Prosecutor seeks death penalty following aggravated murder indictment
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The father of two children killed in a Greenfield fire could face the death penalty after he was indicted on two counts of aggravated murder April 6.
A grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court indicted Wesley Coonrod Sr., 42, April 6 on two counts of aggravated murder, with specifications they are capital cases; one charge of aggravated arson, a felony of the second degree; two counts of murder, unclassified felonies; two counts of child endangering, felonies of the third degree.
"We are seeking the death penalty,"said Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey. "It was our believe the deaths occurred during the commission of an aggravated arson. In the commission of that offense, he caused the deaths of two children under the age of 13."
Grandey said that regarding whether or not Coonrod meant to cause the deaths of his son, "intend doesn't have anything to do with it. We allege the deaths occurred during the aggravated arson. My own personal opinion is with the evidence that will come out, we can show the fire was intentionally set."
"I feel the charges are appropriate," said Greenfield Police Chief Tim Hester. "We worked with the prosecuting attorney's office in presenting the case to the grand jury, and we feel we have a strong case."
Coonrod was arrested following the March 7 fire on Lafayette Street in Greenfield that claimed the lives of his two sons, Thomas Coonrod, 4, and Stephen Coonrod, 3, and charged with two counts of endangering children, both felonies of the third degree. He is being held at the Highland County Justice Center on a $1 million bond, at $500,000 for each charge.
Greenfield Police Chief Tim Hester told the Highland County Press following the fire that when officer arrived on the scene of the fire, Coonrod "was extremely intoxicated and in no condition to be providing care for the children. The house was on fire and the children were trapped inside."
During a preliminary hearing in Highland County Court March 15, Judge Robert Judkins "found probable cause to believe a crime had been committed," and the case was bound over for presentation to a Highland County grand jury. Coonrod appeared during the hearing with his attorney Richard Federle Jr.
Judge Judkins said, “This is one of the most tragic and grievous cases I have ever heard. These children are dead."
According to Chief Bradley George of the Paint Creek Joint Fire District, which responded to the fire, the investigation has been turned over the the state fire marshal, and the department cannot speak as to the suspected cause of the fire.
"We made entry without any issues," George said. "The first crew in found the kids. We were able to knock down the fire, and we turned the scene over to (the state fire marshal)."
The Lafayette Street fire occurred just over a month after the fire district responded to a fire at 421 Milburn Street in Greenfield, a residence in which Coonrod was the occupant.
"The (Feb. 1) fire appeared to have been caused by an unintentional human act," George said. "Basically when (that is the determination it means) there was no reason for that fire. There was no mechanical failure, no electrical. Somebody caused that fire, accidental or intentional. We can't rule out smoking, we can't rule out child's play, there was no sign of an accelerant. Its didn't appear to be arson. We could not specify why the fire started."
When asked if the department would reopen its investigation into the Milburn Street incident following the Lafayette Street fire, George noted there is no statute of limitations on arson, but that, "unless other information comes up, there is no reason to go back on it."
The father of two children killed in a Greenfield fire could face the death penalty after he was indicted on two counts of aggravated murder April 6.
A grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court indicted Wesley Coonrod Sr., 42, April 6 on two counts of aggravated murder, with specifications they are capital cases; one charge of aggravated arson, a felony of the second degree; two counts of murder, unclassified felonies; two counts of child endangering, felonies of the third degree.
"We are seeking the death penalty," said Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey. "It was our belief the deaths occurred during the commission of an aggravated arson. In the commission of that offense, he caused the deaths of two children under the age of 13."
Grandey said that regarding whether or not Coonrod meant to cause the deaths of his son, "intent doesn't have anything to do with it. We allege the deaths occurred during the aggravated arson. My own personal opinion is with the evidence that will come out, we can show the fire was intentionally set."
"I feel the charges are appropriate," said Greenfield Police Chief Tim Hester. "We worked with the prosecuting attorney's office in presenting the case to the grand jury, and we feel we have a strong case."
Coonrod was arrested following the March 7 fire on Lafayette Street in Greenfield that claimed the lives of his two sons, Thomas Coonrod, 4, and Stephen Coonrod, 3, and charged with two counts of endangering children, both felonies of the third degree. He is being held at the Highland County Justice Center on a $1 million bond, at $500,000 for each charge.
Hester told The Highland County Press following the fire that when officer arrived on the scene of the fire, Coonrod "was extremely intoxicated and in no condition to be providing care for the children. The house was on fire and the children were trapped inside."
During a preliminary hearing in Highland County Court March 15, Judge Robert Judkins "found probable cause to believe a crime had been committed," and the case was bound over for presentation to a Highland County grand jury. Coonrod appeared during the hearing with his attorney Richard Federle Jr.
Judge Judkins said, “This is one of the most tragic and grievous cases I have ever heard. These children are dead."
According to Chief Bradley George of the Paint Creek Joint Fire District, which responded to the fire, the investigation has been turned over the the state fire marshal, and the department cannot speak as to the suspected cause of the fire.
"We made entry without any issues," George said. "The first crew in found the kids. We were able to knock down the fire, and we turned the scene over to (the state fire marshal)."
The Lafayette Street fire occurred just over a month after the fire district responded to a fire at 421 Milburn Street in Greenfield, a residence in which Coonrod was the occupant.
"The (Feb. 1) fire appeared to have been caused by an unintentional human act," George said. "Basically when (that is the determination it means) there was no reason for that fire. There was no mechanical failure, no electrical. Somebody caused that fire, accidental or intentional. We can't rule out smoking, we can't rule out child's play, there was no sign of an accelerant. It didn't appear to be arson. We could not specify why the fire started."
When asked if the department would reopen its investigation into the Milburn Street incident following the Lafayette Street fire, George noted there is no statute of limitations on arson, but that, "unless other information comes up, there is no reason to go back on it."
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