4 remain in jail after ‘drug deal gone bad’
FAIRFIELD —
Four people accused of murdering a 19-year-old Fairfield man in what police described as “a drug deal gone bad” remain in jail without bond today.
Police said Julian Slaven was killed around 10:25 p.m. Saturday when four people broke into his home in the 5800 block of Judy Drive and demanded money.
Three of the suspects — Jerry Eacholes, 26, of Middletown; Misty Williams, 19, of Fairfield; and Christia Frymire, 19, of Fairfield — were arrested Tuesday and arraigned in Fairfield Municipal Court on aggravated murder charges. The fourth suspect, Joseph Goodin, 25, of Middletown, surrendered to police Tuesday afternoon and will be arraigned today. He also faces an aggravated murder charge.
Police released few details about the fatal shooting other than to say they believe all four suspects were in Slaven’s home at the time of his death. Authorities did not disclose the relationships of those involved, who was the mastermind behind the home invasion or identify a trigger man, though they had warned earlier Tuesday that an at-large Goodin should be considered “armed and dangerous.”
More than 100 of Slaven’s relatives and friends who packed Fairfield Municipal Court could not hold back their anger as three of the suspects appeared before Judge Joyce Campbell. Taylor Slaven, the victim’s sister, glared at Williams and Frymire throughout the court hearing. She later said she didn’t know Eacholes, but the two women knew her brother and went to school with him.
“If only I had Julian’s rage and strength and anger to just put on them,” Taylor Slaven said, calling one of the female defendants a “crack whore.”
“They’re greedy and selfish and decided they have no heart,” she said.
Slaven’s family and friends described him as a caring, generous and talented man. They said they were stunned by his death and confused by reports that his shooting was drug related.
Slaven had a record of some minor drug charges and had been scheduled to appear in Fairfield Municipal Court this week on a felony drug possession charge that stemmed from a police search of his home last summer that turned up Adderall, an amphetamine that was a controlled substance.
“He hasn’t done that in a long time,” said one of his friends, Lauren Gray, of Fairfield. “He’s just been a good kid and getting stuff done to take care of his mother and sister and his girlfriend.”
Tamera Slaven, the victim’s mother and a teacher at Hamilton City Schools’ Riverview Elementary, said her son “had a lot of friends.” Tamera Slaven made the 911 call reporting her son had been shot. A female can be heard in the 911 call pleading with Julian Slaven to “please get up.”
“He didn’t deserve this. He would have given the shirt off his back,” she said tearfully in the courtroom.
Posts on a Facebook page paying tribute to Slaven were a mix of fond memories of him and prayers for his family and unbridled outrage toward the suspects. Many of those who knew Slaven used Facebook as a forum to organize the large turnout at Tuesday’s arraignments.
Vanessa Craig of Fairfield, who said she knew Williams, said she was not surprised to find her involved in the case. According to Fairfield Municipal Court records, Williams was found guilty of a drug abuse charge earlier this month, being fined $50.
“She was a terrible, terrible person who was into hard drugs and starting drama over guys and over girls and stupid petty (things),” Craig said. “She partied all the time and was just an all-around piece of trash, in my opinion.”
According to her Facebook page, Williams attended Fairfield High School in 2012 and worked at McDonald’s.
Frymire’s Facebook page said she also attended Fairfield High School in 2011 and worked as a crew member at McDonald’s in Forest Park. Frymire told Judge Campbell Tuesday that she recently lost her job. Campbell appointed a public defender for Frymire and Eacholes.
Eacholes, Williams and Frymire are expected back in court for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 6 to determine if there is enough evidence to send the case to a Butler County grand jury.
Eacholes was part of the Baltimore Street Gang based in Middletown and was sentenced to one year in prison on an attempted participating in a criminal gang charge last December in Butler County. He was given credit for the 12 months he already spent behind bars. He was taken into custody in Middletown Tuesday, according to Fairfield police Officer Doug Day.
Day said Williams and Frymire were placed under surveillance and picked up Tuesday without incident at a traffic stop not far from their apartment at Southgate Boulevard.
Goodin turned himself in to police at about 2:15 p.m. Tuesday by calling the dispatch center, Day said. Officers went to pick him up in Middletown.
Goodin pleaded guilty last year to an attempted felony domestic violence charge in Butler County Common Pleas Court and was sentenced to 11 months in prison, with credit for 122 days, according to court records.
http://m.middletownjournal.com/news/news/crime-law/3-arrested-in-fairfield-teens-homicide/nTGWR/
