Documents: Son worried Miami County man who killed wife would get in ‘gun battle’ with police

Although he denied leaving his home on the snowy January day that his wife, Samantha, was fatally shot, Randy Freels was seen by multiple witnesses and on a police cruiser cam at the crime scene, according to the Miami County Sheriff’s Office.

Before Miami County investigators determined his wife was not an accident victim but a murder victim, Freels fled the scene along Ohio 55 near Elleman Road and hitched a ride home with a passerby.

Once home, Freels dug into his collection of multiple firearms and was armed with two assault rifles and a shotgun when his son came inside, according to investigative reports in the death of Samantha Freels from Miami County Sheriff’s Office. Randy Freels was arrested peacefully later that night after Special Response Teams surrounded his house.

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The teams from the sheriff’s office and Troy Police Department were called after Freels told a son — who stopped by the house on nearby Rangeline Road before he knew of his mother’s death — that “the government was coming” to take his guns.

After the son arrived at the accident scene and learned of his mother’s death, police were told “he was very concerned that if law enforcement went to the home, a gun battle would ensue,” according to a case summary by Chief Deputy Steve Lord.

The investigative reports were released in a public records request following Randy Freels’ plea May 31 in his 52-year-old wife’s death.

Freels, 57, pleaded no contest to murder, felonious assault, tampering with evidence and two firearms specifications as part of a deal with prosecutors. Prosecutors agreed to recommend a sentence of 18 years to life in prison when he is sentenced July 17. Judge Jeannine Pratt, who found Freels guilty, is not bound by the recommendation.

Lord, who interviewed Freels shortly after his arrest, reported Freels repeatedly denied leaving his house the day his wife died. Evidence to the contrary was overwhelming, Lord said.

Freels’ truck was found off the road near where Samantha Freels and her car were found, also off the road in a creek area.

A nearby resident saw a man matching Freels’ description and a woman matching his wife’s helping him up the hill from the truck. Samantha Freels’ car was still on the road nearby. The same resident later told police the woman “was nervous and apologetic, indicating they’d get a tow truck to get the truck out.” Shortly after that woman arrived home nearby, she heard gunshots.

Another witness said he talked at the scene to a man he later identified from photos as Freels and gave him a ride to Rangeline Road. The man told the witness he was looking for his runaway dog when his truck when off the road, and he saw the car in the creek.

“He said he asked Freels if the lady in the car had been young or old. Freels told him he was unsure as if he did not know her,” the report said.

The witness and Freels were “caught on responding cruiser cams standing … near the crime scene,” the report said.

Another witness said a man he later identified as Freels was walking around the car in the creek, banging on the car with his hand and yelling, “Wake up lady,” while holding a brown bag and eating food. The witness, who said he was a former firefighter, said he couldn’t find a pulse for the victim inside and called 911.

Samantha Freels’ death was attributed to a gunshot wound to the torso. A .380 caliber bullet was recovered, and a .380 caliber Bersa semi-automatic handgun was found in the creek area. The gun was registered to Randy Freels.

Freels said during the police interview he was agitated when talking with his son earlier in the day because his wife was working.

“I was upset because she just keeps working and she just needs to stay home,” he was quoted as saying.

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