How Could You? Hall of Shame-Robert Caples case-Death Updated

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Cambridge, Ohio, Perry Buco, 21, “is facing one count of murder, a first-degree felony” in the murder of his former foster parent Robert C. “Chris” Caples, 47.

 

“The man accused of killing his former foster parent at a Beatty Avenue residence Friday was scheduled to appear in the Cambridge Municipal Court today [April 10, 2012] for a felony bond hearing.”

 

“Buco remained incarcerated in the Guernsey County jail as of press time Tuesday.

 

He is accused of killing Robert C. “Chris” Caples, 47, and then stealing Caples’ vehicle in order to flee to Muskingum County, where he was arrested early Saturday morning.

 

Caples was a well known member of the local community and served as director of the Thompkins Center’s Juvenile Residential Facility on North 18th Street in Cambridge.

 

In a statement released to The Daily Jeffersonian on Monday, Thompkins Child & Adolescent Services Inc. Executive Director Chuck Larrick said, “with the passing of Robert C. ‘Chris’ Caples, Thompkins Child and Adolescent Services Inc. has lost a great employee, administrator and most importantly, a friend.

 

“Chris Caples has been with Thompkins for 24 years with his last 10 as director of Residential Services. He has helped hundreds of children throughout the years both professionally and personally. He will definitely be missed by this agency and our entire community.

 

“We want to express our appreciation of the overwhelming support and assistance we have been receiving, including the Muskingum Area Mental Health Board, Ohio Department of Mental Health, Six County Inc., Guernsey County Juvenile Court, Guernsey County Children Services and other social service organizations.

 

“We also appreciate the sensitivity the media has shown in respecting the privacy of the Chris’ family, the youth he has helped and his co-workers. With great sadness, we offer our condolences and any assistance we can provide to his family and everyone touched by this tragic event.”

 

Caples’ body was discovered by Cambridge police officers at approximately 10:30 p.m. Friday while conducting a well being check at the request of his family. Investigators reportedly believe Caples was killed during a physical confrontation, although the cause of death has not been released.

 

Guernsey County Coroner Dr. Janet Brockwell ordered an autopsy be conducted at the Licking County Coroner’s Office to determine the cause of death. The results of that autopsy had not been released as of press time Tuesday.

 

According to Cambridge police, officers were able to quickly identify Caples along with a description of his vehicle and broadcast that information to surrounding law enforcement agencies.

 

Sgt. Matt McCulley of the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office located the Caples vehicle parked outside Baker’s Motel a short time later.

 

Officers from the Cambridge Police Department and Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to the motel to assist McCulley search the motel for Buco, who was located a short time later and taken into custody without incident.

 

Authorities have not said if a murder weapon was recovered nor having the released a motive for the slaying.

 

No additional details regarding the homicide were available as of press time.

 

The case against Buco is expected to be presented to a Guernsey County Common Pleas Court grand jury for consideration of charges including and in addition to murder.

 

The incident remained under investigation by Cambridge police.”

 

Suspect former foster child of victim

[The Daily Jeffersonian 4/10/12 by Rick Stillion]

 

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update:“Convicted killer Perry D. Buco, 22, is facing a life prison sentence after pleading “guilty” to aggravated murder and other charges Thursday during a hearing in the Guernsey County Common Pleas Court.

Buco is scheduled to be sentenced at 9 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 4 in the same court.

Guernsey County Prosecuting Attorney Daniel G. Padden said his office will request a life prison sentence without possibility of parole for 30 years at the hearing. Buco’s legal counsel is expected to argue for a lesser sentence.

Buco was convicted of killing his foster father Robert C. “Chris” Caples, 47, in April 2012 at the victim’s Beatty Avenue home in Cambridge.

“We are pleased with the negotiated plea so the family of Mr. Caples will be saved the emotional nature of a jury trial,” said Padden.

The prosecutor praised the work by the Cambridge Police Department while investigating the slaying.

“From the initial call through the entire investigation, the Cambridge Police Department worked very hard to solve the case. Their expertise along with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation was a major factor in convicting Mr. Buco in this case.”

A pre-sentence investigation report was ordered by Judge David A. Ellwood during Thursday’s hearing.

Buco also pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony; robbery, a second-degree felony; grand theft, a fourth-degree felony; and theft, a fifth-degree felony.

Buco previously plead “not guilty by reason of insanity,” but on March 21, Ellwood ruled he was competent to stand trial based on competency evaluations completed by Dr. Jeffrey L. Smalldon and Dr. James J. Karpawich.

According to court documents, both doctors determined Buco was “able to know the wrongfulness of his actions at the time of the alleged offenses.”

Mr. Caples died as a result of “blunt force injury to the head and multiple stab wounds to the left torso,” according to an autopsy conducted by Dr. Lee.

