STATEMENT FROM CLERMONT COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTORNEY REGARDING THEFT ALLEGATIONS AT CLERMONT SENIOR SERVICES

By

June 23, 2022

Clermont County

My office has received numerous inquiries regarding theft allegations from Clermont Senior Services. Please see the following summary.

On April 22, 2022, my office was informed of acts of theft allegedly committed by the former Chief Financial Officer of Clermont Senior Services, Inc., Greg Carson, who passed away in early January 2022.

My office immediately notified authorities at Williamsburg Township, as Greg Carson also served as the fiscal officer for the township. My office referred the Williamsburg question to the Auditor of State in May 2022.

The Clermont County Sheriff’s Office was briefed on the matter from the outset and it was agreed the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation would be requested to provide assistance owing to its expertise and available personnel in fraud cases and forensic accounting. BCI was contacted and an informational meeting was scheduled in Batavia for May 2, 2022 at the Clermont County Prosecutor’s Office. A BCI Fraud Investigator and Forensic Accounting Supervisor attended the meeting with myself and assistant prosecutors. On May 4, 2022, my office submitted a formal request for assistance to BCI.

In late May 2022, after considering the absence of information indicating anyone other than Greg Carson was involved in these allegations, and since there were no living suspects, further criminal investigation was not warranted.

I appreciate the diligence of the Attorney General’s Office in responding to our request for assistance.

 

Mark J. Tekulve

Clermont County Prosecuting Attorney

MAN INDICTED FOR MURDER, WHO FLED THE STATE TO AVOID PROSECUTION, RETURNED TO CLERMONT

By

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 21, 2022

Clermont County

Prosecuting Attorney, Mark J. Tekulve, announces the extradition and return of defendant Kyle Johnston, indicted for murder, involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, felonious assault, weapons under disability, and tampering with evidence to Clermont County. (State v. Kyle Johnston, 2020 CR 001004)

Johnston and the victim, Kendra Hoskins, were in a relationship. On the evening of the offense, the defendant and victim left the victim’s apartment together with the defendant having possession of the 9mm handgun. While seated in the victim’s vehicle, the defendant and victim got into an argument and the defendant shot the victim in the abdomen using the handgun.

Bond was initially set at $125,000 c/p/re on December 4, 2020 by Judge Victor M. Haddad, citing considerations of Ohio Constitution Article I, section 9, criminal rule 46, and ORC 2937.222

On December 23, 2020, a different judge, reduced Johnston’s bond to $50,000.  Both bonds did include reporting probation conditions. The defendant was able to post the reduced bond amount on February 23, 2021 through a surety bond, and was released from jail.

On March 23, 2021, another bond review was scheduled due to the defendant testing positive for methamphetamine while on reporting bond. At that time, the Court kept the cash portion of the bond the same, and ordered the defendant to enter a drug treatment program as a condition of bond.

On April 15, 2021, the court scheduled a bond review hearing because the defendant had ceased reporting as ordered. The defendant failed to appear, and a bench warrant was issued for the defendant’s arrest. Ultimately, the Prosecutor’s Office became aware that the defendant had fled to Georgia in an attempt to avoid prosecution. While in Georgia, the defendant was arrested on warrants from that State. Almost fifteen months after being indicted, the defendant was finally returned to face murder charges in Clermont County, Ohio.

Today, a bond hearing was held for Johnstone before Judge Kevin T. Miles. Due to the defendant’s failure to appear, his flight from the state, and continued drug use, bond was set at $1,000,000 cash, professional, or real estate, with a court date scheduled for pre-trial on July 6, 2022.

If convicted of all counts, the defendant faces a maximum possible prison sentence of life with the possibility of parole after forty-two (42) years.

Prosecutor Mark Tekulve, again, offers his condolences to the family of Kendra Hoskins. Tekulve further emphasized that, “While, the bail reform issues within this State have caused the family of Kendra Hoskins additional pain delaying justice in this matter, my office will endeavor to convict Johnston for the heinous acts he committed, and will seek the maximum sentence.”

