New Boston grandparents were arrested and charged with murder in the death of their five-year-old granddaughter. The girl lived with them at their Ohio Avenue residence after Scioto County Children Services placed her in their care.
The Crime
New Boston Police said they received a call from Southern Ohio Medical Center at 9:40 am on Wednesday morning. Medical personnel informed police that a little girl was brought to the emergency room to be treated for injuries.
The five-year-old’s condition was serious enough to prompt doctors to call for an air ambulance to take her to Columbus Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The child died at 10:47 pm on Wednesday night.
NBPD, along with the Scioto County Prosecutor’s Office, and Scioto County Sheriff’s Office Detective Jodie Conkel began an investigation.
According to NPBD, the victim girl sustained “multiple injuries and bruising about her body and head area.” Further, they said the injuries were “consistent with being physically abused and hurt.” Police said those injuries lead to the child’s death.
The Investigation
Detective Jodi Conkel from the Sheriff’s Office interviewed important witnesses on July 9. That information led to the arrest of two people:
- Richard Greene, 46, of New Boston
- Sonya Greene, 38, of New Boston
Mr. Greene was the child’s biological grandfather. Mrs. Greene was the girl’s step-grandmother. Police arrested the pair at 9:21 pm on Thursday. They were booked into the Scioto County Jail.
They are each charged with:
- Aggravated Murder
- Murder
- 3 counts of Felony Assault
- 3 counts of Endangering a Child
The pair are expected in Portsmouth Municipal Court Friday morning
Placed By CPS
The five-year-old victim and her brothers, aged 7 and 3, lived with the Greenes.
Scioto County Children Services placed the siblings into foster care with their grandparents in mid-May. Police offered no specifics as to why the children were originally placed into foster care.
Emotionally Affected
New Boston Police Chief Steve Goins posted an emotional statement about the arrest. He said he wanted citizens to know the people responsible for the horrific crime were behind bars. Goins also thanked everyone involved in the case.
“If it were not for the investigative efforts of Captain Robert Deerfield NBPD, County Prosecutor’s Investigators Jim Charles and Carl Compton, and Detective Jodi Conkel this case would have not been solved quickly.”
He praised the medical staff at SOMC and Nationwide Children’s Hospital for their efforts to save the little girl.
“I cannot think of a more horrific crime to be committed than the killing of an innocent Five-year-old child. I believe this has emotionally affected everyone involved in this case.”
No Comment For Now
Cheif Goins said that Scioto County Prosecutor Shane Tieman will make all future statements and releases about The progress of the case.
Tieman makes it a policy not to comment on ongoing investigations. He explained that policy in a statement on July 8, “Not only is it a policy, it is an ethical duty not to discuss details of such with the media. Such speech before a trial takes place could taint potential jurors and thereby undermine the integrity of the judicial system.
While I understand the outrage expressed by members of the community with respect to some very high profile matters, it is the prosecutor’s duty to seek justice through the court system and leave his or her talking to the courtroom.”