Neighbor who raped and killed girl, 9, after helping her build a snowman is given life sentence

12 Jun, 2014 by Tiffiny Ruegner

Print this article Font size -16+

While at work to provide for her family, the mother of 9 yr-old Reann Murphy, was unaware that her 24 yr-old neighbor, Jerrod Metsker, was raping and murdering her daughter just after building a snowman with her.

An Ohio man who raped and killed his nine-year-old neighbor was sentenced on Wednesday to life in prison without parole. Jerrod Metsker pleaded guilty to murdering Reann Murphy, whose body was found dumped in a trash can at the trailer park where they both lived. The nine-year-old had last been seen building a snowman with Metsker, just hours before she disappeared on December 14 last year. A plea deal was agreed with Metsker, who has a low IQ, after his victim’s parents said they did not want to pursue the death penalty.

Under the deal Metsker, who was described in court as a family friend, pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and rape. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole. The county sheriff’s office had said early in its investigation that Metsker had a ‘diminished mental capacity’ but declined to reveal further details of his condition. The 24-year-old had been the one to call 911 on the day Reann died, and had joined neighbors in the search for the missing girl.

One day later, Reann’s body was found in a dumpster at the Smithville trailer park where she lived. She had been sexually assaulted and strangled, most likely in Metsker’s trailer home which he shared with his mother, prosecutors said. Metsker often played outside with children who lived at the trailer park, and would build playhouses out of blankets, neighbors said.

He met Reann when she moved to the trailer park with her mother at the start of the school year. Reann’s mother had been at work on the Saturday that she went missing. She had left her daughter in the care of her live-in boyfriend. The nine-year-old had gone outside to play in the snow with other children in the trailer park, but when the others went home she was left alone with Metsker.

Relatives described Reann as a tomboy and said that she had loved to play outside.

Would you allow your child to play with a 24 yr old adult male? I wonder if the “live in boyfriend” was even aware that Reann walked outside.

Also,
Government Union Wants Duck Dynasty Fans in the Military, Fired !