Jerrod Metsker Pleads Not Guilty To Rape And Murder Charges In Reann Murphy Case

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Another child joins the all too large a group of innocents in Heaven.  Rest in peace, Reann, with God and the angels.

December 27, 2013

An attorney for a Smithville man accused of killing and raping a 9-year-old girl pleaded not guilty for his client Thursday in Wayne County Common Pleas Court.

Jerrod Metsker, 24, 5912 Akron Road, who is charged with two counts each of aggravated murder and rape, along with three counts of kidnapping in connection with the death of Reann Murphy, was arraigned via video in Judge Corey Spitler's courtroom.

Metsker, wearing a reddish jumpsuit, sat on a metal stool in a cell at the Wayne County Justice Center. He slouched against a wall, with his court-appointed attorney, Larry Whitney, standing very close to him as Spitler asked about Metsker's financial condition and if he had received a copy of the indictment.

Whitney told Spitler his client was indigent and received a copy of the indictment. Whitney also said he discussed all of the charges and specifications with Metsker. At this time he was entering a not guilty plea. However, Whitney reserved the right to enter a written plea later.

Read: Reann Murphy's father 'wants to know why'

"That's fine," Spitler said.

Though Whitney did not state it specifically, the move allows him and co-counsel, Kirk Migdal, to enter a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, if so warranted. That plea must be entered in writing.

Because the two aggravated murder charges include specifications, Metsker could face the death penalty if a jury or three-judge panel decides it is an appropriate sentence.

Bond was continued at $1 million, and as of Thursday, Metsker remained incarcerated in the Wayne County Jail.

Prosecutor Dan Lutz alleges Metsker caused the death of Reann, who was younger than 13, with specifications that include he did so with a sexual motivation; while kidnapping her, or attempting to kidnap her; while committing, or attempting to commit, rape; and he did so to escape detection, apprehension, trial or punishment for kidnap or rape.

The second count of aggravated murder alleges Metsker caused Reann's death in connection with kidnap and rape, and it includes the same specifications.

In the three counts of kidnapping, the prosecution alleges Metsker removed or restrained Reann in order to rape her, in order to terrorize or inflict serious harm or in order to engage in a sexual activity against her will.

Metsker's two charges of rape allege he engaged in sexual conduct with the girl and caused serious physical harm.

Metsker called 9-1-1 on Dec. 14 to report Reann missing. Family, friends, neighbors, law enforcement and firefighters searched in and around the Akron Road mobile home park where both lived. Reann's body was found hidden in a trash bin in the center area of the park at 1:35 a.m. Dec. 15, where Metsker was seen playing with Reann.

Wayne County Coroner Dr. Amy Jolliff's preliminary report indicated Reann died of strangulation.

Following the arraignment, Lutz said he is very confident in the strength of the case and the evidence, but he again refrained from speaking about the specifics.

Generally, the next step would be to arrange a pre-trial hearing and then set a trial date, but Lutz said in a capital case there are a lot of motions, so he is not sure what will happen next.

As for whether there might be a plea deal, Lutz said it is unlikely.

Lutz praised the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation and his staff for working so swiftly. Because of their efforts, Lutz was able to bring the case to a grand jury quickly, he said.

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June 12, 2014

"I just want to tell the truth," Jerrod Metsker said Wednesday when he was asked whether or not he understood what was taking place because of his actions on Dec. 14.

That was the day Metsker kidnapped 9-year-old Reann Murphy -- who lived with her mother and her mother's boyfriend at a mobile home park -- and then tied her up, sexually assaulted her, strangled the girl and placed her bound, naked body inside a plastic tote. He then set the tote inside a Dumpster at the park located at 5912 Akron Road, just north of Smithville.

Metsker, 25, admitted to his actions and accepted a plea deal that spared his life. It required Metsker to plead guilty to one count each of aggravated murder, kidnapping and rape.

