COLUMBUS, Ohio — The United States Marshals Service has increased its reward for information regarding Lester Eubanks, a fugitive who raped and killed a teenage girl in Ohio more than 50 years ago.
The U.S. Marshals Service has increased the reward from $25,000 to $50,000 in hopes that they can finally solve the cold case.
Eubanks was convicted of raping and killing 14-year-old Mary Ellen Deener on Nov. 14, 1965.
On the day of her kidnapping and murder, Mary was with her sister at the Half Hour Laundromat in Columbus washing clothes. The girls ran out of change and Mary left alone in search of more money.
Eubanks watched the teen walk out of the laundromat, grabbed her, took her behind a vacant house and raped her, authorities said. He pulled out a handgun, shot her and left her for dead. Eubanks later went back to where he left her and smashed her head with a brick.
A jury sentenced him to death, but he was taken off death row in 1972 when Ohio abolished the death penalty.
A year later, in 1973, Eubanks was permitted to go Christmas shopping unsupervised at a Columbus shopping center by prison officials and he never returned.
It’s been more than four decades since he was last seen.
U.S. Marshals said Eubanks may be using the alias Victor Young to hide his true identity.
Anyone with information regarding Eubanks is asked to call 1-866-4WANTED. Tips can remain anonymous.
Eubanks has been featured on the Netflix series "Unsolved Mysteries: Volume 2," in an episode titled "Death Row Fugitive."
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