On November 21, 2023, Cheretta Frierson, a 35-year-old woman from Kent, Ohio, was tragically found dead in the basement of a residence on South Water Street. Authorities responded to a 911 call from a neighbor who reported hearing screams and gunfire. Upon arrival, they discovered Frierson deceased with multiple gunshot wounds. At the time of her death, she was believed to be approximately nine weeks pregnant and had recently moved back to Ohio from Arizona to stay with her sister.
Her two young children, aged four years and five months, were present during the incident but fortunately were unharmed.
Following the investigation, Dawan Rahman Wilson, a 44-year-old man from Arizona, was identified as the primary suspect in Frierson's murder. Wilson was apprehended in Texas in early January 2024 after fleeing Ohio shortly after the incident. He was extradited back to Ohio where he faced multiple charges, including aggravated murder and felony burglary. Evidence against him included DNA found at the crime scene and video footage from a neighbor's Ring doorbell camera. During his trial, Wilson maintained his innocence but was ultimately convicted on four counts of aggravated murder and one count related to the unlawful termination of Frierson's pregnancy.
In addition to Wilson, another individual named Michael Desawn Lollar is facing charges as an alleged accomplice in the crime. Lollar is accused of helping Wilson obtain a firearm and providing transportation before Wilson fled Ohio. His trial is scheduled for February 2024, as legal proceedings continue in connection with this tragic case.
