Franklin County Sheriff's Office aims to solve unsolved cases with 'Operation Holiday Remembrance'

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is hoping to bring some closure to families by shedding light on unsolved cases in 'Operation Holiday Remembrance'.

The holidays will look a bit different for some Central Ohio families as they grieve the loss of a loved one. This Christmas Eve will be one year since 21-year-old Angela Paetske was killed. 

According to Deputy Chief Jim Gilbert, they received a call around 6:45 p.m. on Dec. 24, 2023, from a witness about a fatal injury hit-skip. Paetske and her boyfriend were driving on Dryer Road when they stopped due to a flat tire. Paetske exited the car and crossed Dyer Road when a possible silver or gray Chevrolet Cobalt struck her causing fatal injuries. The driver of the car never stopped after hitting her.

Unfortunately, Paetske's case is not the only unsolved case deputies are looking to solve. 

46-year-old Noe Chavez was killed in August when he was hit by a car while riding his bike. The witness who called it in was unsure of the vehicle that struck Chavez. Videos in the area only showed a dark-colored sedan leaving the area rapidly, with no distinguishing markings. 

Chavez's family is also mourning this holiday season, still searching for answers. His sister, Aracelis Franco-Chavez, spoke through a translator and described him as humble and hardworking. 

"It has been very difficult to be without him," Franco-Chavez said. "It's not the same."

Chief Gilbert said any bit of information is helpful. 

"Any tip potentially could lead us to closure for these families and that's really why we want to do these around the holidays, and we're going to continue to highlight these as much as we can because both of these families are grieving," Chief Gilbert said. 

According to Chief Gilbert, as law enforcement, they can't do their job without the public's help. He said all they need is one call. 

"Maybe this person's had a change of heart," Chief Gilbert said. "Maybe this person is a person of faith and wants to come forward. Maybe they had a conversation with a past coworker, a friend from high school."

Anyone with information on these cases, or any others in the county, is encouraged to stay anonymous by calling crime stoppers at 614-461-8477 or can speak to investigators in the traffic unit at 614-525-6113.

"If anybody out there has any information about these accidents, please call in," Sheriff Dallis Baldwin said. "If you're the perpetrator, if you're the one, we ask you to have a heart, think about these families."

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is offering a monetary award for any tips that lead to an arrest or conviction.