In the pastoral landscapes of central Ohio, where cornfields stretch toward distant horizons and neighbors wave from their front porches, the town of Circleville seemed immune to the darkness that plagued larger cities. This community of 11,000 residents embodied the American dream of small-town safety, where children rode bicycles without fear and doors remained unlocked after sunset. Yet beneath this tranquil surface, a malevolent force was preparing to transform paradise into a living nightmare through the simple act of putting pen to paper.