Former Hawaii man's death a homicide
Indianapolis police are investigating as a homicide the death of a former Honolulu radio executive whose remains were found last week.
The discovery of the remains of Richard Raasch, who had moved home to Indianapolis, spread to Hawaii, startling friends and former associates.
"It's a shock," said Jeff Coelho, who worked at KUMU and KAHA radio stations with him. "He was one of the nicest guys you ever met.
"I can't imagine a guy like that having an enemy," he said.
Raasch was widely respected here in radio and advertising, said Coelho, who is now director of the city Customer Services Department.
"Dick was such a great person and a true professional," he said. "I know he was well liked and respected by his peers, and it's a sad time for his family, but definitely it was such a tragedy."
Raasch worked as general sales manager under Coelho at KUMU and KAHA, then went on to become an account executive at KSSK in about 2002.
Raasch's son, Derek, called Coelho and broke the news to him.
Raasch had been missing since June 12, and the family filed a missing-persons report June 14, Coelho said.
According to news reports, Raasch's remains were identified last week through dental records. A landscaping worker found the remains near a parking lot in an area of small businesses, near the former Pendleton Pike Drive-In, according to radio station WTHR and the Indianapolis Star.
Coelho said police have no motive.
"Police are trying to are trying to advance their investigation," he said.
The family will be holding services over the weekend in Indianapolis, Coelho said.