Solving the 1998 Tuscarawas County Suitcase Murder: A Son's Betrayal Unveiled
A cold case from 1998 involving human remains found in two suitcases in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, has been solved. The case began when children discovered a suitcase with body parts along Winkler Hill Road in Dover Township. Another suitcase with additional remains was found in Jefferson Township. Despite collecting DNA, the victim remained unidentified, and no suspect was found. In 2023, the case was reopened, and Detective Sgt. Ryan Hamilton used advances in DNA testing to identify Lawrence A. Drotleff as the victim. Drotleff's son, Larry J. Drotleff, admitted to dismembering his father's body and disposing of the remains. He is facing federal charges for stealing his father's Social Security and pension funds. The case is ongoing in federal court, with multiple agencies involved in the investigation.