Suspect In Dayton-Area Woman’s Murder Apologizes

By Donna Willis
Web Content Coordinator
Published: January 7, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio—A Columbus man who is accused in the murder of a Dayton-area mother and the kidnapping of her 4-year-old son apologized Wednesday after appearing in court for an extradition hearing.

Charlie Myers faces 18 charges, including aggravated murder.

Authorities arrested 22-year-old Myers of Columbus on suspicion of aggravated murder Monday.

Myers told several reporters at the Montgomery County Jail that what happened was his fault and he apologized to the family.

Myers said it was the first time in his life he had a gun and he made a mistake. He made the comments as he was being led by sheriff’s deputies into the jail.

Watch the raw video of his apology in the video player above.

Officials announced Tuesday that Myers is charged with aggravated murder with underlying offenses, including two counts of aggravated robbery, four counts of kidnapping and one count each of gross sexual imposition, grand theft of a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property and having weapons while under disability.

The 4-year-old boy was found Friday at a rest stop off Interstate 70 by a traveling couple.

The boy told the couple his mom had been shot and the gunman left him there.

When police went to the boy’s Dayton-area home, they found 29-year-old Jennifer Nelson shot to death and her vehicle missing.

Franklin County deputies found what they believed was Nelson’s vehicle, a black Oldsmobile Alero, along West Broad Street near the Westland Flea Market Sunday. That was about 25 miles from the rest stop where the boy was found.

Detectives said the victim’s cell phone was used twice after her death and those calls were traced to Myers’ home at 70 McMillen Ave.
Myers and his two roommates were taken into questioning from Myers’ home Sunday night. 

Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer said Myers confessed to involvement in Jennifer’s murder but wouldn’t say to what extent.

The motive in the murder remained unclear.

The sheriff’s office said Myers was the one who dropped off 4-year-old William at the rest stop.

Authorities think Myers became involved after Jennifer’s car was stolen out of an OSU parking garage on Dec. 17 while she was at a concert. An ID and house keys were inside the vehicle at the time.

All charges include mandatory three-year firearm specifications, and a panel of prosecutors will convene in the near future to discuss whether death penalty specifications should be added to the charges against Myers for the Montgomery County grand jury’s consideration.

Stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for additional information.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail us at .
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News

NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video