Arrest made in slaying

The victim knew the man who is charged in her slaying.
By JEANNE STARMACK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- A neighbor of a woman found dead in a fire at her apartment Friday is charged with her death.
Gregg A. Jenkins, 31, who lives at the Compass West apartment complex in a building next to victim Robin Kellar's, was arraigned in Mahoning County Court here Monday.
Jenkins faces a first-degree felony murder charge, which upon conviction carries a possible sentence of 15 years to life. The court set his bond at 1 million. He remained in the Mahoning County jail after his arraignment.
Either his case will be directly presented to a county grand jury or he will be in county court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing, said Austintown Police Chief Bob Gavalier.
The county courts do not try felony cases. After a preliminary hearing, Jenkins' case would be bound over to the common pleas court.
Kellar, 45, was found dead in a back bedroom Friday morning. The fire, called in at 8:46 a.m., had been confined to her master bedroom in the front of the two-story eight-plex.
When she was found, Kellar had blood on her face and head.
Gavalier said after the arraignment that police think there was an altercation at the apartment between Kellar and Jenkins, who knew each other. He said a weapon was found, but he would not elaborate.
Police and the township fire department do not yet know the cause of the fire, and Jenkins is not charged with starting it. The state fire marshal is investigating.
Police statement
According to police, in a statement given Friday, Jenkins cried as he said that he'd known Kellar for three years and that she was like a mother to him. Police say he told them she would do anything for him, including giving him money.
He said that he'd last seen Kellar on Wednesday and that he'd gone to her apartment Friday morning and knocked on her door, but had gotten no response. He also said he tried to call her, but got no answer, according to police.
Jenkins lives in his apartment with his girlfriend and child and told police he watches the child while his girlfriend works. He told the judge he was a construction worker; the police report says he works as a carnival worker.
Police arrested Jenkins on Monday. Gavalier said there was enough evidence for the county prosecutor to decide there was probable cause for the arrest.
He said Kellar had some injuries that weren't caused by the fire.
Gavalier said the victim's son, Joshua Kellar, 25, is happy that an arrest occurred so fast. He stayed either with his mother or his girlfriend, according to the police report.
starmack@vindy.com