The Sandusky Family Murders: Mother and Children Strangled | Ohio True Crime Case
The 2012 triple homicide in Sandusky, Ohio shocked the small lakeside community when 23-year-old Heather Jackson and her two young children, 3-year-old Selena and 1-year-old Wayne Jr., were found dead in their home. Located on a quiet street just a mile from Lake Erie, the Jackson residence became the center of a disturbing investigation after friends became concerned when Heather stopped answering her phone—behavior they knew was out of character for the young mother.
Despite initial police checks that revealed no obvious signs of trouble, persistent friends eventually forced entry into the home and made the horrific discovery. Heather's body was found wedged between a mattress and box spring with a ligature around her neck, while the bodies of her two children were later discovered hidden behind boxes in a utility closet. Forensic examination would later reveal all three victims died from ligature strangulation, with evidence suggesting sexual assault occurred around the time of death for both Heather and her daughter Selena.
Key Takeaways
The bodies of Heather Jackson and her two children were discovered after friends became concerned about her uncharacteristic silence and forced entry into her home.
Forensic evidence revealed all three victims died by ligature strangulation with additional evidence suggesting sexual assault had occurred.
Surveillance footage and witness statements led investigators to focus on a man named Josh who had been at Heather's residence the night before the bodies were discovered.
Crime Scene Details
Heather Jackson, a 23-year-old mother of two, and her children were victims of a brutal triple homicide in their Sandusky, Ohio home in September 2012. The tragedy began when friends became concerned after Heather failed to answer her phone or attend a scheduled meeting on September 8th.
Her close friend Danielle visited Heather's home at 2:30 p.m. that day, finding all doors locked but spotting a concerning detail - a pacifier belonging to 3-year-old Selena left on the porch. This discovery alarmed Danielle, as she knew Heather would never leave without this essential item for her children.
After hours of failed attempts to reach Heather, her mother Jodie requested a police welfare check. Officers examined the exterior of the house but found no signs of forced entry or disturbance, so they departed without entering. Later that evening, friends Thomas Hansen and Dan Risner forced entry through the back door and made a horrific discovery.
The crime scene revealed Heather's body wedged between a mattress and box spring with evidence of strangulation. Police found the bodies of her children, 3-year-old Selena and 1-year-old Wayne Jr., hidden behind boxes in a utility closet. All three victims died from ligature strangulation according to autopsy results.
Forensic evidence indicated sexual assault, with examinations revealing concerning physical evidence on both Heather and Selena. DNA testing found seminal fluid and a sperm cell on materials collected from Selena, providing crucial evidence for investigators.
The investigation initially focused on Heather's friends who discovered the bodies. However, a man named Josh Case emerged as a person of interest after Thomas Hansen reported seeing him at Heather's house the night before the bodies were discovered. Surveillance footage from a nearby medical center captured a vehicle at Heather's home between 10:57 p.m. and 11:08 p.m. that evening.
Heather Jackson's Background
Heather Jackson was 23 years old in 2012, living in Sandusky, Ohio with her two young children: Selena, age 3, and Wayne Jr., age 1. She had recently found a home on a quiet street approximately one mile from Lake Erie, which provided a sense of stability after a difficult period in her life.
Her marriage to her high school sweetheart Wayne had recently ended, and they were in the process of divorce. The challenges of parenthood had strained their once-happy relationship beyond repair. Despite these difficulties, Heather remained dedicated to creating a positive environment for her children.
The young mother maintained close relationships with her friends and family, particularly with her mother Jodie. They spoke on the phone daily, making any lack of communication between them unusual and concerning. Heather was described by those who knew her as reliable and consistent in her habits, especially regarding care for her children.
Her residence was located near Firelands Regional Medical Center, a detail that would later become relevant during the investigation into the tragic events that occurred at her home on September 8, 2012.
The Day of the Discovery
Initial Welfare Concerns and Safety Check
On September 8, 2012, Heather Jackson's friend Danielle went to her house at 2:30 p.m. for a planned meetup. Finding all doors locked with no response, Danielle grew concerned, especially after noticing Selena's pacifier on the porch—an item Heather would never leave behind when taking her children out.
After unsuccessful attempts to reach Heather, Danielle contacted Heather's mother Jodie. The situation was particularly alarming as Jodie spoke with her daughter daily but couldn't reach her that day. As hours passed without contact, Jodie's concern deepened, prompting her to request a police welfare check.
