UPPER SANDUSKY, Ohio — On New Year’s Day, tragedy struck the small town of Upper Sandusky when a man wielding a machete attacked and killed 22-year-old Keris L. Riebel inside a Dollar Tree store. According to witnesses, the suspect, 27-year-old Bethel M. Bekele, approached Riebel and struck her numerous times before fleeing the scene.
When police arrived, they found Riebel deceased and began searching for the suspect. Bekele was eventually located in the 100 block of South Fifth Street and taken into custody for further investigation.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Wyandot County Major Crimes Unit both responded to the scene and began their own investigations into the incident. While the motive for the attack remains unclear at this time, detectives are working to determine if there was any relationship between the victim and the suspect.
Bekele has been charged with murder and is currently being held in custody. The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming.
