Left inset: Eric Ward (Franklin County Clerk of Courts). Right inset: Allyson Lorenz (Ohio Attorney General). Background: The 1800 block of Bashan Drive in Columbus, Ohio, where Eric Ward killed and dismembered Allyson Lorenz in 2021 (Google Maps).
An Ohio man was convicted this week of aggravated murder and gross abuse of a corpse, among other charges, after he “mercilessly beat” and killed a woman over a span of three days, then dismembered her body with an ax and “shears,” according to prosecutors.
Eric Ward, 36, was found guilty on Monday following a trial in Franklin County for the 2021 death of 32-year-old Allyson Lorenz, whom he killed using a “wet wash cloth,” according to court documents.
Prosecutors said Ward “brutally beat” Lorenz, whom he was “romantically involved with,” at a residence and then put the cloth over her mouth while she suffered from “agonal breathing” caused by Ward throwing her to the ground and pummeling her. Another woman, who testified against Ward and is named Heather Baker, helped him dismember Lorenz”s body after being beaten and attacked herself.
“From September 25, 2021 to September 27, 2021, defendant mercilessly beat Ms. Lorenz in her own home until she succumbed to her injuries,” prosecutors said in a November 2023 filing.
“In order to dispose of the evidence of his actions, defendant decided to dismember Ms. Lorenz’s body and dispose of the remains,” the filing recounted. “He took Ms. Baker to a hardware store to purchase an ax, shears, and cleaning supplies. Heather Baker purchased a storage unit at the U-Haul storage facility located at 2189 Eakin Road, Columbus, Ohio.”
Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.
Authorities said they learned of Ward’s actions while investigating him for selling drugs, with a related search of a home he used and the discovery of a storage unit receipt leading cops to Lorenz’s body and the supplies used to dismember her. Ward “exercised control” over the woman through physical and mental abuse and “controlled access to narcotics,” according to prosecutors.
“Upon speaking with residents of the area, detectives obtained information that a male and female hauled away several black plastic bags from the house the day before,” the 2023 filing said, noting how Ward and the other woman were both identified.
Ward and Baker are said to have conducted “numerous” web searches regarding DNA evidence and blood after Lorenz’s death.
“Defendant and Baker then drove to a home department store and purchased a Kobalt ax and Corona shears,” the prosecutors said.
Police discovered Lorenz’s body on Sept. 29, 2021, inside of a garage at the home out of which Ward was reportedly selling drugs. The officers were investigating her involvement with his suspected drug activity.
“Detectives observed the plastic on the walls and the dismembered corpse,” prosecutors said in a May 2023 filing. “Alongside her dismember[ed] corpse was a Blue Kobalt ax and Corona shears.”
Ward’s conviction marks the end of the second trial he was given for Lorenz’s death after a juror reported being threatened by someone over the case during his first trial, which began on July 14, according to The Columbus Dispatch. Baker pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse.
