How did Joseph 'Joey' Oakley die? Sister of 2012 murder victim reveals chilling new details in unsolved case
FAIRFIELD, OHIO: More than a decade has passed since the tragic murder of 19-year-old Joseph 'Joey' Oakley near a Fairfield creek, but the case remains unsolved, leaving his sister, Cristina Emrick, determined to reveal chilling new information about the incident for the first time. After patiently seeking justice in her brother's death, and having endured additional losses, including that of her mother, she has now chosen to open up about her thoughts on the matter.
In August 2012, Oakley was discovered dead near a creek behind the Creekside Village apartment complex in Fairfield, with several gunshot wounds. “They had told us that it was an accident, that he had just fell and his hit head, and he lost a lot of blood, and that’s what he died from,” Emrick said. “It wasn’t until two days later, after the autopsy, that we found out he was shot multiple times in the chest and once point blank in the head execution style.”
How did Joseph 'Joey' Oakley die?
Oakley Oakley, described as a loving and ambitious individual, had dreams of traveling and becoming a chef, having recently graduated from Fairfield Options Academy before his life was cut short. Emrick suspects that Oakley was lured to the apartment complex since he did not reside there. “He was found on the side of the creek bed, leaned up against a tree,” she recalls. “His pockets were turned inside out, and there was an enormous amount of blood. His arms were crossed like he had been posed,” reported Fox News.
Despite questioning individuals close to Oakley, including his then-girlfriend, no one has been charged in connection with the murder. Interestingly, the investigators were already familiar with the creek area as they had been there earlier that year in April 2012, investigating the murder of 15-year-old Chelsea Johnson, whose body was discovered in the vicinity. Back then, authorities dismissed any connection between the two cases, attributing it to mere coincidence that two unrelated murders had occurred in the same location.
Emrick, however, disagrees with this assessment and believes there could be a link between the two incidents. “My first thought is they were connected in some way, whether it be through the drugs or gang activity in the Hamilton area or the same person,” Emrick said. “I knew there’s something there between those two.” The possibility of drugs playing a role in Oakley's murder is not discounted, as he was reportedly struggling with addiction at the time. The tragic loss of his father earlier that year had taken a toll on his mental health, leading him to seek solace in substance abuse.
“You never know what someone’s going through to make them turn to drugs, and just because he did doesn’t mean he’s a bad person." Further she added, "There was a person of interest,” she explained. “I don’t remember his name exactly. I know he was from Cincinnati. I know he had mental issues, and there was a gun found in his attic.” However, tests revealed that the gun was not the murder weapon used on Oakley, leaving Emrick disappointed and feeling as though another lead had been lost. Despite the lack of progress, Emrick continues to hold Oakley close to her heart and keeps his memory alive, even getting a tattoo in his honor. “I think if it was ever solved that I could finally close that chapter and move on,” Emrick said.