Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, in conjunction with local law enforcement, announces a new initiative called “To Catch a Killer.” This will be a monthly presentation that will highlight one selected central Ohio homicide that remains unsolved after at least 10 years of investigation. Rewards in these select cases will be up to $5,000.
This month’s “To Catch a Killer” case concerns the 1989 homicide of 19-year-old Sharon Blackburn.
On the night of Friday, Feb. 24, 1989, Sharon Blackburn stopped at Georgia’s Friendly Tavern on Parsons Avenue, in the south end of Columbus. Investigators described the bar as a neighborhood establishment where most customers were familiar with one another.
Sharon was at the tavern playing pool at about 11:30 p.m. She was supposed to leave the bar and visit a friend a few blocks away but never arrived. When Sharon did not arrive Saturday to pick up her 1-year-old son at her father’s house, the family became concerned and a missing person’s report was filed. Family and friends searched for Sharon but their efforts were unsuccessful.
On Tuesday, Feb. 28, 1989, someone taking a morning walk found the body of Sharon Blackburn lying in a ditch on Vause Road just south of Rickenbacker Air Base. Investigators determined that Sharon died due to blows to her head. Because Sharon had no car, it is believed that she may have accepted a ride from someone before or as she left Georgia’s Friendly Tavern. Sharon Blackburn had no known enemies, and investigators have not been able to determine a motive for her murder.
Crime Stoppers has posted a reward of up to $5,000 for any information received leading to the arrest and/or indictment of the persons responsible for this crime. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 645-8477, e-mail a tip at www.stopcrime.org or text a tip to “CRIMES” (274637), with the key word “CMH.”
