Beavercreek woman prays for missing stepson
Jacob Caldwell and his two siblings saw their father get fatally shot.
A Beavercreek woman whose husband was shot in Riverside days before her stepson Jacob Lee Caldwell went missing from Sugarcreek Twp. said she’s still hopeful the 14-year-old boy will be found.
In March, the FBI issued a $15,000 reward for information directly leading to Jacob’s location. But asked if there are any new details in the case, Sugarcreek Twp. Police Department detectives — the local agency handling the case — said no new information was available to share with the public.
Jacob and his two siblings saw their father, Robert Caldwell, fatally shot in a Riverside parking lot at Woodman Drive and Linden Avenue in broad daylight, investigators said.
Two days later, on Aug. 21, Jacob went missing. His grandparents, who were given custody, reported him lost.
The FBI has said Jacob might not be in Ohio and said he might have a new look and identity.
Authorities also said they believe someone knows the teen’s location.
Jacob’s mother and Robert Caldwell’s ex-wife, Tawnney Caldwell, are among several people charged in relation to Caldwell’s death.
The alleged shooter, Sterling Roberts, was captured in South Carolina and faces federal charges in Ohio. Already, Roberts pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in South Carolina to a charge of knowingly and unlawfully possessinga firearm, according to court documents.
The charges against Tawnney Caldwell relate to aid- ing and abetting the illegal gun possession. She is also accused of destroying documents and cellphone data. She is being held in Shelby County Jail. Her attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A grand jury also indicted four other people, who are released from jail.
Candice Caldwell — Jacob Caldwell’s stepmom and Robert Caldwell’s wife at the time of his death — told News Cen- ter 7 she can’t believe it’s been almost a year since Robert was killed. The pair were married less than a year, but had been together for six years. During that time, Ezekiel, 4, and Bailee, 2, were born.
“Me and the kids were his entire world,” she said. “He really was the type of man any woman would want to be with.”
Reflecting on her husband’s untimely death, Can- dice Caldwell said, “I don’t wish bad upon anyone, but you can’t go be mad at some- one and take their life away from their wife and kids. That’s not OK.”
She said she prays Jacob is safe and says her faith will keep her strong as the case moves through the court system. Still, she remains saddened her husband and stepson are not with her young family.
“It tears me apart that they’re building this relationship with their older siblings, and Jacob is not here,” she said. “I would love to have my husband here, but I know I’ll see him again, and that is where my trust lies.”