermont County Detention Center where he had signed a basic form for extradition from county to county and later transferred to the Adams County Detention Center.

"It's just getting crazy. Sometimes you have to wonder what these people are thinking," Demint said.

In November, Wolke was allegedly the aggressor in a domestic incident at his home. Manchester Police Chief Randy Walters was the first officer to arrive and was in the process of a precautionary pat-down of Wolke when he allegedly struck Walters in the head with a telephone, police said.

According to a report by Adams County Detective Jeff McCarty, after Walters was struck, Wolke fled the area. During an extensive search of the area by numerous ACSO, Manchester and West Union officers, and a wildlife enforcement officer, Wolke allegedly called the victim of the domestic incident, who was talking to McCarty at the time, and asked her to bring his clothes to his location so he could leave the state.


Using the information police were able to locate Wolke in the area of Ohio 763, in Brown County where the man was apprehended with the help of a police dog. Wolke was bitten on his left leg in the capture and taken to Adams County Regional Medical Center by Manchester Life Squad before being taken to Adams County Jail, police said.

According to Detective Shawn Cooley of the Adams County Sheriff's Office, the case involving the Manchester Police chief is still unresolved.

Wolke arrived at the Adams County Detention Center in West Union, Ohio, at approximately 2 p.m. where he was immediately shuffled past reporters and news cameras and into the jail.

Wolke had only one reply for reporters outside the jail, saying "Self Defense" when asked why he murdered the woman and young man.

Tiffany Adkins, 20-year-old daughter of the female victim was at the detention center awaiting Wolke's arrival.

Adkins said she had just arrived home to get ready for work when her two younger sisters ran out of the house and stated that Nick had shot their mom and brother. Adkins said she found her mother laying on the sidewalk and older brother laying in grass adjacent to the house. Adkins said she then had to leave the premises and travel uptown to call the police since there was no phone at the residence and no cell phone service available.

"People always told her he (Wolke) was a bad guy," Adkins said. "I just want everyone to remember what a good person she was and how much fun they were to be with. My brother always acted as the father figure in the family and now we've lost that."

"Today is the first time I've even seen a lot of the family in over a year. I just feel lost. It makes me feel weird to talk about them. It's weird to talk about them as if they are gone," Adkins said.

Contact Owen McNeill at owen.mcneill@lee.net or call 606-564-9091, ext. 272.

Reader Comments

Comments are limited to 200 words or less.

?? wrote on Mar 26, 2008 6:47 PM:

" When the officers respond to the scene after getting the call about Domestic Violence and the complaintant decides they do not want to press charges there is nothing they can do...it was not the officers fault that Wolke went that far and has no remorse for it....It is a terrible thing that happened and the family is in my prayers "

Manchester wrote on Mar 5, 2008 4:08 PM:

" I have known this family for quite awhile. My daughters went to school with a couple of the younger girls, my son dated the oldest girl for awhile and was friends with the family. Keeping this family in my thoughts & prayers. "

TJW. wrote on Mar 2, 2008 2:21 AM:

" My thoughts and prayers go out to all of the family members in thier time of this great loss.How sad it is that two young souls are gone.

"

mebabe wrote on Feb 28, 2008 4:27 PM:

" It is not the law enforcement's fault it exculate this far. Anyone who has been in a violent abusive relationship knows this as fact. It happens everyday, that an abused person will call the police and then as soon as they show up to help, the caller is the one who starts back tracking and once that is done, it is out of the law enforcements hands. After all, there is no such thing as "the OJ Simpson law" although i agree there should be one. They can not arrest, detain, or force someone out of the home, if no one is pressing charges on the abuser. "

Manchester wrote on Feb 28, 2008 3:40 PM:

" What has happened to this family is awful. My prayers are with them. I live in Manchester and to have something happen like this in a small community is shocking. I hope this family gets justice for their loved ones. "

Stunned wrote on Feb 28, 2008 2:16 PM:

" I have to agree with "Stop Domestic Violence". I too wondered how things got this far if law enforcement had been out there so many times. However, after hearing the deputy who escorted Mr. Walke state to television reporters it was definitely not self defense it was obvious to me he didn't know how to do his job. Any person involved in law enforcement should know not to make public statements about an on-going investigation. Now any defense attorney worth a dime has ammunition to use during a trial. Hopefully nothing will come of it, but stranger things have happened. "

Stop Domestic Violence wrote on Feb 28, 2008 9:11 AM:

" If law enforcement responded to the location several times before, they apparently did not do their job if the situation escalated to murder! "

Anita Smothers wrote on Feb 28, 2008 12:44 AM:

" I would just like to say how sorry to the Adkins girls and Charlie Blanton whom is the mothers brother. I have known these girls and their uncle for many years. At least two of these girls has stayed in my home with my daughter Kayla and one of them visited with us alot when we lived in Manchester. So if we can do anything to help ease your pain please let us know. We are very sorry again for all of your loss and you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely
Anita Smothers & Kayla Ruark "

praying wrote on Feb 27, 2008 11:14 PM:

" I said a prayer for this family...abuse of families has to stop. "


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