MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Grand Jury indicted David R. Scott, Jr., 38, Mount Vernon, on murder and felonious assault charges Monday in connection with the death of 4-year-old Kendrick Breece, on Aug. 12.
According to Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher, Scott also faces endangering children charges that he allegedly physically abused Kendrick and Kendrick’s 18-month-old sibling causing the children serious physical harm. Additional endangering children charges accuse Scott of administering excessive corporal punishment upon Kendrick’s 6- and 8- year old siblings creating a substantial risk of serious physical harm to the children.
Thatcher said Scott’s live-in girlfriend and Breece’s mother, Tabitha M. Raver, 27, Mount Vernon, was also indicted on endangering children charges accusing her of creating a substantial risk to Kendrick’s safety and the safety of his 18-month-old sibling resulting in serious physical harm to the children. Additionally, Raver is accused of administering excessive corporal punishment upon Kendrick’s 6- and 8-year-old siblings creating a substantial risk of serious physical harm to the children.
Raver and Scott have been incarcerated in the Knox County Jail since Aug. 15, when the investigation into Kendrick’s death started. Detective Craig Feeney, Mount Vernon Police Department, and Detective Tom Bumpus, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, completed the investigation.
Six indictments were returned against individuals accused of trafficking heroin and other drugs in Fredericktown. Curtis W. Hull, 29, Mount Vernon, faces two trafficking in heroin charges for offering to sell heroin to a confidential informant working for the Fredericktown Police Department on May 21 and July 18. Jodiah L. Berger, 31, Fredericktown, is accused of trafficking in heroin on March 13, April 9 and 30. Justin A. Carruthers, 30, Fredericktown, is charged with trafficking in heroin, Hydrocodone and Oxycodone on March 22 and 28, and on April 4 and 9. Randolph F. McGregor, 29, Mount Vernon, allegedly sold heroin and Oxycodone on April 17 and May 29. Shaun J. Ward, 26, Fredericktown, was indicted for trafficking in heroin on June 5 and 19. Nathan C. Landis, 30, Mount Vernon, faces one aggravated trafficking in drugs charge accusing him of selling Oxycodone on April 30. Lieutenant Jay Sheffer and other FPD officers investigated the cases.
On Sept. 21, Douglas D. Lawhorn, 24, Mansfield, allegedly offered to sell heroin to a confidential informant in Mount Vernon. Lawhorn is accused of one count of trafficking in heroin. Feeney investigated the case.
The night of Sept. 27, Thomas P. Keeran, 24, Mount Gilead, was involved in a single vehicle crash on Springwater Drive, one mile south of Ohio 229. Keeran was arrested after he allegedly failed field sobriety tests administered by Trooper Paul Shore, Ohio State Highway Patrol. Thatcher said a concealed and loaded rifle and a concealed but unloaded 9 mm pistol were later found inside the passenger compartment of Keeran’s vehicle. The felony charges against Keeran include improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle and two counts of carrying a concealed weapon. Thatcher said Keeran was also charged with misdemeanors in the Mount Vernon Municipal Court including operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and domestic violence for an incident that occurred the same night.
Margaret A. Shaw, 19, Mount Vernon, allegedly stole a credit card and then used the card to make unauthorized charges on Aug. 26. Thatcher said Shaw is accused of theft, receiving stolen property and misuse of a credit card. Detective James DeChant, MVPD, investigated the case.
