LANCASTER, Ohio — A 43-year-old Lancaster man is in custody following a domestic violence investigation that left his father hospitalized in critical condition on Thursday night, according to the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to a call at approximately 8:55 p.m. on September 3, 2026, at Colonial Estates, located at 2445 Columbus-Lancaster Road. The initial 911 call was made by Luke J. Castle, 43, who reported that his father, 66-year-old Thomas J. Childers, had been unconscious and unresponsive for about an hour.
Upon arriving at the scene, deputies located Childers suffering from severe injuries. Emergency medical personnel transported Childers to a regional hospital, where he remains in critical condition as of Friday.
Following an initial investigation at the scene, deputies took Castle into custody without incident. He was transported to the Fairfield County Jail and booked on multiple charges:
- Felonious Assault
- Domestic Violence
- Menacing
- Disorderly Conduct
Detectives responded to the hospital to gather additional information, interviewed a witness, and secured a search warrant for the residence. Investigators have collected evidence from the scene, and Sheriff Alex W. Lape confirmed that the investigation remains active and ongoing.
