Murder-Suicide In Guernsey County

The Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office says a Cambridge man shot and killed his 5 year-old son then turned the gun on himself in a murder suicide.

Sheriff Mike McCauley says around four Wednesday afternoon his office received a call from Beech Grove Head Start Center in Cambridge reporting that Jacob Ball failed to attend school that day. Deputies then went to the home of Jacob’s father 36-year-old Russell Ball at 60043 Piedmont Road to do a well-being check.

"Upon arrival, officers met with the spouse of the individual that took his life and no noise inside the home so officers based on circumstance forced entry into the home and found the deceased," said Sheriff McCauley.

Sheriff McCauley say Ball shot his son with a 20-guage shot gun, then turned the weapon on himself. McCauley says ball had been arguing with his wife, Jessica, Tuesday night.

"There was a lengthy text conversation between he and his wife and at some point in the conversation he had expressed an idea that he would take his own life," said McCauley.

Jacob was the only child of the couple. Authorities are unsure of a motive but say the two had seperated after Christmas.