Amanda Grace Stevens, a 5-month-old infant girl of Caucasian ethnicity, tragically died on November 19, 1995, at her home in Worthington, Columbus, Ohio. She was the daughter of Tracey and Brian Stevens, both employees at Bank One. Amanda's death was part of a horrific shooting spree carried out by Jerry Hessler, a former employee of the bank.
Jerry Hessler, 38, went on a shooting spree that began when he broke into the Stevens' home.
He fatally shot Amanda's parents, Tracey Stevens, 25, and Brian Stevens, 36, before turning the gun on Amanda. The couple's 7-year-old son managed to hide and was unharmed. Hessler's rampage did not stop there; he continued to another home, where he killed P. Thane Griffin, a retired president of Ohio United Way, and wounded several others.
Hessler was charged with three counts of aggravated murder and two counts of felonious assault. His motive was believed to be anger over being fired from Bank One's credit card division over a year earlier, following accusations of sexual harassment. The bank had offered Tracy Stevens extra security due to indications that someone was harassing her, but she declined initially. She later decided to contact the police, but tragically, this decision came too late.
The case drew significant media attention and led to a legal battle that culminated in Hessler's conviction. The tragic loss of Amanda Grace Stevens and her parents left a lasting impact on their family and the community, highlighting the devastating consequences of workplace harassment and violence.
