Sheriff asks for help with death investigation of Springboro High grad

The Columbus man whose remains were found earlier this month off Clarksville Road was a 1994 graduate of Springboro High School and a founder of a Columbus-based foundation.

Jerold Haas, 43, of Columbus, graduated in June 1994 from the Springboro district, school officials said Thursday.

Also Thursday, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office asked for help from the public with its investigation of Haas’ death.

Haas, last seen on Aug. 31 at the BP station at Ohio 73 and Interstate 71, was also a founder of Tessr Foundation, a Columbus-based non-profit developing blockchain technologies.

RELATED: Columbus man found dead in Warren County last seen in August near I-71

Bob Fitrakis, an advisory board member at Tessr, confirmed Haas was the lead developer for Tessr.

A missing-persons report filed with Columbus police indicated Haas was at the gas station with a friend when he disappeared.

“It was somebody connected to the company,” Fitrakis said on Thursday.

Fitrakis said Tessr planned to use blockchain technology for vote security and with cryptocurrency.

It was also apparently developing education applications.

RELATED: Columbus man’s remains found in Warren County

“The Tessr foundation aims to end paper-based learning, automate the award, recognition, and transfer of certifications. Our blockchain will offer the educational providers secure ownership and control over their own content, reducing institutional costs and risk,” according to the foundation web site.

On Thursday, the sheriff’s office issued a press release and two photographs of Haas.

“The Warren County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance for any information in this case. We are asking anyone who possibly has seen Mr. Haas or noticed anything suspicious in the area at the time of his disappearance, to please contact the Warren County Sheriff’s Office,” according to the release issued by Sgt. Brian Hounshell.

Those with information are to email crimetips@wcsooh.org or call 513-925-2525.

About the Author