Stolen Dirt Bike Returned to Family, Two Arrested
From left, Sheriff Keith Wood and Sgt. Frank Stewart strap the recovered dirt bike down before returning it the family of the late Austin Hill. Photo by Carrie Rose.
Stolen Dirt Bike Returned to Family, Two Arrested
RACINE, Ohio – A motor bike with great sentimental value has been returned to a local family.
On October 12, 2020 deputies were dispatched to School House Road in Long Bottom to a take a report for the theft of the dirt bike that belonged to the late Justin Hill. Sgt. Stewart responded to the scene and spoke with the caller who stated that the dirt bike was inside of an enclosed trailer with a lock which appeared to have been busted off of the frame with piece of rebar that was located on the ground directly below the door.
In the afternoon of October 16, the bike was recovered from a residence in Racine and two people were taken into custody.
According to Sheriff Keith Wood the recovering was due to a joint effort of the Meigs County Sheriff’s Office and the Gallia-Meigs Major Crimes Task Force. Through the investigation, law enforcement tracked Robert Thorla, 42, in Racine. Thorla was wanted on an active warrant from Meigs County Juvenile Court related to a child support matter.
Thorla was taken into custody and in the process of the investigation, the dirt bike was found at the residence. Some of the pieces had been removed, but according to Sgt. Gilkey, it was still obviously the stolen dirt bike.
Amanda Saxon, 40, also a resident of the home was arrested. Both Thorla and Saxon are being charged with Receiving Stolen Property, a felony of the fifth degree. Both were transported to the Middleport Jail and will be scheduled for arraignment.
Sheriff Wood said, “It was a good investigation by the Sheriff’s Office and the Task Force. We are very thankful to be able to return this to the family.”
He added that the officers involved worked hard to get the recovery of the property and make arrests in connection with the case. The dirt bike was then taken back to the family of late Justin Hill.
Hill died following a crash during a motor cross event at the Meigs County Fair.
All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
