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By RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY

PDT Staff Writer

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The Scioto County Sheriff's Office, late Friday night, announced a second arrest in the Sept. 15 murder of Ronald Cox, 67, of Lucasville. Scott Groves, 40, of 1718 Poplar St., in Portsmouth, was arrested Friday night at his home on charges of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence.

According to Scioto County Sheriff Marty V. Donini, deputies found Cox severely beaten about the head and face in his home on Sept. 15.

“He had been murdered in an extremely violent manner,” Donini said, adding also that there was no forced entry, but his investigators speculate the motive was probably robbery.

Groves is the second arrest made in connection to Cox's death. On Sept. 16, sheriff's detectives arrested Robin Riggs, 18, of 38 Valley St., in Lucasville, at her

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Marty V. Donini, Sheriff

Scioto County Sheriff's Office

1025 Sixteenth Street

Portsmouth, Ohio 45662

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residence and charged her with the beating death of Cox. Riggs is currently incarcerated at the Scioto County Jail on $220,000 bond, pending additional court proceedings, the sheriff's office said.

Donini said Riggs and Cox knew each other and that Riggs had visited the victim before. On the night of the murder, Cox invited Riggs into his house, but an altercation soon started just after midnight. Now Riggs is accused of beating Cox with a Maglite flashlight. The sheriff's office did not say how Groves fits into the story; whether he knew Cox or Riggs, or both, or possibly neither before this incident.

Groves is being held at the Scioto County Jail without bond, pending an initial court appearance in the Portsmouth Municipal Court on Monday

RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY can be reached at (740) 353-3101