An Ohio man was indicted on murder charges nearly six weeks after he claimed his 18-year-old girlfriend shot herself to death with a gun he brought into the home they shared with his family.
Haiden Babiuch was found shot to death on December 6, less than a week after her boyfriend, 20-year-old Ezekiel Ananias James, was released from jail after serving time for carrying a concealed weapon, tampering with evidence, and unlawful possession of dangerous ordnance, WTVG reported.
James was brought in for questioning and claimed that Babiuch shot herself, telling detectives she was worried he was going to leave her because she cheated on him while he was in jail. He admitted he brought the gun that killed Babiuch into the house but also said he didn’t know how she would have known it was there, a police report said.
He was released from custody while investigators continued their work.
The medical examiner, however, later determined that Babiuch’s death was a homicide and not a suicide, and James was indicted on Tuesday on one count of aggravated murder, two counts of murder, and one count of felonious assault.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Featured image: Haiden Babiuch/family handout and Ezekial Ananias James/Wood County jail]
