LOCAL

Teen found in Paint Creek remembered for his intelligence, bright future

Chillicothe Gazette

CHILLICOTHE - Family members, friends, and teachers of 18-year-old Randon Cochran have remembered him fondly for his intelligence and genuine spirit.

Cochran's body was found around 6 p.m. Monday night about 1.5 miles from where he was last seen, after a two-day search of Paint Creek, according to the Ross County Sheriff's Office. Capt. Mike Preston said Cochran was last seen early Sunday morning while camping with some friends on an island in Paint Creek in the Buzzard's Roost Nature Preserve area.

Blake Jacobs, the teen's cousin, remembered him for his dedication to family.

"He was always there for someone if they needed him and he would always put everyone else before himself always. His family came first and that even included his best friends, which he'd considered his brothers," she said. "He didn't deserve to go out the way he did. He deserved a much longer life and it honestly still hasn't hit me that he's really gone because a kid like him had an amazing life ahead of him and I thought he'd be here with us forever."

Cochran was registered as a student at Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center High School, where he was enrolled in the machining program. As a sophomore, he went through the career exploration program headed by Amy Ervin, who pointed him toward machining.

The career exploration program, Ervin said, helps Chillicothe High School students who think they might want to attend Pickaway-Ross, but aren't sure of what program they'd like.

"He had a bright future in machining," Ervin said of Cochran. "He was a smart kid and he could have gone places. He was talented in machining."

According to Cochran's Facebook profile, he'd been considering attending a trade school or joining the Navy after high school.

While in the career exploration program, Ervin said Cochran served as one of her knowledge bowl captains. She described him as well-liked by his peers and a true leader when he chose to be — a reason why he'd been chosen as captain. She explained how he kept his peers on track and would often make a decision if there was a discrepancy between some answers.

As Cochran's language arts teacher at Pickaway-Ross, Ervin said he was gifted in the class and would occasionally try to use a new, big word. When she told him how to use the new word, she said he immediately picked up on it, made the correction, and never used it incorrectly again.

"He was an interesting student," she said. "He was one of a kind."

Pickaway Ross Career & Technology Center Superintendent Dennis Franks said the school has counselors on duty and staff available for students who knew the teen to have an outlet and a way to have their concerns addressed.

At Chillicothe High School, pro tempore superintendent Debbie Swinehart said the school has three guidance counselors and several clinical counselors on staff who are available to students. The school also held a moment of silence Tuesday morning, she added.

Since Cochran was a junior, Swinehart said the district will award him an honorary diploma at next year's graduation ceremony.

Baylee Steele, a friend of Cochran's, remembered him for his good, genuine spirit and his intelligence. In the past couple years, she said they'd spent more time talking than seeing each other, but spent a lot of time together their freshman year of high school.

"Because we were so close, people wouldn't flirt with me or anything because they thought I was with him," she said, explaining they weren't dating at the time.

A favorite memory Steele has of Cochran is how they used to walk to the annex at Yoctangee Park just to sit and talk. One day they were walking back to her home when it began to pour rain. Because his clothes were soaked, she said she let him borrow some of hers, even though they were small on him.

Cochran's body is currently in the care of the Ross County Coroner's Office.