Ohio death row inmate placed under house arrest pending new trial and DNA evidence

GAITHERSBURG, Maryland. — Four juveniles were arrested and charged with auto theft following an investigation into a shooting in Germantown Monday afternoon. The suspects, three 15-year-olds and a 16-year-old male, were arrested by Montgomery County police officers after a short chase.

On August 19, at approximately 4:52 p.m., officers with the Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District responded to a report of a shooting in the 19200 block of Circle Gate Drive. Upon arrival, officers discovered several shell casings and confirmed that two residences and a vehicle had been struck by gunfire. No injuries were reported.

Following the incident, police searched for the suspect vehicle, which was identified as a black 2016 Hyundai Accent. At approximately 5:33 p.m., officers from the 6th Precinct spotted the vehicle near Rothbury Drive and Goshen Road. Officers determined the vehicle was stolen and initiated a short pursuit.

During the pursuit, two of the suspects exited the vehicle and fled on foot. The vehicle eventually came to a stop in the 20120 block of Rothbury Lane, where the other two suspects also attempted to flee the scene. Police quickly established a perimeter and arrested all four suspects.

Two of the 15-year-old suspects were transported to the 5th Precinct station and later released into the custody of their parents or guardians. The 16-year-old suspect was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries before being released and released to his parents or guardians at the 5th Precinct station.

The fourth suspect, a 15-year-old male, was arrested by a sniffer dog unit. During a subsequent search, officers discovered a loaded .40-caliber pistol in his possession. This suspect was also taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries and later transferred to the custody of the Youth Welfare Office, where he faces further charges of possession of weapons.

The investigation is ongoing as authorities attempt to clarify all the circumstances surrounding the shooting and subsequent events.

XENIA, Ohio — David Lee Myers, 60, an Ohio death row inmate, has been placed under house arrest while he awaits a new trial for the 1988 murder of a pregnant teen mother. Myers was released from the Greene County courthouse Monday after his conviction and death sentence were overturned after his lawyers argued that DNA evidence in the case did not match him.

Myers is accused of killing Amanda Jo Maher in 1988 by driving a railroad spike through her head. He spent decades on death row until recent developments in the case led to his release under strict conditions. Myers must wear a GPS device, remain in the state, and abstain from alcohol or drugs while awaiting his retrial.

The decision to release Myers has drawn strong reactions, particularly from the victim's daughter, Sarah Sparkman, who was just eight months old when her mother was killed. Sparkman urged the judge to keep Myers in custody, raising concerns about the potential risks of his release. “Why take the risk? I've experienced emotional and psychological turmoil my entire life because of my mother's death,” Sparkman said, according to WHIO, a local CBS affiliate.

Prosecutors argued against Myers' release, citing his criminal record, including a 1986 conviction for forgery and the fact that Myers was on probation for sexual assault at the time of Maher's murder. They emphasized the seriousness of the original charge and raised public safety concerns.

However, Myers' defense attorney Elizabeth Smith argued that the new DNA evidence, which she believes exonerates her client, warrants his release. “He is entitled to the presumption of innocence,” Smith told WDTN, a local NBC affiliate. “There is no direct evidence here. Everything the state has said has been thrown out.”

Myers' new trial is expected to examine additional evidence, including DNA evidence that cast doubt on his original conviction. The case continues to develop as the trial progresses.

Washington, DC – The DC Metro Police Department is asking the public for help in identifying three suspects and a vehicle connected to a recent robbery. The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday morning on Newton Place, where three people confronted a victim. One of the suspects displayed a firearm, another stole the victim's moped, and the third took a cellphone before they all escaped.

A surveillance camera near the crime scene recorded the trio and their vehicle. The footage has been made available to help in their identification. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the suspects or the vehicle to contact police, but to avoid direct confrontations with the suspects.

A substantial reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for this crime.