Officers arrived at the residence, knocked on doors, and checked windows. Finding no signs of forced entry or disturbance, they had no legal grounds to enter and subsequently departed. At this point, no one knew the tragedy that had already occurred inside the quiet home.
Crime Scene Discovery and Investigation
Around 7:30 p.m., Heather's friends Thomas Hansen and Dan Risner arrived at her house after learning of her disappearance. When no one answered the front door, Risner forced open the back entrance and made a horrific discovery—Heather's naked body in the bedroom. They immediately called 911 in distress.
Sergeant Eric Gyil from Sanduski Police Department responded to the call. Upon entering, he found Heather's body wedged between the mattress and box spring with a ligature around her neck. The television remained on, but the children were nowhere to be found in their room.
While searching the premises, officers discovered a utility closet they hadn't yet checked. Behind stacked boxes inside this closet, they located the lifeless bodies of three-year-old Selena and one-year-old Wayne Jr. The crime scene was immediately secured, marking the beginning of an investigation into what would become a devastating triple homicide case.
The subsequent forensic examination revealed even more disturbing details:
Cause of Death: Dr. Diana Scala-Barnett determined all three victims died from ligature strangulation
Evidence of Sexual Assault: Both Heather and Selena showed signs of anal trauma
Forensic Findings: Julie Cox, a forensic scientist, identified seminal fluid on anal swabs from Selena and sperm cells on a stain in her underwear
The investigators would soon focus their attention on surveillance footage from the nearby medical center and statements from those who knew Heather, including a man named Josh who had reportedly been at her house that evening.
The Investigation Begins
On September 8, 2012, concern grew when 23-year-old Heather Jackson stopped answering her phone. Her friend Danielle had arrived at Heather's home at 2:30 PM for a scheduled meeting, but found the house locked with no one answering. The discovery of her daughter Selena's pacifier on the porch raised immediate alarm bells.
Heather's mother Jodie, who typically spoke with her daughter daily, couldn't reach her either. After several hours without contact, Jodie contacted police to request a welfare check. Officers arrived, knocked, and checked windows but saw no obvious signs of trouble or forced entry, so they departed without entering.
Later that evening, around 7:30 PM, friends Thomas Hansen and Dan Risner arrived at the house. When no one answered, Risner forced open the back door and made a horrifying discovery - Heather's naked body in the bedroom. They immediately called 911.
Sergeant Eric Gyil of the Sanduski Police Department responded to the scene. He found Heather's body wedged between the mattress and box spring with a ligature around her neck. The television remained on, but initially the children were nowhere to be found.
While searching the property, officers discovered a utility closet they hadn't yet checked. Behind stacked boxes inside, they made the devastating discovery of the bodies of 3-year-old Selena and 1-year-old Wayne Jr.
The autopsy results revealed disturbing details:
All three victims died from ligature strangulation
Both Heather and Selena showed evidence of sexual assault
Forensic testing found seminal fluid and sperm cells on Selena's clothing and body
Police turned to surveillance footage from nearby Firelands Regional Medical Center. The cameras captured headlights from a car arriving at 10:57 PM and departing at 11:08 PM on the night of the murders.
During questioning, Thomas Hansen confirmed he was the driver seen on the footage. He stated he had spoken with Heather outside her home around 11:00 PM but didn't enter because she had company - a man Hansen knew as "Josh."
Investigators quickly located Josh Case for questioning. Case admitted being at Heather's house that evening, claiming they watched television while the children slept. He stated he had gone to buy breakfast and returned to the home.
Forensic Evidence Analysis
Medical Examiner Findings for Heather Jackson
The autopsy conducted by Deputy Coroner Dr. Diana Scala-Barnett revealed that Heather Jackson, age 23, died from ligature strangulation. The examination identified unusual postmortem dilation of the rectum, which the coroner concluded indicated the insertion of a foreign object at or near the time of death. The victim's body was discovered wedged between the mattress and box spring in her bedroom, with a ligature still present around her neck when authorities arrived at the scene.
Children's Postmortem Examination
Both children—three-year-old Selena and one-year-old Wayne Jr.—were determined to have died from ligature strangulation according to Dr. Scala-Barnett's report. The medical examiner noted specific evidence suggesting the children's bodies had been manipulated after death. Selena's underwear appeared to have been rolled up, indicating her body had been redressed postmortem. The examiner also documented rectal dilation in Selena's body similar to that observed in her mother, suggesting the introduction of a foreign object around the time of death.
