A violent weekend in the Tristate left five people dead, four shot and two others stabbed as crime in the Cincinnati area - which had been calmer for the past two months - soared.

        The bloodshed began Friday when a 75-year-old man was stabbed in a parking garage at Tri-County Mall in Springdale and continued Sunday morning when Cincinnati police found a naked, dead woman outside a Queensgate church.

        Among the others slain was an East Walnut Hills grandmother found on her bed, a phone cord wrapped around her neck and legs.

        “It's been a very violent weekend and in the last few months we've seen a downturn in homicides and violent crime (in the city), in August and September,” Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken said Sunday at a west-side rally supporting police and firefighters.

        “It's absolutely ridiculous to live in chaos,” said

        Rob Geiger, a Price Hill community activist. “It's been a year and a half of hell and it's getting worse and worse. It's not a neighborhood problem. It's not a city problem. It's becoming the whole region's problem.”

        On Sunday, an unidentified woman found lying naked in front of Union Baptist Church just one block outside of downtown became the city's 49th homicide victim of the year. Cincinnati police found the auburn-haired woman about 8:25 a.m. in the 400 block of West Seventh Street in a grassy area .

        Police said Sunday they were searching for a white man in his 40s, about six feet tall with short brown hair and a an overall shabby appearance, who may know something about the death.

        "I'm just so shocked'

        On Saturday, 68-year-old Helen Wright was found dead on her bed in a Locust Street apartment in East Walnut Hills, a black phone cord wrapped around her, according to homicide investigators and her daughter.

        “I'm just so shocked,” her daughter, Vicky Wright of Northside, said Sunday. “She was a very quiet and sweet person. She never got in nobody's business and stayed to herself.”

        Early Sunday, four men were shot in Cincinnati - two in Over-the-Rhine and two inside a residence on Intervine Place, a dead-end street off Vine Street in Clifton, during an apparent home invasion. One of the men in the Clifton incident, Vernon Crawford, 28, was in critical condition late Sunday after being shot in the stomach and arm.

        Saturday in Cumminsville, Cincinnati police found Darryl Jackson, 52, of Avondale, fatally shot at 2:30 a.m. outside of 1789 Elmore Street after receiving a report of a man down on the sidewalk.

        And Saturday morning in Columbia Township, two armed men attempting to rob a home in the 6000 block of Hurd Avenue struggled with the homeowner and slightly wounded his female friend before fleeing. Two shots also were fired into the home, and a bullet grazed the woman's leg.

        Meanwhile, Franklin County, Ind., sheriff's deputies are investigating a domestic disturbance Saturday morning that led to the shooting death of a Lawrenceburg man.

        Robert Ballard, 62, of the 3100 block of New Trenton Road in West Harrison, was charged with killing Billy D. Smith Jr., 28, during an argument at Mr. Ballard's home.

        Late Friday, a Norwood man was beaten to death, possibly with a bat, in a duplex in the 1900 block of Cleneay Avenue, according to neighbors. Norwood police identified the man Sunday as Timothy Saylor, 45.

Bush already has most Tristate votes
Bush visit to draw protesters
English Woods plan hits a snag
Hearing to address mall fate
Violent weekend: 5 dead, 6 hurt
BRONSON: Support your local cops
Community thanks police, firefighters
Cinergy plaza, parking deck razing begins
Goodall to visit homeless shelter
House explodes just as family leaves
Anti-prostitution efforts paying off
Movies under the stars attract neighborhood kids
$200,000 grant could aid Tristate children
Community shows pride in new Goshen school
Light-rail plan, tax levy attract unlikely partners
Campaign Notebook: The 'Hammer' is back
Capitol Notebook: A kinder, gentler advertising campaign
Democrats give $65,000 to Burnside campaign
Election Q&A: Ohio governor's race
Campaign Cash: September contributions
Candidates urged to send info to Enquirer
Conner call got trooper suspended
Dockside betting hurting Turfway
Kenton Co. police seek armed carjacker
3 suspects charged in auto dealer burglary
'Alias' star has kind words for alma mater
Anti-tobacco group OKs $7M for grants
Free heart disease seminar scheduled
Glider flight to honor Wrights
OhioReads schools score lower on test
Pharmacies pull cold remedy off shelves
Police chaplain investigated for alleged abuse
Science museum makes lower fees permanent
Ship-maker cuts workforce 20%
WKU makes Mammoth investment