Ashtabula Police said they did not believe the parents of the 13-year-old girl who went missing in the care of a registered sex offender knew that the “family friend” had a dark criminal history.
John Richard Bove, who has been charged with kidnapping in connection to the disappearance of Kara Zdanczewski, was described by police as “callous, absolutely no emotions at all” during interviews with investigators.
RELATED: Man arrested in connection to disappearance of missing Ashtabula girl
On Thursday, police found a body in a field in Saybrook Township, Ashtabula County. Investigators are awaiting an official identification from the coroner’s office but said Friday morning that they believe the body is that the missing teen.
Meanwhile, neighbors near Bove’s registered address told News 5 that they witnessed violent behavior from the 46-year-old Ashtabula man.
“My kids are scared of him,” neighbor Amber Colbert said.
Bove was required to register as a sex offender after a rape conviction in 1990 in New York.
According to court records, Bove was charged with failing to renew his registration in 2012. He was sentenced to 2 years and 9 months in prison with a supervised release term of 5 years.
RELATED: Vigil for slain Ashtabula teen Kara Zdanczewski
Lt. Joseph Cellitti, Ashtabula Police Dept. spoke with the family of Kara Zdanczewski on Thursday and said he does not think they were aware of Bove’s past.
“I don’t believe they did. You would hope they wouldn’t and let their daughter go with him. I don’t think they did,” Lt. Cellitti said.
Bove is currently being held in Mercer County Jail in Pennsylvania where he was taken into custody. His charges there include attempting to elude an officer, possession of drug paraphernalia and receiving stolen property.
Bove appears in Mercer county District Court Friday and his bond was set at $500,000.
His next court date is set for May 24 at 10 a.m.
Ashtabula police said Bove will be extradited to Ohio to face charges in Ashtabula County.
