When Lester Emhoff left work Tuesday, September 23, 1975, his employees thought nothing abnormal about his departure. But it was just three hours later that his son Robert received the following letter:
Robert Emoff,
By 12:00 noon tomorrow, you should have in your possession(sic) the sum of four-Hundred-Thousand dollars ($400,000) in bills of tens and twenties. Money will be checked for unfamiliar markings. Police will not be contacted. Money is for the ransom of Lester Emoff. If these demands are not carried out to the letter, Lester Emoff and car with tag #866-pe will be destroyed with dynamite along with all three stores and your warehouse.
Robert Emoff,
By 12:00 noon tomorrow, you should have in your possession(sic) the sum of four-Hundred-Thousand dollars ($400,000) in bills of tens and twenties. Money will be checked for unfamiliar markings. Police will not be contacted. Money is for the ransom of Lester Emoff. If these demands are not carried out to the letter, Lester Emoff and car with tag #866-pe will be destroyed with dynamite along with all three stores and your warehouse.
At 12 noon tomorrow, you are to leave your house with the money in the green car, tag #7947-NV and proceed to the Sohio station on Riverview and Philadelphia Dr. Inside the station you will receive further instructions at exactly 12:05 by phone. You will be timed. 30 mph.
It is believed that Lester was abducted as he left the store. The ransom was paid in small bills by the victim’s family the next day, Sep 24.
Although the ransom was paid, Lester’s body was found three days later on Olt Road in Jefferson Township. He’d been shot in the back. His car was discovered in Miamisburg. Residents nearby saw men leave the car there the night Lester was abducted. Roughly $193,000 was recovered.
Albert Lee Scott, a former employee of Emoff’s, was arrested in connection to the case. Scott had been fired by Emoff when there was a question about some merchandise missing from a truck. Scott provided information leading to the discovery of the body. Two other men, Herman Lee Moore and Willis Leroy, were arrested in connection to the crime.
Albert Lee Scott was convicted and sentenced to die in the electric chair. Herman Lee Moore and Willis Leroy both received life sentences.
Although the ransom was paid, Lester’s body was found three days later on Olt Road in Jefferson Township. He’d been shot in the back. His car was discovered in Miamisburg. Residents nearby saw men leave the car there the night Lester was abducted. Roughly $193,000 was recovered.
Albert Lee Scott, a former employee of Emoff’s, was arrested in connection to the case. Scott had been fired by Emoff when there was a question about some merchandise missing from a truck. Scott provided information leading to the discovery of the body. Two other men, Herman Lee Moore and Willis Leroy, were arrested in connection to the crime.
Albert Lee Scott was convicted and sentenced to die in the electric chair. Herman Lee Moore and Willis Leroy both received life sentences.
Dayton Unknown 