Authorities believe Mr. Caples was killed at approximately 7 p.m. on April 5, 2012 — more than 24 hours prior to the discovery of his body by Cambridge police officers conducting a well being check at his home.

Officers responded to the home at the request of Caples’ family just before 10:30 p.m. on April 6, at which time they found Caples’ body.

Buco is alleged to have taken Mr. Caples’ vehicle after he was killed. Buco was arrested a short time later in Muskingum County.

Buco remained incarcerated pending his sentencing hearing.”

BUCO ADMITS MURDER[The Daily Jeffersonian 8/9/13 by Rick Stillion]

“Cambridge resident Perry D. Buco, 22, was sentenced Friday in the Guernsey County Common Pleas Court to life in prison for killing his foster father, Robert “Chris” Caples in April 2012 at the home they shared.

Buco is not eligible for parole for 30 full years on the aggravated murder conviction.

Buco was also sentenced to five years in prison on a aggravated robbery conviction, one year on a theft conviction and 18 months on a grand theft conviction with the sentences to be served concurrently to the life prison sentence.

“This was a horrible tragedy and one of the most horrific crime scenes I have observed in almost 25 years of prosecution,” said Guernsey County Prosecuting Attorney Daniel G. Padden. “I believe Judge David Ellwood correctly analyzed all of the facts and evidence, and sentenced the defendant appropriately for his actions.”

During the hearing, Judge Ellwood described the manner of death, saying Buco used an “eight-pound dumbbell to split his (Caples’) skull open. But that was not adequate, as there were (stab) wounds by a knife. And that was not adequate, as there were also round puncture wounds. Then you bound the body in a blanket and placed it in a freezer in the basement.”

Buco told investigators the round puncture wounds were caused by a pitchfork he obtained from the basement.

The murder reportedly occurred during an argument between Buco and Caples regarding Caples’ desire that Buco get a job.

“He (Caples), against the advice of his own father, tried to help you,” Ellwood admonished Buco.

After killing Caples, Buco allegedly stole his credit cards and attempted to withdrawn money from a local bank while driving Caples’ car.

He also reportedly purchased a video game system from a Southgate Parkway business and returned home where he tried to change the personal identification number on a bank card to get cash.

Padden praised the Cambridge Police Department for its work on the case along with the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation.

While giving a victim’s impact statement, Caples’ sister, Cathy Holt, described her bother as man who loved life and tried to help people.

“He loved life and he had so much life to live,” she said. “It is so unfair for somebody to take a life like that. I don’t hate you Perry, but I hate what you did to my family. I am trying to forgive you. I will never, ever forget what happened.”

Holt addressed the fact her father passed away last October without knowing why Buco killed his only son.

“He didn’t understand how he (Chris) was killed at the hands of someone he considered his grandson,” Holt told Buco. “He wanted to know why, Perry.

Why someone he considered his grandson would do this to his son. After that, he shut down and died slowly.”

Buco expressed remorse when given an opportunity to address the court.

“I want to apologize to Chris’s family and friends,” he said. “Every day I think about Chris and what he did for me. I regret what happened. He was a good guy and didn’t deserve to die by my hand. I hope someday his family will be able to forgive me, but if they can’t I will understand because I don’t think I can forgive myself.”

When asked by Ellwood what he thinks about in terms of Caples, Buco said his memories, how happy he was with him (Buco), the things they had in common and did together, and the day he murdered Chris.

When asked if he remembered that day, Buco said yes.

Ellwood then had Buco look at five graphic photographs from Caples’ autopsy, advising him it would possibly be “therapeutic” for him to view them.

Padden described a violent past for Buco when explaining why he deserved no parole for at least 30 years.

Buco was adjudicated delinquent (convicted) of three counts of rape at the age of 12 and one count of assault age the age of 14 — just one month after his probation for the rape convictions was suspended. He also committed four probation violations that led to his incarceration at the Sargus Juvenile Detention Facility in Belmont County.

Buco reportedly admitted he smoked marijuana daily as an adult and was abusing “Triple C’s,” the over-the-counter Coricidin Cough & Cold.

Defense attorneys Jack Blakeslee of Caldwell and Lindsey Donahue of Cambridge requested the court sentence Buco to live in prison without parole for 25 years, citing a borderline personality disorder as a factor in the crime.

“All three evaluations determined you knew right from wrong,” Ellwood told Buco.

Buco was remanded into the custody of the Guernsey County Sheriff’s Office for transportation to the Orient Reception Center to begin serving his prison sentence. He was given 541 days credit for time already served since he was arrested in Muskingum County following the murder.”

BUCO SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR ROLE IN DEATH OF FOSTER FATHER IN CAMBRIDGE[The Daily Jeffersonian 10/6/13 by Rick Stillion]