"Neighbor charged with killing Ohio girl, 9" Associated Press, December 16, 2013
SMITHVILLE, Ohio — A neighbor was charged with murder Sunday in the death of a 9-year-old Ohio girl whose body was found in a trash bin near her home, authorities said.
The Wayne County sheriff’s office said 24-year-old Jerrod Metsker was arrested at his home early Sunday afternoon.
Sheriff Travis Hutchinson would not say how Reann Murphy was killed or offer a motive. He described Metsker as a family friend and neighbor.
Reann was last seen Saturday night playing outdoors at the mobile home park where she lived in Smithville, about 30 miles southwest of Akron. Deputies found her body in a trash bin at 1:30 a.m. Sunday, about five hours after she was reported missing.
Metsker is scheduled to appear in court Monday morning.
Officers, firefighters, and neighbors had joined in the frantic search for Reann on Saturday night, going door-to-door in the park and combing area properties.
‘‘All she did was love people,’’ Reann’s father, Richard Murphy, told The Daily Record in Wooster. He said he wanted the ‘‘worst for the guy’’ who killed his daughter and declined to comment further.
Marilyn Briggs, who lives in a house next to the mobile home park, said she did not know Reann or her family but was shaken by the girl’s killing.
‘‘It sickens me and I'm so sad for the family, and this close to Christmas,’’ Briggs said. ‘‘It’s just awful. You never think something like that is going to happen in your area.’’
Briggs described the park as a bit run-down but generally safe, and said she was not aware of any serious crimes in the area in the eight years she has lived there.
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"Man arraigned in rape, slaying of Ohio girl" Associated Press, December 27, 2013
WOOSTER, Ohio — An Ohio man pleaded not guilty Thursday in the rape and strangulation of a 9-year-old girl whose body was found in a trash bin at the trailer park where they were neighbors.
One of Jerrod Metsker’s court-appointed attorneys entered the pleas for him in Wayne County court. Metsker, wearing a red jail outfit with his wrists handcuffed, appeared via video and did not speak during the brief hearing.
Metsker was the last person seen with 9-year-old Reann Murphy at their trailer park in Smithville, southwest of Akron, authorities said. A caller identifying himself as Metsker reported Reann missing in a 911 call.
Her body was found Dec. 15 after a frantic search by neighbors and law enforcement.
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