Crime

Police charge man with murder after remains of Kentucky child sex offender, 70, found

Kentucky State Police have charged a man with murder and kidnapping after the remains of a convicted child rapist were found in Jackson County on Saturday.

Jessie Gibson, 23, of Annville was charged in the death of Elijah Rader, according to a news release from KSP. Rader was a registered sex offender who was convicted of rape in 2003, according to court records. His victim was a 6-year-old child, according to the Kentucky sex offender registry.

Gibson was not a victim of Rader’s, state trooper Adam Hall said.

Police said they were looking for Bruce Carr, 48, of Manchesterand Melissa Gulley, 35, of Richmond. Both were sought in the killing and kidnapping of Rader. The two were considered armed and dangerous, according to a KSP news release.

Rader, 70, had been missing since Jan. 31. The Jackson County sheriff’s office and state police Richmond and London posts have been searching for Rader the two months, according to a news release.

After the remains were found near Old Island City Road in London, they were taken to the state medical examiner’s office in Frankfort and identified as Rader’s.

Anyone with information on Carr or Gulley was encouraged to contact KSP’s Richmond post at (859) 623-2404.

Elijah Rader, 70, was a registered sex offender for crimes committed against a 6-year-old child. His remains were found Saturday, leading to the arrest of one and a search for two others.
Elijah Rader, 70, was a registered sex offender for crimes committed against a 6-year-old child. His remains were found Saturday, leading to the arrest of one and a search for two others. Photo via the Kentucky State Police sex offender registry.

This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 8:33 AM.

Jeremy Chisenhall
Lexington Herald-Leader
Jeremy Chisenhall covers criminal justice and breaking news for the Lexington Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com. He joined the paper in 2020, and is originally from Erlanger, Ky.
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