NEW YORK — Joey Votto is doing all the Joey Votto things. Another day, another game, another home run.

With one swing of his bat, Votto is one consecutive game with a home run away from tying a Major League Baseball record.

The Reds dinger-slinger dialed long-distance in the top of the 6th against Mets pitcher Drew Smith, Votto's 7th longball in the past 7 games, tying Jim Thome, Barry Bonds, Kendrys Morales and Kevin Mench for second place for the record of most consecutive games with a home run.

Votto is one at-bat away from tying Dale Long, Don Mattingly and Ken Griffey, Jr for the MLB record for home runs in 8 consecutive games.

Number 19's next chance at history will be Saturday, July 31 at 7:10 p.m. against the Mets.

CINCINNATI —

The family of Robert "Bobby" Farrell Jr. talked exclusively with WLWT on Wednesday sharing a feeling of ultimate betrayal.

The 23-year-old man from New Richmond disappeared more than a week ago and was found dead earlier this week.

His best friend is now accused of killing Farrell.

His family feels heartbreak and total shock.

As investigators have peeled back the layers of what happened to Farrell, family members said they're left with nothing but broken trust and heartache.

They already miss Bobby Farrell Jr.'s sense of humor and how he could fill a room with positive energy acting like a goofball.

"I don't get to tell my son goodbye. I don't get to go over, kiss my son on the forehead. Tell him, 'Hey son, I love you buddy. You know I'm going to take care of your daughter. My granddaughter,'" Farrell's father, Bob Farrell, said.

A father's countless tears illustrate the tragic loss of his youngest son.

Bob Farrell is trying to come to grips with the arrest of Bobby Farrell Jr.'s best friend, Keyanta Gardner.

He said Gardner took Bobby Farrell Jr. for a ride in New Richmond on July 6, which was not unusual.

But what was unusual is that his son never came home.

Now, someone the family trusted for five years is charged with murder.

"Every person that searched asked about him, you know, 'What about the dude that seen him last?' 'Not him. That's his best friend. They would never do that to each other' and then comes out to find out, that's him. I mean, what am I supposed to feel like in my life? It was like one of my sons killed my son," Bob Farrell said.

Family members said Gardner hugged them and cried when Bobby Farrell Jr. vanished.

Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation agents said his body was found off of State Route 222 in Clermont County on Monday with at least one gunshot wound to the skull.

Bobby Farrell Jr. leaves behind a 4-year-old daughter, who family members said was his world.

"You know, I don't have another birthday for him. He was going to be 24 this year. You know, we don't get to go to Kings Island and watching him go down the slide with (his daughter) no more. None of that. It was all stripped and took away from me and my family and it's just like he does not care," Bob Farrell said.

Now, his father wants to know why. He feels betrayed.

His family has been changed forever.

"Really, we've got two kids gone now. That's how my wife says, you know, now that, you know, besides the fact that my Bobby's gone, she was like, you know, 'Keyanta's gone, too. I loved that kid,'" Bob Farrell said.

Family members said there were no signs of trouble that night.

Bob Farrell still wonders if there was an accident or if the men got caught up in something wrong.

He hopes to find out.

Gardner is set to be in Clermont County Municipal Court on Thursday at 10 a.m., according to online records.

He also said the family is overwhelmed by so much support, but that they are grateful for everyone who has helped search for their son.

Bob Farrell said his son graduated from Glen Este High School in 2016.

The family said Bobby Farrell Jr. played football and wrestled while attending the school.

They also said he loved art and his art teacher and even recently, filled sketchbooks.

The family has launched a GoFundMe account to help with expenses:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/quf3s-support-for-the-farrell-family

They have also launched the Robert "Bobby" Farrell Memorial Fund at Fifth Third Bank. They said once the funeral is paid for, any leftover funds will go into a trust for Farrell's 4-year-old daughter.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Ohio BCI at 1-855-224-6446.

CINCINNATI — What do some Mt. Lookout 4th graders, cookie dough and endangered Asian elephants have in common? Mix them all together in a bowl, and you can bake up a whole lot of caring.

‘The baker girls,’ as they’re known, have experience. They have written proof in the form of a thank you note from the Cincinnati Zoo which reads: “Thank you so much for the bake sale proceeds – the manatees eat a lot of lettuce and kale. Keep up with the great fundraising work.”

Young Marguerite Jackson took that mission to heart – and took the idea to four other girls in Mrs. Baker’s 4th grade class at Summit Country Day.

WCPO Staff

Individually they’re known as Lucy, Mabel, Anne Marie and Ava – but collectively, they’re ‘The Baker Girls.’

After serving up the sweet stuff to raise funds for the manatees in the past – on this go ‘round, they had a bigger target in mind: the biggest land animal on the planet, in fact, the elephant.

WCPO Staff

“When we looked into it and saw elephants were getting a new enclosure, we wanted to help them,” Maribel Hartmann said.

“We did a bake sale – sold brownies, cupcakes and cake pops,” Lucy Viveros said.

“It felt great – a lot of people donated money for the animals,” Anne Marie Misrich said.

Courtesy, Lynette Grypp

All told, the four girls raised $908.

“It makes me feel good,” Marguerite Jackson said. “I thought maybe two or $300, but that’s a lot more.”

“It’s like a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” Ava Boyer said.

That led to a once-in-a-lifetime experience, a chance to meet the great ladies of the elephant exhibit up close: Mai Thai, Jati and Schottzie.

And the pachyderms were just as pleased to be introduced to the young ladies as the 4th graders were to meet the tusked titans.

WCPO Staff

Zoo leaders made sure to thank The Baker Girls personally.

“When we found out what y’all did, I told the team, and they were very excited about what you did,” elephant manager Cecil Jackson, Jr. said.

That means the zoo has about a thousand dollars to put towards the $150 million it’s working to raise.

“These girls stepped up; the Baker Girls get it done,” said Cincinnati Zoo director Thane Maynard.

WCPO Staff

The elephants will get way more room in the zoo’s ‘Home to Roam’ campaign – which should also allow them to add to the herd.

“Not all zoos will have elephants – go big or go home – keep in areas big enough to breed, have them in a multi-generational herd – so this is a big commitment,” Maynard said.

The hope is for people to understand these great animals they share the planet with are worthy of protection. It's a mission The Baker Girls are proud to be a part of, proving there’s no such thing as too young to make a difference.

Maynard and Jackson, Jr. said they want more people to come to the zoo and be inspired to help. Both men said what the girls did on a local level really contributes to the global conservation campaign.