Parole Hearing Scheduled for Convicted Child Murderer

By

June 3, 2022

Clermont County Prosecuting Attorney, Mark J. Tekulve, announces that David Joseph Carroll has his first scheduled Parole Board hearing in July 2022. Carroll was convicted in 2007 for the heinous murder of three-year-old Marcus Fiesel. Marcus was a child with autism being fostered by David and Liz Carroll. Instead of taking Marcus on a weekend trip to a family reunion in Kentucky, the Carrolls wrapped Marcus in a blanket from neck to ankles and put tape around him to prevent his escape. They then placed Marcus in a playpen in an upstairs closet. Though a fan was placed in the closet, the temperature inside rose to well over 100 degrees.   The Carrolls then left with their other children and, not wanting to leave the dog at home, brought it along as well.

When they returned more than thirty hours later, Marcus was deceased. Instead of alerting the police, David and Liz concocted a plan to get rid of Marcus’ body and fake his disappearance. David put Marcus’ body in a moving box and covered him with clothes. He and his live-in paramour, Amy, purchased gas and drove to an abandoned chimney Amy knew of in Brown County. There, David doused the box in gasoline and lit the flame. When David and Amy returned, David collected the remains in a garbage bag and pillow cases and threw them off of a bridge into the Ohio River.

David and Liz then faked Marcus’ disappearance, causing a massive search and rescue operation. Amy ultimately confessed to her involvement in the case, causing Liz to admit they had left Marcus in the closet. Liz’s case went to trial, where she was convicted on all charges and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after more than fifty years. David Carroll pleaded guilty less than a week later to Murder and Gross Abuse of a Corpse. He was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison.

Persons wishing to submit a written statement concerning this hearing may send such statement to the Ohio Parole Board, Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, 4545 Fisher Road, Suite D, Columbus, OH 43228.  Please include the offender’s name and number on any correspondence.    

David Joseph Carroll, No. A546573               

Gardner and Beasley July 22, 2021. Lara

By

Clermont County Prosecutor Mark J. Tekulve Announces Murder Indictment in the Killing of Robert “Bobby” Farrell, Jr.

Robert “Bobby” Farrell, Jr.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 22, 2021

 

Today, Clermont County Prosecutor Mark J. Tekulve announced that a Clermont County Grand Jury returned an indictment against Keyanta Gardner (11/20/1997) of Batavia Township, Ohio. Gardner was indicted July 22, 2021 on 1 count of Aggravated Murder (Unclassified Felony), 1 count of Murder (Unclassified Felony), 2 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Murder (Felony 1), 1 count of Tampering with Evidence, (Felony 3), and 1 count of Gross Abuse of a Corpse (Felony 5). If convicted on all counts, Gardner faces the possibility of Life in prison without possibility of parole.

 

Gardner is charged with the premeditated murder of Robert (Bobby) Farrell, Jr., who was reported missing by his family out of New Richmond, Ohio, on July 6, 2021. As the missing person investigation progressed, New Richmond Police Department called in agents from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office to assist. Ultimately, law enforcement discovered that Gardner conspired with Christian Beasley (09/05/1997) of Cincinnati, Ohio, to commit the murder of Bobby Farrell. Bobby Farrell’s body was discovered in Clermont County, Ohio, on July 12, 2021, and an autopsy confirmed both Farrell’s identity, as well as the cause of death.

 

Gardner was initially charged in Clermont County Municipal Court and held on a $1 million cash/professional bond. Gardner is currently in the Clermont County Jail. An arraignment and bond hearing will be held on the indictment in the Clermont County Court of Common Pleas on July 23, 2021.

 

Beasley was arrested on July 22, 2021, on a charge of Murder filed in the Clermont County Municipal Court. Beasley will appear in Clermont County Municipal Court for arraignment and a hearing on bond on July 23, 2021.

Keyanta “Tay” Gardner                            Christian “Boog” Beasley