Scientific Evidence Documentation
Julie Cox from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation provided critical forensic testimony regarding biological evidence. Her analysis confirmed the presence of seminal fluid on anal swabs taken from three-year-old Selena Jackson. Further examination revealed a suspicious stain on Selena's underwear, from which Cox extracted a sample for testing. This analysis positively identified the presence of sperm cells in the fabric.
DNA samples were collected from multiple individuals who had been at the residence, including:
Dan Risner (discovered the bodies and called 911)
Thomas Hansen (visited Heather the previous evening)
Josh Case (identified as being present at the home)
Surveillance footage from nearby Firelands Regional Medical Center captured headlights of a vehicle arriving at the residence at 10:57 PM and departing approximately 11 minutes later at 11:08 PM on the night before the bodies were discovered.
Authorities later determined this vehicle belonged to Thomas Hansen, who acknowledged his presence but stated he remained outside the home and observed another individual named Josh inside with Heather.
The Investigation Timeline
September 8, 2012:
2:30 PM: Friend Danielle Surel arrives for scheduled meeting, finds no one home
Evening: Police conduct initial welfare check but leave after seeing no signs of forced entry
7:30 PM: Friends force entry through back door and discover Heather's body
Bodies of children later found hidden behind boxes in utility closet
Key Suspects and Investigation
Video Evidence Analysis
The investigators focused on surveillance footage from cameras near Heather Jackson's residence, particularly those mounted on the Firelands Regional Medical Center building adjacent to her home. The footage captured a vehicle arriving at Heather's house at 10:57 PM on the night of the incident. Due to darkness and the camera's distance, only the car's headlights were visible. The vehicle backed into the driveway and remained there for approximately 11 minutes before departing at 11:08 PM. This timeline became a crucial element for investigators trying to establish the sequence of events leading to the murders.
Questioning of Hansen and Risner
Thomas Hansen and Dan Risner, the two men who discovered Heather's body, were taken to the police station for separate interrogations. Risner, who made the 911 call, explained that he had to force the back door open to enter Heather's house after becoming concerned about her whereabouts. He voluntarily provided DNA samples to investigators without hesitation.
Hansen told investigators he had spoken with Heather by phone the previous evening and had visited her residence around 11:00 PM. He clarified that he was the driver of the vehicle captured on surveillance footage. According to Hansen, he didn't enter Heather's home during this visit but instead spoke with her briefly outside. He noted that Heather wasn't alone—a man Hansen identified as "Josh" was present in the house. Following this revelation, investigators shifted their focus to Josh Case, who was subsequently brought in for questioning.
Case acknowledged his presence at Heather's home that evening. He stated they watched television while the children slept and mentioned leaving to purchase breakfast items for the children before returning to the residence. Both Hansen and Risner provided DNA samples as part of the investigation protocol.
Josh Case: A Key Person of Interest
Josh Case emerged as a significant figure in the investigation of the tragic deaths of Heather Jackson and her children. Police identified him through witness testimony as the last known person to be with Heather before her murder. Thomas Hansen, a friend of Heather's, informed investigators that when he drove by Heather's house around 11:00 PM on the night before her body was discovered, he noticed Case was present in the home.
The police quickly located Case and brought him in for questioning. During his interview, Case acknowledged his years-long acquaintance with Heather and confirmed his presence at her residence that night. He stated they had spent time watching television while the children slept in their room.
Case provided additional details about his activities, claiming he had left to purchase breakfast for the children. This timeline corresponds with surveillance footage from cameras mounted on the nearby Firelands Regional Medical Center, which captured a vehicle arriving at Heather's home at 10:57 PM and departing just 11 minutes later at 11:08 PM.
The evidence collected at the crime scene pointed to sexual assault of both Heather and her 3-year-old daughter Selena. Forensic examination revealed seminal fluid on anal swabs taken from Selena and sperm cells on a stain in her underwear. Both victims showed signs of rectal dilation consistent with assault near the time of death.
Police prioritized Case's questioning after learning he was the last known visitor to the Jackson home. His presence at the residence shortly before the estimated time of the murders made him a critical person of interest in this devastating triple homicide case.
