UPDATE: Lance Tiernan Found Guilty Of Involuntary Manslaughter Of Anthony Parker, Sentenced To 3 to 11 Years In Prison

December 29, 2011


A 16-year-old boy who was beaten in a fight recently at One Way Farm Children’s Home in Fairfield Twp., has died.

Anthony Parker died today according to Jim Feuer, a spokesman for Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

The teen, a Fairfield High School student, was assaulted Dec. 19 by another resident, a 17-year-old Warren County boy, who is charged with felony aggravated assault.

Staff at the group home called 911 around 11:30 p.m. Dec. 19 to report an unresponsive boy. The call came three hours after he had been assaulted, according to Fairfield Twp. police. Between 7:30 and 8 p.m., the 17-year-old punched the victim, throwing him to the ground — where he landed on his head — and then repeatedly punched him in the head, said Fairfield Twp. Police Chief Richard St. John, who said the assault occurred during a dispute over a flashlight each boy claimed was his.

Patricia Jacobs, director of Warren County Children Services, said the teen who is charged has no prior history of violence and had been at One Way Farm since the end of November.

Prior to placement, the teenager was living with his family in Warren County and had no prior involvement with children services, she said. He was the only youth at the facility placed by Warren County Children Services, though the child welfare agency has placed children at One Way Farm over the course of many years, Jacobs said.

The children’s home is nonprofit organization licensed by ODJFS to provide residential care 365 days a year, 24 hours a day to 10 male children between the ages of 6 and 17, or if handicapped, up to age 21, through its Sunrise home at 6141 River Road.

It also has a capacity of 10 female children, ages 6 to 17, or up to 21 for handicapped clients, through its New Dawn home at 6145 River Road on its campus, documents show.

The agency has full certification through Dec. 29, 2012.


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December 30, 2011

A teen accused of beating another teen at One Way Farm Children’s Home last week will be charged with murder after the victim died yesterday.

Lance Tiernan, 17, will be tried as an adult for the death of Anthony Parker, 16, according to Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser. The death was a result of a “brutal unjustified felony assault,” he said in a news release.

Parker died Wednesday at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center after being in the hospital since Dec. 19, according to Jim Feuer, hospital spokesman.

Parker, a Fairfield High School student, was assaulted Dec. 19 at One Way Farm Children’s Home by Tiernan, of Warren County, who was originally charged with felony aggravated assault. Gmoser said an autopsy performed Thursday confirmed the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.

At a press conference today, One Way Farm Development Director Jody Canupp said the staff and board of directors are “horrified” at Parker’s death.

Canupp read a letter she received from a One Way Farm contributor, who knew Parker well.

“My heart is broken,” the contributor said in the letter. “Anthony had a huge capacity for love.”

“We will be doing a moment of silence on Monday morning when the kids return from winter break,” said Gina Gentry-Fletcher, spokeswoman for the Fairfield City School District, said guidance counselors will be available for students that need that additional help.

Billy Smith, principal at Fairfield High School, said Anthony was a fan of sports, closely following the Cincinnati Bengals and Cincinnati Reds.

“In class, he really enjoyed participating; he was a pleasure to have in class and he was always willing to do anything he could to help others,” Smith said. “Anthony always smiled and seemed to be happiest when he was able to help others.”

Staff at the group home called for an ambulance around 11:30 p.m. Dec. 19 to report an unresponsive boy. The call came three hours after he had been assaulted, according to Fairfield Twp. police.

During Thursday’s press conference, Canupp said Parker was monitored after the incident, and was walking around and had made a sandwich before being found unresponsive.

Between 7:30 and 8 p.m., the 17-year-old allegedly punched the victim, throwing him to the ground — where he landed on his head — and then repeatedly punched him in the head, said Fairfield Twp. Police Chief Richard St. John, who said the assault occurred during a dispute over a flashlight each boy claimed was his.

Kathy Parker, mother of Anthony Parker, said Thursday via her Facebook page, “Thank you for everyone’s concern at this time of my loss and my family’s and thank you for the prayers as we grieve.”

Patricia Jacobs, director of Warren County Children Services, said the teen who is charged has no prior history of violence and had been at One Way Farm since the end of November.

Prior to placement, the teenager was living with his family in Warren County and had no prior involvement with children services, she said. He was the only youth at the facility placed by Warren County Children Services, though the child welfare agency has placed children at One Way Farm over the course of many years, Jacobs said.

Ten children have been removed from the home and have been temporarily placed elsewhere, which is a standard protocol, Canupp said. Eight children are still at One Way Farm.

Officials with the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services said an investigation by the agency will begin when police conclude their investigation.

The children’s home is a nonprofit organization licensed by Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services to provide residential care 365 days a year, 24 hours a day to 10 male children between the ages of 6 and 17, or if handicapped, up to age 21, through its Sunrise home at 6141 River Road.

It also has a capacity of 10 female children, ages 6 to 17, or up to 21 for handicapped clients, through its New Dawn home at 6145 River Road on its campus, documents show.

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Over a flashlight? These kids were NOT in an orphanage.. did they have some physical or mental disabilities???? So Sad!! If I were Parker's parent's, I would be suing not only this "home" but Tiernan's parent's as well!!!!

July 13, 2012

Lance Tiernan, 18, was on trial for the murder of Anthony Parker, 16. Today was the second and last day for the trial as the jurors only took an hour and a half to decide on a verdict. The verdict being, Involuntary Manslaughter which is about 3-11 years in prison, a lesser charge. If Tiernan were to be charged for murder he would have received 15 to life with parole at 15 years. Prosecutors seemed to be pretty upset that Tiernan did not get charged for murder, as they would’ve wanted. Anita Smith, Parker’s grandmother stated that “it was not what she wanted” and that “they are going to have to learn to live with the jury’s decision”. Tiernan will be sentenced at the Butler-Warren Co. court house on August 20, 2012.

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