Homicide Victim Identified

The victim of a Pataskala homicide has been identified by authorities.

The Licking County Coroner has identified the River Forest Road victim as 56-year-old Ruth Hackney. The time and cause of death aren’t being released at this time to protect the investigation.

The Licking County Sheriff’s office said Wednesday, they began an investigation into the death in the 200 block of River Forest Road.

A person of interest, 33-year-old Russel David Littrell was arrested Thursday in Columbus and transported back to Licking County.

Investigators are still searching for a Dodge van that Littrell may have been driving.

That van is described as being a 1996 Dodge red and black in color with Ohio registration FWD 6056. If anyone knows the whereabouts of this vehicle call law enforcement immediately at (740) 607-5555.