COVINGTON — An investigation into the killings of two Dixie Heights High School graduates shifted here from rural Bracken County after police on Thursday discovered a pickup truck one of the dead men had driven.

Detectives Tim Scheidt, Brian Capps and Travis Brown survey the area where truck was found. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

        The pickup, a 1993 red Nissan, was parked alongside railroad tracks in an industrial area near 21st Street and Augustine Road in Covington. A patrolman responding to CSX's request to tow the vehicle checked the license plate and discovered it was sought as evidence in the Bracken County homicide investigation.

        The bodies of Ryan Eric Matchison, 22, of Florence and Adam C. Harvey, 20, of Elsmere were found on Monday dumped at a boat ramp along Snag Creek about seven miles west of Augusta.

        Kentucky State Police believe the two were shot and killed Sunday in a farmhouse owned by the Harvey family about 15 miles away on Toadvine Road in southern Bracken County. Investigators said they do not have a suspect or solid motive in the crime.

        The truck, which authorities said had been parked next to the tracks for about two days, is registered to Mr. Matchison's father. The 22-year-old had driven it to the farmhouse, where he planned to spend the weekend with Mr. Harvey. The two had been friends since childhood.

        The pickup was loaded onto a flatbed truck Thursday afternoon and taken to State Police Post 6 in Dry Ridge. Police say they believe the pickup might have been used in the crime or contain evidence.

        Police are still looking for Mr. Harvey's vehicle, a black two-door 1984 Olds Cutlass Supreme with Kentucky tags.

        Neighbors living near the farmhouse said they saw the two vehicles leave the house Sunday morning. Police say they do not know if others were at the farmhouse, used as a weekend retreat and hunting cabin.

        Police say the white frame farmhouse where they think the killings took place had been meticulously cleaned of evidence.

        Both men were fatally wounded with a shotgun — Mr. Matchison in the chest and Mr. Harvey in the back.

        A bag found Wednesday near a railroad underpass on Long Stretch Road, just outside Augusta city limits, contained Mr. Harvey's wallet and cleaning supplies including wadded up paper towels and some latex gloves. Detectives also recovered a dish towel near the pickup.

        Divers searched Snag Creek Wednesday night but failed to find any additional evidence. Police have said they believe more than one person was involved in the killings and that they had intended to dump the bodies in the creek.
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