An 81-year-old Ohio man who spent his life giving people second chances was murdered by the very man he hired to do yard work — and his body was buried in the woods behind his own home.
What Happened
Lancaster police responded to Gary Franke’s home on South Maple Street in the early hours of Aug. 9 after a missing person report. Officers found Franke dead in a wooded area on his property, killed by a gunshot wound.
The suspect, 45-year-old John Thomas Scott, had done yard work for Franke just the day before.
After completing the job, Scott decided to rob Franke — and killed him in the process. He then left, returned with his girlfriend Holly McDaniel, and the two buried the body under brush in a wooded area nearby.
Police arrested both Scott and McDaniel within 24 hours.
The Guilty Plea
Scott pleaded guilty to:
- Murder
- Abuse of a corpse
- Tampering with evidence
He now faces 18 years to life in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
McDaniel faces charges of tampering with evidence and obstructing justice. Her case is still ongoing.
Who Was Gary Franke?
Franke was a beloved figure in Lancaster — a small city about 30 miles southeast of Columbus.
Neighbors remembered him as generous and kind. He bought meals for people in need, let neighborhood kids ride his golf cart, and helped struggling people get back on their feet.
“He would try to get them started back in their life, get their credit right, get them started back and going again,” neighbor Troy Seiple said.
His obituary described a man who believed deeply in second chances — “even when they came with risk.”
Franke had reportedly known Scott for over 30 years.
