A hearing was scheduled July 20 in Pratt’s court to determine the amount of damages the estate should receive.
The lawsuit was filed in February on behalf of Samantha Freels’ next of kin. It claims they suffered damages because of her death. The suit claimed Randy Freels “intentionally and willfully, and/or recklessly, and/or negligently caused the death.”
Samantha Freels died of a single gunshot wound. Her body was found in her car that went off Ohio 55 in Union Twp. during an afternoon snowstorm.
Randy Freels, 57, pleaded no contest and was found guilty May 31 of felony murder, felonious assault, tampering with evidence and two gun specifications in the death as part of a plea agreement in which a prison term of 18 years to life was recommended. He will be sentenced July 17.
At the plea hearing, county Prosecutor Tony Kendall told Pratt that Randy Freels shot his wife in her car after she stopped to help when his truck went off the road during the snowstorm. Randy Freels then tossed his handgun in a nearby creek, and the handgun was found by detectives in the creek days later, Kendall said.
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