Ohio Newlywed Hacked to Death by Machete-Wielding Man While Working at Dollar Tree Store

An Ohio newlywed was killed during a machete attack at a Dollar Tree store in Upper Sandusky on New Year's Day.

According to WBNS, 27-year-old suspect Bethel Bekele is charged with murder after he allegedly attacked the store employee with a machete.

Upper Sandusky police officers went to the Dollar Tree at 1120 East Wyandot Avenue past 4 p.m. after receiving a call about a man waiving a machete inside the store.

When police arrived at the store, they found Keris Riebel, 22, dead at the scene. Police said Bekele left the store before they got there.

Soon after, an officer located the suspect on South Fifth Street and placed him under arrest.

Investigators learned that Bekele came into the shop holding a machete and struck the cashier multiple times. The machete was found at the crime scene.

Police said the motive behind the deadly machete attack is still unclear. Investigators are looking into whether the victim and the suspect knew each other.

According to Upper Sandusky Municipal Court documents, the machete attack was random and unprovoked.

Ohio Newlywed Working in Dollar Tree Store Killed in Machete Attack

Relatives posted online that Keris Riebel married in October and had recently graduated from college. She hails from Nevada, roughly 15 minutes away from Upper Sandusky.

Police said Bethel Bekele had no apparent criminal record, and the investigation focuses on the connection between him and the victim.

ABC 6 reported that Bekele resided at an Upper Sandusky apartment complex, and while his neighbor recognized him, they could not tell his name or where he lived exactly.

Bekele is being detained at the Wood County jail in Bowling Green as the Wyandot County jail in Upper Sandusky lack available bed space for him.

Bekele is charged with one count of murder, but his court date has not yet been set.

Friends, Family React to Ohio Newlywed and Dollar Tree Employee's Death

Keris Riebel graduated in 2019 from Wynford High School in Bucyrus, Ohio, about 20 miles east of Upper Sandusky.

The school district said: "Keris was a beautiful soul with a faith-filled heart." It also stated that her warm personality and radiant smile left an indelible impression on everyone she encountered.

"Keris was taken way too soon and will forever live in the hearts of the Wynford community," it concluded.

Riebel and her husband, Jordan Riebel, celebrated their wedding last October 8, Miami Herald reported.

According to a GoFundMe page, Riebel had just finished her degree in human resources and was looking forward to beginning a family with her spouse.

Jordan's aunt said in the GoFundMe, "It was ripped apart from the both of them in a matter of seconds."

Reibel's relatives noted that her smile lights up the world. A loved one also wrote on Facebook that she was the most sincere, lovely, pure spirit.

"The senseless act of violence that took her young life is unimaginable," the post noted.

The murder in Upper Sandusky in Ohio Sunday was the latest instance in a disturbing trend: the use of machetes in criminal acts.

In New York City, a guy attacked cops with a machete near Times Square on New Year's Eve, injuring two police officers.

Michael Kavalecz, a combative instructor, has seen a rise in the popularity of machetes.

"It's very accessible. You don't have to walk into a gun store and fill out an application," he told 3News. He added that it is also hard to offer defense against a machete attack.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Ohio Dollar Tree Employee Killed in Machete Attack; Suspect Arrested - From WBNS 10TV