Barberton murders: GPS credited in charging Michael Hendon, Eric Hendon for slaying Ashley Carpenter, David Kohler, John Kohler
Two Ohio men were charged with a robbery and shooting that left three dead were held on $10 million bonds in court Thursday morning after police confirm that GPS puts the suspects at the crime scene.
Michael Deon Hendon, age 22, and his older brother Eric Donta Hendon, age 30, face three counts of aggravated murder each after police say the two went to a home to rob the residents of drugs and money on New Year’s Eve.
The result was Ashley Carpenter, age 18, and David Carpenter Kohler, age 14, were shot dead in the robbery. John Kohler, age 42, the stepfather and father was pronounced dead on Friday.
John Kohler’s girlfriend Ronda Blankenship was also shot.
Barberton police Detective Lt. Brian Jamison wrote in the Jan. 2 affidavit that the department’s focus on Hendon, a paroled violent sex offender living in Akron, began soon after news accounts of the vicious home invasion slaying caught the attention of an Oriana House GPS monitoring program manager.
The men pleaded not guilty Wednesday during a brief hearing in Barberton Municipal Court.