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Murder of James Whitaker

SOLVED2020South Bloomingville, Hocking County, Ohio8 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

James T. Whitaker, 56, lived in the South Bloomingville area of Hocking County, Ohio, where he had allowed Michael Dixon and Dixon's adult daughter, Melody, to stay. Whitaker's family last spoke with him by telephone on July 3, 2020. Michael Dixon's direct appeal records that Whitaker was shot and killed at his home in the early morning of July 5, 2020.

When Whitaker's family could not reach him, relatives searched for him before contacting authorities. On July 25, the Hocking County Sheriff's Office received a missing-person report and learned that items were missing from Whitaker's home. Deputies searched the property, and investigators later recovered Whitaker's remains there. Michael Dixon gave several accounts before claiming that the shooting occurred during a confrontation. Investigators said he then fabricated a suicide note, altered the scene, and dismembered and burned Whitaker's body to conceal the killing.

Dixon was tried in Hocking County Common Pleas Court. On May 11, 2021, a jury convicted him on 12 counts, including two counts of murder with firearm specifications, felonious assault, seven counts of tampering with evidence, gross abuse of a corpse, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. On July 14, 2021, the court sentenced him to 50 years to life in prison.

Melody Dixon was not charged with killing Whitaker. She pleaded guilty to three counts of tampering with evidence and two counts of obstructing justice for conduct after the death and received a nine-year sentence. Ohio's Fourth District Court of Appeals affirmed her judgment in August 2022 and affirmed Michael Dixon's convictions and sentence in December 2022. The standing judgments support a solved status, while the role detail preserves that Melody's convictions concern the concealment rather than the homicide itself.

Key facts

Victims
James T. Whitaker
Date
2020
Location
South Bloomingville, Hocking County, Ohio
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2020-07-05

    James Whitaker was shot and killed at his Hocking County home in the early morning; Michael Dixon later concealed and burned the remains.

  2. 2020-07-25

    Whitaker's family reported him missing to the Hocking County Sheriff's Office.

  3. 2020-07-28

    Investigators recovered Whitaker's remains from the property.

  4. 2021-05-11

    A Hocking County jury convicted Michael Dixon on 12 counts, including two counts of murder.

  5. 2021-07-14

    Michael Dixon was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison.

  6. 2021

    Melody Dixon was sentenced to nine years after pleading guilty to evidence tampering and obstruction of justice; she was not convicted of the killing.

  7. 2022-08-05

    Ohio's Fourth District Court of Appeals affirmed Melody Dixon's conviction and sentence.

  8. 2022-12-09

    Ohio's Fourth District Court of Appeals affirmed Michael Dixon's convictions and sentence.

Best coverage

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People

  • James T. Whitaker

    VICTIM

    A 56-year-old Hocking County resident shot and killed at his home in the early morning of July 5, 2020.

  • Melody Sue Dixon

    CONVICTED

    Michael Dixon's daughter; pleaded guilty to three counts of tampering with evidence and two counts of obstructing justice for helping conceal the killing. Not charged in the killing itself. Sentenced to nine years; conviction affirmed on appeal in 2022.

  • Michael Thomas Dixon

    CONVICTED

    Whitaker's housemate; convicted by a Hocking County jury of two counts of murder, felonious assault, seven counts of tampering with evidence, gross abuse of a corpse, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. Sentenced to 50 years to life; conviction affirmed on appeal in 2022.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

South Bloomingville, Hocking County, Ohio

39.4186, -82.5994

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Michael Dixon was convicted of fatally shooting his housemate James Whitaker in rural Hocking County, Ohio, then dismembering and burning the body to conceal the killing.
Where did the murder happen?
South Bloomingville, Hocking County, Ohio.
Who was convicted?
Melody Sue Dixon (Michael Dixon's daughter; pleaded guilty to three counts of tampering with evidence and two counts of obstructing justice for helping conceal the killing. Not charged in the killing itself. Sentenced to nine years; conviction affirmed on appeal in 2022.) and Michael Thomas Dixon (Whitaker's housemate; convicted by a Hocking County jury of two counts of murder, felonious assault, seven counts of tampering with evidence, gross abuse of a corpse, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. Sentenced to 50 years to life; conviction affirmed on appeal in 2022.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in Ohio

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICSouth Bloomingville, OhioWikipedia · 2026-07-13
  2. PRESSUnder police questioning, murder defendant admitted to killingAthens Messenger · 2026-07-13
  3. PRESSFather, daughter both appeal in murder/cover-up caseLogan Daily News · 2026-07-13
  4. OFFICIAL / AGENCYHocking County Man Sentenced for MurderOhio Attorney General's Office · 2026-07-13
  5. PRESSHocking County OH- Laurelville Man Sentenced for the Murder and Dismemberment of James T. WhitakerScioto Post · 2026-07-13
  6. PRESSHocking County OH- Man Missing for Nearly a Month -Please Share-Scioto Post · 2026-07-13
  7. OFFICIAL / AGENCYState v. Dixon, 2022-Ohio-2807 (4th Dist. Hocking Co., No. 21CA8)Ohio Fourth District Court of Appeals · 2026-07-13
  8. OFFICIAL / AGENCYState v. Dixon, 2022-Ohio-4454 (4th Dist. Hocking Co., No. 21CA10)Ohio Fourth District Court of Appeals · 2026-07-13

Record history

First published
JUL 13, 2026