Ashley Fagan has been sentenced to 18 to 23½ years in prison for her role in the death of her 6-year-old daughter, Eva Bretz. Fagan pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including permitting child abuse and involuntary manslaughter, after an autopsy revealed Eva suffered from chronic physical and sexual abuse, multiple injuries, and fentanyl in her system. The victim’s grandfather expressed the immense grief and injustice of the situation, emphasizing the mother’s failure to protect her daughter. Fagan’s boyfriend, Blake Hutchinson, who was also a suspect, died by suicide before he could be arrested.
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In Columbus, Ohio, police officer Connor Grubb was acquitted on all counts, including murder, in the shooting death of Ta’Kiya Young, a pregnant Black woman accused of shoplifting. Despite bodycam footage showing Young’s car slowly moving toward Grubb, who then fired a fatal shot, the jury found him not guilty. The victim’s family expressed outrage, and their attorney vowed to continue a civil lawsuit, citing concerns about a dual system of justice. Grubb’s defense attorney stated that Grubb and his family were relieved, yet acknowledged the emotional burden of taking a life on duty.
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Adam Coy, a former Columbus police officer, received a mandatory sentence of 15 years to life for the murder of Andre Hill, a Black man fatally shot in December 2020. Coy, who claimed he feared for his life, was found guilty of murder after asserting he believed Hill was holding a gun. Despite Coy’s appeal plans, prosecutors argued Hill posed no threat, and victim impact statements highlighted Hill’s gentle nature. Body camera footage revealed Hill holding a cellphone, with medical aid delayed at the scene, which led to a $10 million settlement with Hill’s family.
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John Q. Hosedrinker