Morgan Myers, a 20-year-old male from Clermont County, was known by his family as the ultimate big brother. The oldest of ten siblings, he was remembered by his parents, Casey Lay and Jason Myers, as a goofy young man with a big, beautiful smile who could brighten up any room. He was described as having the biggest heart, someone who loved his family more than anything and would literally give the shirt off his back to a person in need.
On the night of June 9, 2025, that life came to a
violent end. Around 10:35 p.m., Springfield Township police were dispatched to the 11000 block of Brookway Drive for a report of a person shot inside a vehicle. Officers found Morgan in the driver's seat, unconscious and unresponsive with a gunshot wound. Medics rushed him to Mercy Fairfield Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His parents later learned he had been left in the car for an hour before he was found.
For over a month, Morgan’s family pleaded for anyone with information to come forward as police investigated. Detectives eventually determined that the shooting occurred during an arranged drug transaction involving Morgan and two teenagers. In July 2025, police arrested two 16-year-old males, one from Cheviot and the other from Springfield Township. Prosecutors charged both teens with aggravated murder and aggravated robbery in connection with Morgan's death.
The cases against the two teenagers were resolved through plea agreements in juvenile court. One teen pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and received the maximum juvenile sentence, ordering him to remain in a detention facility until he turns 21. The other teen pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and was sentenced to serve one year in a juvenile correction facility.
Morgan’s parents expressed devastation and outrage over the sentences, which they felt were far too lenient. They stated that for months, they had believed the teens would be tried as adults and that the plea deals were a failure of the justice system. In the wake of her loss, Morgan's mother founded a non-profit, Morgan Myers Legacy, to honor her son by performing good deeds for others in the community. The case was legally closed as of July 2026, when the family spoke out about the court's final decisions.
