Man indicted in rape, strangling of 9-year-old girl

Associated Press

WOOSTER, Ohio

Authorities say an Ohio man has been indicted by a grand jury in the rape and strangulation of a 9-year-old girl whose body was found in a trash bin at the trailer park where they were neighbors.

Officials in Wayne County say the grand jury returned an indictment Friday against 24-year-old Jerrod Metsker in the death Dec. 14 of 9-year-old Reann Murphy. The grand jury charged him with aggravated murder, kidnapping and rape.

Authorities say the death penalty would be available as punishment if Metsker is convicted of murder.

Authorities say Metsker was the last person seen with Reann at the trailer park in Smithville, southwest of Akron. He is being held on $1 million bond. An attorney for Metsker previously said he couldn’t comment on the case.