5 indicted for Fairfield murder

Due to a technical issue, an incorrect timestamp originally appeared with this article on the website. This article was first published on the website at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 6.

All five suspects in the Fairfield home invasion homicide have been indicted for murder.

A Butler County grand jury returned indictments for murder with gun specifications, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary against the five defendants, according to Prosecutor Mike Gmoser.

Three of the suspects were arrested within days of 19-year-old Julian Slaven’s death on Nov. 24. Two others turned themselves in to police. The grand jury returned indictments against Jerry Eacholes, 26 of Middletown — a former Baltimore Street Gang member — Misty Williams and Christia Frymire, both 19 of Fairfield; Joseph Goodin, 25, of Middletown; and Anthony Givens, 21 of Hamilton, who police believe is the brother of another Baltimore Street Gang member.

Julian Slaven, 19, was killed around 10:25 p.m. Nov. 24 when at least four people entered the home he shared with his mother in the 5800 block of Judy Drive and demanded money.

Police have not shared what role each of the five may have played in the incident that has been described as “a drug deal gone bad.”

The Baltimore Street Gang terrorized the citizens of Middletown until Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser successfully prosecuted and imprisoned the members on drug and other violent crimes, including murder. Police officials do not believe the gang is being reconstituted.

“Specific details concerning the facts and circumstances of these charges will not be released at this time, to afford the defendants due process of law concerning such information and will be released as provided by law,” Gmoser said Thursday.

If the defendants are found guilty, they face 15-years-to life on the murder charges with a three-year gun specification. The aggravated burglary and robbery charges each carry a maximum 11-year penalty. Eacholes and Goodin were also charged with having weapons under disability, which carries a possible 36-month prison term.

The victim’s mother, Tamera Slaven, has asked the media to respect her privacy, but she did comment when some of the suspects appeared Nov. 27 in Fairfield Municipal Court for arraignment.

“He didn’t deserve this. He would have given the shirt off his back,” she said tearfully in the courtroom.

A preliminary hearing was originally scheduled in municipal court for Thursday, with the indictments the hearing is unnecessary. The five will be arraigned Monday in Butler County Common Pleas Judge Patricia Oney’s court.

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