(L to R) James Puchan, Douglas Kraft and Robert Kraft
On Jan. 17, Douglas Kraft, 68, of Columbus, OH, Robert Kraft, 70, of Holland, MI, and James Puchan, 68, of Galena, OH were shot and killed in Florida.
Douglas Kraft was the husband, and Robert Kraft was the brother-in-law, of Marcy Kraft, executive director of the Mid-American Health Organization (MAHO). Puchan was a close friend of the Kraft family.
According to a joint statement from the Kraft and Puchan families, which was published on MAHO’s website, the three men were attending the Mecum Car Show in Kissimmee, FL and were staying at an Airbnb. While waiting for assistance after “rental car trouble” and preparing to travel home, they were “being observed from a distance by an unknown individual who was well-known to law enforcement.”
“There were no known interactions between the men and this individual prior to the event; they were then approached and senselessly murdered. This was a random, tragic act,” the families wrote.
As reported by The Columbus Dispatch, authorities found the three men dead in front of a residence. Not long after, they arrested Ahmad Jihad Bojeh, 29, who lives nearby. Deputies reported seeing Bojeh flee toward his home and later found two firearms in his residence after serving a search warrant. The investigation is ongoing.
“These three wonderful men did not deserve this. Our families are left with an unexpected, unimaginable loss that cannot be put into words. We ask for privacy, prayers, and respect as we mourn and begin to process this tragedy,” the families wrote. “We are grateful for the outpouring of concern and for the quick response efforts of local law enforcement, the detectives, the medical examiners, and the various state agencies who are assisting with this investigation. Further details will be shared by our families or official representatives when appropriate. For now, please respect our need for space and time to grieve.”
Service information has not been provided.
For more information, visit www.maho4health.org.
