Johnathan Rogers

Johnathan Scott Rogers, a 21-year-old White male known for his generosity, was looking forward to becoming a father before his life was cut short. Born in Dayton, Ohio, on May 24, 1992, to Kenneth R. Rogers and Geneva B. Hamilton, Johnathan was remembered by a brother as someone who "would give anyone the shirt off his back." He attended Belmont High School and was survived by his parents, his girlfriend, Hayley Leasure, numerous siblings and step-brothers, and many other relatives and friends who loved him dearly.

On the night of Wednesday, January 22, 2014, Dayton Police were called to a residence in the 1000 block of Demphle Avenue in East Dayton following reports of gunfire. Officers arrived at approximately 10:20 p.m. and found Johnathan inside the home with a single gunshot wound to his chest. He was rushed to Miami Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. His death was recorded as the third homicide in the city of Dayton that year.

The initial investigation by Dayton homicide detectives was met with challenges. There were reportedly several people, including Johnathan's girlfriend, inside the house at the time of the shooting. However, police stated that the witnesses were not cooperative and provided conflicting statements about what had occurred. Some witnesses claimed that two men were involved in the shooting and had fled the scene before police arrived. During a search of the home, investigators found an unspecified quantity of drugs, though they could not immediately determine if the drugs were connected to the fatal shooting.

A few days after the homicide, the Dayton Police Department arrested two individuals, Zachary Wilson and Marissa Jane Ball, on suspicion of aggravated murder. However, they were both released from the Montgomery County Jail after the prosecutor's office determined there was insufficient evidence to formally file charges against them. Investigators continued to explore robbery as a possible motive for the crime.

In the wake of his death, Johnathan's family was left devastated and searching for answers. His brother, Billy Flynn, spoke about the immense tragedy of the situation, noting how excited Johnathan had been about the impending birth of his child, a child he would never get to meet. The family held a memorial service on January 30, 2014, at the Gates of Praise Church in nearby Fairborn, where friends and family gathered to pay their respects. In his obituary, the family requested that memorial contributions be made to his mother to help with final expenses.

The case of Johnathan Rogers's murder remains unsolved. The Dayton Police Department continues to investigate the homicide, and the Ohio Attorney General's office lists it among the state's cold cases. Authorities urge anyone with information regarding the shooting to come forward to help bring justice to Johnathan and his family. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation can be contacted at 855-224-6446 with any tips.