David Ison Ripley County Sheriff's Office

(Versailles, Ind.) - Unless David Ison - the main person of interest in Sunday's Metamora massacre - suddenly becomes a rich man, it is not likely he will be leaving jail anytime soon.

The 46-year-old was ordered held on a $5 million bond in Ripley Circuit Court Thursday. He is charged with Armed Robbery for a botched holdup at the G.A. Triplett Pharmacy in Osgood last May.

It's believed by Prosecutor Ric Hertle to be the highest bond ever assigned in Ripley County. Ison could go free if he were to post 10 percent, or $500,000, of the bond amount.

Indiana State Police continue to call Ison a " very good person of interest" in connection with the murders of five people near Metamora. Roy, Angela, Melissa, and Jacob Napier, as well as neighbor Henry Smith, were all found shot and/or beaten to death at two homes on Stipps Hill Road.

A four-year-old girl believed to be the daughter of Melissa Napier was the lone survivor. The murder investigation began after two neighbors driving home from church Sunday afternoon found the girl crying on Stipps Hill Road.

Franklin County Sheriff Kenneth Murphy told reporters Thursday that investigators are "99.9 percent sure" they have the lone shooter in the killings. Although that may be the case, Murphy added that the investigation is continuing.

Ison, a Glenwood, Indiana resident, was arrested early Wednesday morning in a traffic stop on State Road 52 in Andersonville for the Armed Robbery charge. Investigators said he was wearing a disguise at the time and was armed with a handgun and an assault rifle.

Murphy told WKRC-TV in Ohio that detectives believe Ison was on his way to commit another armed robbery at a pharmacy in Batesville.

Prosecutors said during the bond hearing that there is eveidence which places Ison at the murder scene. Ammunition found at the scene was the same as found in the firearms Ison had at the time of his arrest. His shoes matched shoeprints left at the scene. They also found one of the victim's cell phone at the Fayette County home where Ison was living.

Murphy said the killings were not a random act of violence. Ison had a relationship with at least one of the victims.

The Napier home was known as a place for frequent drug activity, but police have not confirmed if that played a role or possible motive for the murders.

Ison is scheduled to appear in court next for a pre-trial conference on February 13 for the Ripley County Armed Robbery charge. A trial date has been set for March 27.

LINKS:

Person of Interest Held In Murder Case

Killer Not Among Five Dead

ISP: No Persons Of Interest In Five Deaths

Questions Abound In Franklin Co. Deaths

Five Found Dead In Two Metamora Homes

Multiple Homicides Investigated In Franklin Co.