Man charged with murder in stabbing, stolen cruiser crash that killed 2 girls

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

A man accused of stabbing his father and stealing a police cruiser that crashed into multiple vehicles, killing two girls and injuring 10 people, was indicted on two counts of murder.

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Raymond Walters also is facing 20 additional charges, including involuntary manslaughter, aggravated vehicular homicide, felonious assault, aggravated vehicular assault, robbery, failure to comply with the order/signal of a police officer, vehicular assault, grand theft of a motor vehicle and vandalism.

The Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office announced the indictment during a press conference Monday afternoon.

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Walters is facing a sentence of 15 years to life for each count of murder.

One of the charges are based on Walters being under the influence, said Prosecutor Mat Heck Jr.

He believes that the evidence will show that Walters was on drugs at the time.

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There is no evidence that Walters had any mental health issues that would cause him to behave accordingly, said Heck.

Walters is being held in jail on a $500,000 bond. He is scheduled to be in court Thursday.

On Aug. 26, Walters reportedly stabbed his father while they were in a pickup truck on Xenia Avenue in Dayton.

His father was taking him to a hospital for mental health treatment and when Walters found out, he stabbed his father multiple times, said Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl previously.

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Walters’ father got out the truck and Walters drove off, crashing into a tree minutes later on Airway Road in Riverside.

Riverside police responded to the crash, but were unaware of the stabbing, said Riverside Chief Frank Robinson.

When an officer got out of the cruiser to check on Walters, Walters slid into the front seat.

The officer used his Taser on Walters twice after Walters refused to get out of the cruiser, but during the second time only one of the prongs hit Walters, Robinson said.

Walters put the cruiser into reverse and drove away, heading toward downtown Dayton.

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He reached speeds over 100 mph and hit multiple vehicles while traveling 97 mph before crashing near the Dayton Metro Library on Third Street.

Three vehicles were involved in the crash, including the stolen cruiser and a van with seven children inside.

Two 6-year-old girls in the van, Penelope Jasko of Dayton and Eleanor McBride of Huber Heights, died at Dayton Children’s Hospital following the crash. They were cousins, according to the family’s priest.

Six of the seven children in the van were siblings, according to Dayton police.

Walters was taken into custody and taken to the hospital.

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The incident was less than a month after Walters was released from state prison following a robbery conviction.

On Monday, he was indicted on the following 22 charges in connection to the Aug. 26 incident:

  • murder — 2 counts
  • involuntary manslaughter — 2 counts
  • aggravated vehicular assault — 5 counts
  • felonious assault — 2 counts
  • vehicular assault — 3 counts
  • grand theft (motor vehicle) — 3 counts
  • failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer — 3 counts
  • robbery
  • vandalism
Raymond A. Walters  

Credit: MONTGOMERY COUNTY JAIL

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Credit: MONTGOMERY COUNTY JAIL

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