Kenneth Warrington, a 53-year-old resident of Lima, Ohio, was shot and killed on February 23, 2009. Warrington was found outside a home on East McKibben Street, having been shot six times in the early morning hours. The crime scene indicated a targeted attack rather than a robbery, as Warrington still had his personal items, including money. The suspect in the case, Markelus Carter, had a history involving a relationship conflict—Carter was reportedly upset over a romantic relationship that
Warrington had with Carter's ex-girlfriend, Sonya Burkholder.
The prosecution argued that the killing was premeditated, with evidence pointing to Carter's motive being his jealousy and frustration over the relationship between his ex-girlfriend and Warrington. The case included circumstantial evidence such as 9mm shell casings found at the crime scene that matched ammunition found in Carter's home. Additionally, a witness reported seeing a man in camouflage near the scene around the time of the shooting. The prosecution depicted Carter as a man whose inability to regain control over his ex-girlfriend's relationship led to this violent act.
In 2015, after a lengthy trial, Carter was convicted of aggravated murder with a firearm and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Carter, throughout the trial and after the sentencing, maintained his innocence, declaring that he was wrongfully convicted and vowing to continue seeking justice. The defense attorney also indicated intentions to appeal the conviction, pointing to procedural issues during the trial, such as a fight between Carter and a witness that was accidentally placed in the same holding cell.
