DaytonDailyNews.com

VANDALIA — Bond has been set at $5 million for Charlie W. Myers, the Columbus man accused of killing a Dayton woman and kidnapping her 4-year-old son, according to a court clerk.

Myers appeared via video from the Montgomery County Jail in front of Vandalia Municipal Court visiting Judge Mike Hemm at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 8. Hemm set a preliminary hearing for Myers at 4 p.m. on Jan. 16.

Myers faces 20 felony counts in the death of Jenny Nelson, 29, and the kidnapping of her 4-year-old son on Friday.

Myers is charged with eight counts of aggravated murder, four counts of kidnapping, and two counts each of aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary.

He also faces one count of gross sexual imposition, grand theft auto, receiving stolen property and having weapons under disability.

Investigators said Myers, armed with a shotgun and sexual devices, drove on Jan. 2 from Columbus in the Nelson family's 1999 Honda Accord — stolen from an Ohio State University parking garage on Dec. 17 — kicked open the front door of the Nelson home on Redder Avenue, and tied up Jenny Nelson.

Myers intended to have sexual contact with her son, Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer said.

Nelson broke free from her restraints, grabbed a knife and stabbed Myers in the back, investigators said.

Myers then shot Nelson twice in the abdomen with his shotgun and fled in a car with the 4-year-old, two computers and Nelson's cell phone, investigators said.

Myers left the boy that night at a highway rest stop near the Madison and Clark County county line. The boy told authorities a man had shot his mother, and sheriff's deputies found Nelson dead in her home.

A celebration of life service for Nelson is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Newcomer Funeral Home, 4104 Needmore Road.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.