A murder charge has been dropped against one of the three men accused in a 2024 Franklin Furnace shooting after a plea agreement reduced the case to attempted robbery—prompting a judge to order his release from jail.
Cayden Robertson, 24, pleaded guilty on January 5, 2026, to a single count of attempted robbery in Scioto County Common Pleas Court, formally resolving the charges against him stemming from a shooting that left 24-year-old Ronnie Rowe dead inside a bullet-riddled SUV on Disterdick Lane.
Under the terms of the plea deal, the original murder and manslaughter charges were dismissed. Mark Kuhn converted Robertson’s $100,000 cash bond to a recognizance bond and ordered his release from the Scioto County Jail.
Attempted robbery carries a maximum possible sentence of 36 months in prison and a $10,000 fine, with no mandatory minimum sentence.
Although the court ordered his release on the Ohio charges, Robertson remains listed on the jail roster. Court records show he also has an active probation violation case in Kentucky, stemming from a five-year probation sentence for wanton endangerment and criminal mischief. That matter could result in Robertson being returned to Kentucky for further court proceedings.
Charges Originally Filed
Robertson was one of three men indicted in connection with the November 2024 shooting. The original charges were:
- Jacub Tyler Carver, 26, Franklin Furnace: Murder, Voluntary Manslaughter, Involuntary Manslaughter
- Thomas McCall, 47, Ashland, Kentucky: Murder, Involuntary Manslaughter, Aggravated Robbery (two counts), Robbery
- Cayden Robertson, 24: Murder, Involuntary Manslaughter, Aggravated Robbery (two counts), Robbery
Robertson was found indigent early in the case and appointed counsel, initially entering a not-guilty plea before reaching the plea agreement.
Co-Defendants Still Headed Toward Trial
The two remaining defendants—Carver and McCall—are both scheduled for final pre-trial hearings on January 8.
Carver has filed notice with the court that he intends to claim self-defense if the case proceeds to trial.
Self-Defense Claim Filed by Carver
According to Carver’s court filing, the events that led to the shooting began when Ronnie Rowe and Thomas McCall allegedly entered Carver’s home under false pretenses. The filing claims both men were armed with handguns and held Carver at gunpoint.
Carver alleges that when he attempted to escape, he was beaten and left restrained inside the home. The defense argues those events directly preceded the confrontation that ended in gunfire.
What Investigators Allege Happened
According to the indictment, on November 15, 2024, Scioto County deputies responded to a 911 call shortly before 8 p.m. A witness reported being robbed at gunpoint while traveling with a pregnant woman.
When deputies and EMS arrived, they found Rowe dead in the driver’s seat of an SUV riddled with bullet holes. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted at the scene.
Investigators determined that Carver had been inside the vehicle with Rowe before fleeing on foot. Deputies later located him walking along U.S. 52 and took him into custody.
Prosecutors allege that McCall and Robertson acted as accomplices in an attempted robbery, and that as the group attempted to flee, Carver opened fire into the vehicle, fatally striking Rowe.
What Happens Next
With the Cayden Robertson case resolved through a plea agreement, attention now turns to the remaining defendants. The upcoming pre-trial hearings are expected to determine whether those cases proceed to trial or are resolved through additional plea negotiations.
