Nancy Lou Sells
Victims come in two groups: high risk and low risk. High risk victims often participate in activities that often put them in dangerous areas or in dangerous company. Prostitutes, hitchhikers, bar patrons, drug users and joggers are easy targets for predators and killers. Low risk victims tend to have safe habits, don't live alone, and don't become involved in questionable activities.
Nancy Sells was a low risk victim. A homemaker and mother of seven who liked to do craft work and assist in the Ladies'Auxiliary, she would hardly seem to be the type of individual to be in any danger. Yet she was shot to death at approximately 3:15 AM on November 3, 1975 in her own bedroom while her husband was manning the night shift at the fire station and three of her children were asleep in the next room. Twenty-five years have passed and the case remains unsolved.
On August 8th, 2001 two of the daughters of Nancy Sells appeared on The Montel Williams Show to ask the public for their help. The Sexual Homicide Exchange is working in cooperation with Columbus Ohio Police Cold Case investigator, Sgt. Jeff Sacksteader on the Sells case and after profiling this homicide, we are looking for the following specific information to help solve this crime.
Mrs. Sells was clearly the target of this killer. The killer had no desire to harm anyone else in the family. The killer was fully aware the children were sleeping in the room across the hall but they were not wakened or disturbed. The killer knew the floor plan of the house and was comfortable inside of it. This indicates the killer was either a family member, a friend of the family, or a neighbor. Although twenty-five years have passed, we are hoping someone in the neighborhood may have seen someone entering or leaving the house or walking down the street or through the alley or yard. The killer made a phone call to the fire station after Mrs. Sells was shot, either from her home, his home, or from a pay phone. Someone may have seen or heard the killer making the phone call.
We are also searching for any information someone may have concerning a motive for the crime. Someone may have heard talk prior to the homicide or learned of the motive or heard about the crime during any time in the next two and a half decades.
If there is ANY information you feel can assist us in solving this crime, PLEASE contact the SHE tipline.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC IN REMEMBERING THE NIGHT IN QUESTION:
| Date of Murder | November 3, 1975 |
| Time of Murder | 3:15 AM |
| Location | 2736 Joyce Avenue, Columbus Ohio |
| Suspect | Believed to be a white male, but there is no certainty on race, Possibly had a moustache. Slender. Dark shirt and dark pants. Wore a dark toboggan cap but no gloves. |
| Stolen | Mrs. Sells purse containing among the other items, a man's watch in need of repair and her glasses. |
| Weapon | Small caliber gun - the killer may have tried to hide it or get rid of it by giving it away or selling it. |
Also Of Interest:
Husband was a paramedic for Columbus and the fire chief for Mifflin Township. His ambulance station was called directly by the killer to report the shooting.
Other streets suspect may have been on that morning- Fern or Agler and perhaps at the pay phone at Lawsons.
The song "IF" as recorded by Telly Savals (originally recorded by Bread) may have some significance to the homicide
The
Sexual Homicide Exchange
1730 New Brighton Blvd #325
Minneapolis, MN 55413
651-653-4099
fax 443-342-1277
Email information@sheprofilers.com