The aggravated murder charge carried specifications that the victim was under 13 years old, there was sexual motivation, and felony murder and murder to escape specifications. The kidnapping charge had a sexual motivation specification.

The prosecution dropped several other charges for which he was indicted and also dropped its request for the death penalty.

Metsker received two consecutive sentences of life in prison without the chance for parole on the aggravated murder and rape charges. On the kidnapping charge, Metsker was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.

"I just want to say that my daughter was loved," said the girl's father, Richard Murphy. He, along with his step-mother, Patty Murphy, were the only two people to address the court on behalf of Reann.

"I just wish my daughter was here so my other kids could meet her and find out what a wonderful person she is," Richard Murphy said.

Following the sentencing, Kelly Jones Lupole, Reann's mother, said, "Yeah (it gives me comfort, it) makes me feel better everything is finalized, and he stood up and said what he did wrong."

Patty Murphy told Metsker "you're a bad person, you did a bad thing."

But while she said her family will continue to maintain its strength and will survive, she told him he caused his own family suffering.

"They didn't ask for this ... their pain is never going to end, Jerrod, and you did that to them," Patty Murphy said. "We're suffering, too, Jerrod, but we'll survive. We're strong people and we'll go on. But your family is now defined by what you did. And we're not going to let Reann down again."

Wayne County Prosecutor Dan Lutz later emphasized Murphy's parents did not want to pursue the death penalty.

He added Metsker's mental capacity created mitigating circumstances that would have been brought up at trial if they insisted on the death penalty.

According to a statement of mitigating circumstances, it was determined Metkser suffers from "significantly sub average intellectual functioning, with significant limitations."

An opinion offered by Dr. John Fabian, a forensic psychologist and neuropsychologist who examined Metsker's history and intelligence, determined him to be competent to stand trial, but suffered from an intellectual disability.

Metsker, according to the statement, has been tested various times since the age of 3 for his behavior issues and intellect. The most recent time, performed at Mercy Medical Center in Canton in 2006, diagnosed him with an impulse control disorder and mild mental retardation.

Metsker identified himself as "autistic" to law enforcement.

When offered a chance to address the court, Metsker said, "I wanted to say I was sorry."

He repeatedly lowered his head to the table as if disengaged from the hearing. He had large scabs on both arms below his elbows.

Capt. James Richards, who heads the correctional division and Wayne County Jail, said the marks were self-inflicted -- the result of incessant scratching at his arms while in the jail.

Metsker also nodded in apparent agreement while he listened to Sheriff's Capt. Doug Hunter begin to describe the investigation into Murphy's disappearance and deputies' belief Metsker was involved.

Wiest interrupted his account of the events when Hunter started to describe obtaining a search warrant for the mobile home where Metsker lived.

Hunter did note Metsker never confessed to the acts, but there were several pieces of evidence against him.

Besides being the last person seen with Murphy on the evening of Dec. 14, law enforcement also suspected him when he invited Hunter inside his home and said he had "cleaned up" his room.

Similar colored yarn was found in the bathroom that was used to bind Murphy's ankles and wrists, along with a mattress, light saber toy and vacuum cleaner attachment that contained the girl's DNA, and his in some areas. Metkser's DNA also was found on several areas of Murphy's body.

A computer was collected from his home that contained online searches for topics relating to sexual intercourse with corpses and death by strangulation just days prior to Murphy's death.

An autopsy confirmed the girl was restrained, sexually assaulted and strangled to death.

The next morning, Metsker made several phone calls to a cousin and told her circumstances and details of the girl's death only a person involved in it could have known, according to Hunter.

"Is it time to go back to the jail?" Metsker asked the deputies as they started to walk him out of the courtroom. When they told him it was time to go, he just responded "OK."

A three-judge panel of Wayne County Common Pleas Judges Mark K. Wiest and Corey Spitler and Holmes County Judge Robert Rinfret overheard the hearing and agreed to impose the agreed-upon sentence, after Metsker waived his right to a jury.


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