2012
Dec. 17 — Police report that Shawn Eric Ford Jr. entered Nick’s Barber Shop, 405 E. South St., and demanded money at gunpoint. Ford admits to committing the robbery, armed with a BB gun, police say.
Dec. 19 — Ford is booked into Summit County Jail at 6:43 p.m. He lists Minneapolis, Minn., as his birthplace, Chelsea Schobert as his “girlfriend” and Jamayne Ruiz as “unknown” relationship.
Dec. 21 — Ford is released at 7:25 p.m. after posting 10 percent of $5,000 bond.
2013
Jan. 11 — Summit County Common Plea Judge Thomas Teodosio continues Ford’s bond and places him on minimum pretrial supervision at Oriana House.
March 18 — Ford pleads guilty to one count of robbery and is referred for pre-sentence investigation and screening by Oriana House Community Based Correction Facility. He remains free on bond pending an April 15 sentencing.
March 23 — Police report Chelsea Lynn Schobert as a victim of “numerous injuries, including stab wounds and skull fracture” at 12:30 a.m. inside a home in the 1400 block of Andrus Street in Akron. A knife is identified as the attacking instrument. Akron police arrest Jamayne Ruiz, 24, on a charge of felonious assault. Shawn Ford, 18, of Akron, is listed as a “witness” on the police report. No other details about his suspected involvement are recorded.
April 2 — In the early afternoon, the Akron Beacon Journal newsroom receives multiple calls that police and emergency vehicles are at a Portage Lakes residence on Rex Lake Drive in New Franklin. Mayor Al Bollas confirms that police are investigating the deaths of a married couple after workers found their bodies inside the home. Bollas does not confirm the names. County property records show Jeffrey E. Schobert, 56, and Margaret J. “Peg” Schobert, 59, both active in community affairs, own the home. At least seven Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation agents examine the crime scene.
April 3 — Authorities confirm that Jeff and Peg Schobert are the victims, saying only a “double homicide” occurred in the master bedroom of the couple’s home. New Franklin police Chief Dan Davidson says a construction worker found the bodies about 2:20 p.m. The victims are pronounced dead at 2:29 p.m. Akron police report finding the slain couple’s blue Mazda CX-9 sport utility vehicle abandoned in West Akron.
April 4 — Preliminary details of the crime begin to emerge from official records. A medical examiner’s report released at the agency’s office indicates the murder weapon was a sledgehammer. A narrative section of the report lists this timeline of events:
• Evening of April 1, Peg Schobert stayed with daughter all night at Akron Children’s Hospital, “returning home early a.m.” on April 2.
• 6:05 a.m.: Text message sent from Margaret Schobert’s cellphone, “re/boyfriend.” No additional details listed.
• 8 a.m.: Workers arrive at residence to continue remodeling, “were unaware of decedents in residence.”
• 10:20 a.m.: Margaret Schobert’s cellphone “pings” location “in Akron, Ohio, around Hill Street.”
• 2:15 p.m.: Worker goes to hall restroom, “peers around corner into bedroom, discovers both bodies,” calls 911.
• 2:22 p.m.: New Franklin police, fire department emergency squad called.
• 5:09 p.m.: ME Investigator Mike Hallas, Chief Davidson, New Franklin Detective Mike Hitchings and Special Agent George Staley of BCI enter bedroom of one-story residence.
• Report says Mr. Schobert’s body, wearing black boxer shorts, is on bed. “Large sledgehammer” is on the bed to right of body.
• Report says Mrs. Schobert’s body is found on floor between bed and dresser, wearing “black coat, brown shirt ... blue jeans, brown boots.”
• Bodies of both victims are reported to be “cool to touch.”
At 2 p.m. news conference at New Franklin police headquarters, Detective Mike Hitchings announces aggravated murder arrest, releases jail booking photo of Shawn E. Ford Jr. Hitchings confirms Ford was Chelsea Schobert’s boyfriend and took money and the couple’s vehicle from the scene of the slayings. “Physical evidence in different locations” links Ford to crime scene, Hitchings says. He says additional arrests are possible but declines to answer detailed questions about crime, citing continuing investigation.
April 5 — Authorities confirm that charges were dismissed against Jamayne Ruiz and he has been released from jail in connection with March 23 attack on Chelsea Schobert. Akron police confirm Shawn Ford Jr. has been arrested in that attack and say Ruiz wrongly was identified by “witnesses.” Judge sets Ford’s bond at $2 million and appoints attorney to represent him.
April 6 — New Franklin police issue news release, saying a 14-year-old has been arrested and is in custody at the juvenile detention center in connection with the Schobert slayings. No additional details, including his name, are released.
April 8 — Akron police arrest Joshua Greathouse, 26, of East South Street, on a charge of obstructing justice for allegedly giving a false statement leading to the arrest of the wrong person in the Chelsea Schobert attack.
April 11 — Akron police arrest Zachary J. Keys, 20, of Andrus Street, on a charge of obstructing justice for allegedly giving a false statement leading to the arrest of the wrong person in the Chelsea Schobert attack.