MERCER COUNTY, OH—An Indiana man has been arrested, in connection to the theft of three horses, a horse trailer, and equipment from the Mercer County Fairgrounds.

John R. Eicher of Berne was arrested and charged with theft and is being held on a $100,000 bond. Tips from the community let law enforcement officers to Eicher.

The trailer was found after it turned over in the middle of Wabash Road, near Skeels Road. The two horses inside died as a result of the injuries sustained in the accident.

A third horse was also missing discovered to be missing from the fairgrounds, later found and arrangements are being made to return that horse to the owner. 

Below is a copy of the Press Release from Jeff Grey, Sheriff of Mercer County Sheriff Department.

Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey reports that his office received a call shortly before 7 AM today (3-3-2020) of a horse trailer that was in the middle of the road on Wabash Road near Skeels Road. Deputies arrived and found the trailer on its side with two horses inside. Deputies quickly learned that the trailer and horses were stolen from the Mercer County Fairgrounds. The investigation found that a third horse was missing from the fairgrounds as well.

The Sheriff’s Office received numerous tips throughout the day from the community, which lead to a suspect. Detectives were able to locate the suspect and he cooperated with the investigation. At this time arraignments are being made to return the third horse to its owner. Several other items were also stolen from the horse barn such as tack, saddle, race cart, wheels, horseshoes, etc. These items are also in the process of being recovered.

Detectives found that the suspect was unfamiliar with the workings of the ball hitch, which is what caused the trailer to come unhooked from the truck and caused the trailer to overturn. Unfortunately, the two horses involved in the crash have expired as a result of their injuries.

Arrested was 21-year-old John R Eicher of Berne, Indiana. Eicher was arrested for theft and is currently incarcerated in the Mercer County Adult Detention Facility. Bond has been sent at $100,000.00 subject to 10% by Municipal Court Judge Kathy Speelman.

The case will be sent to Mercer County Prosecutor Matt Fox for review and the possibility of additional charges.

Sheriff Grey would like to thank the community for their tips that were received in this case. Without the help of the community in this matter, this case would have been much harder to solve stated Sheriff Grey.

No other information will be released at this time as the investigation is continuing.