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MARIETTA - A Marietta man was indicted on murder and other charges relating to a recent home invasion in which two people were shot, one of whom later died as a result of his injuries.
Baxter L. Grimes, 50, was one of 20 defendants listed in indictments handed down by the Washington County Grand Jury on Thursday.
Grimes faces 20 counts related to the crime: aggravated murder and murder, both unclassified felonies with firearm specifications; two first-degree felony counts of aggravated burglary and one each of attempted aggravated murder with firearm specifications, attempted murder with firearm specifications and aggravated robbery; three second-degree felony counts of felonious assault with firearm specifications and one of burglary; five third-degree felony counts of tampering with evidence and one each of grand theft when the property is a firearm or dangerous ordnance and having weapons while under disability; one fourth-degree felony count of theft of drugs with firearm specifications; and one fifth-degree felony count of theft from a person in a protected class with firearm specifications.
Grimes was arrested Sunday after a reported home invasion in Grandview Township in which two elderly residents were shot. The victims were taken to a local hospital and stabilized before being transferred to a Columbus hospital, where one of them, 89-year-old Conrad Mace, died from his wounds.
At a hearing Wednesday before Washington County Common Pleas Court Judge John M. Halliday, Grimes was ordered to be held without bond, Washington County Prosecutor Joe Derkin said.
A pre-trial hearing is set for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 4.
Defense Attorney Jack A. Blakeslee, who is representing Grimes, said his client pleaded not guilty to the charges. He made a motion seeking leave to file a not guilty by reason of insanity plea at a later date, should he feel it was necessary.
Also indicted Thursday was Jordan Matthew Nichols, 36, 100 Skyvue Circle, Marietta, on six counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor or impaired person, all second-degree felonies. These charges allege that on Aug. 23 Nichols created or recorded videos or photos involving a minor.
The indictments against Nichols also include three counts of gross sexual imposition, all third-degree felonies, as well as three counts of grooming, all fifth-degree felonies. These charges state that from Aug. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025, Nicholas had sexual contact with three separate minors who were less than 13 years old. The indictments state that Nichols engaged in a pattern from June 1 to Aug. 23 with three separate minors in order to prepare said minors to engage in sexual activity.
Nichols was also charged with two counts of first-degree felony public indecency, the first from Jan. 1, 2025 to Aug. 23 of this year and the other from July 10.
The other indictments handed down Thursday include:
* Nicole Lynn Cline, 40, 1601 West St., Millfield, Ohio; possession of a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony, from August.
* Megan Shirley Ann Smith, 29, 27830 State Route 7, Marietta; escape, a third-degree felony, from August.
* Juan Carlos Weaver, 52, 904 Garfield Ave., Marietta; one count each of domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor, and strangulation, a third-degree felony, from July.
* Amanda Lynn Elliott, 46, 2100 Gillespie Run Road, Harrisville, W.Va.; one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a first-degree felony, from April. Elliott was also indicted in a separate case on one count aggravated possession of drugs and five counts of aggravated trafficking in drugs, all second-degree felonies, from March.
* Vincent Anthony O'Connor, 32, 272 Ridgewood Drive, Apt. G, Marietta; one count each of having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony, and aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, from April.
* Linda Elizabeth Slonaker, 43, 1208 Williamson Ave., New Matamoras; one count of trafficking in drugs, a fourth-degree felony, from January.
* Samaiya Edin Cramer, 23, 1308 Williamson Ave., Apt. B, New Matamoras; one count each of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, from April.
* Richard Chad Taylor, 35, 119 N. Hart St., Apt. 6, Marietta; one count each of having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony, and domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor, and two counts of aggravated menacing, both first-degree misdemeanors, from September.
* Devan Jacob Sunderman, 27, P.O. Box 63, Belmont, W.Va.; one count each of tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony, and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, from September.
* Cassandra Lynn Scott, 43, 113 Oakview Drive, Apt. 6, Marietta, and Sean M. Laughlin, 68, 5791 State Route 60, Marietta; were indicted on one count each of theft, a fifth-degree felony, and misdemeanor theft, a first-degree misdemeanor, from February.
* Kevin Robert Bartlett, 61, 1480 Brackenridge Road, Vincent; one count each of strangulation and domestic violence, both third-degree felonies, from August.
* Jessica Marie Biehl, 31, 28407 State Route 7, Marietta; aggravated possession of drug, a fifth-degree felony, from October 2025.
* Souwana Alexis Nachampasak, 25, 818 Kenyon St., Akron; aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, from May.
* Jeffery Shane Hutson Sr., 56, 124 Aqua Circle, Parkersburg; aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony, from March.
* Kharisma Dawn Colvin, 31, 211 1/2 Sixth St., Beverly; disrupting public services, a fourth-degree felony, from September.
* Adam Douglas Rose, 36, 2008 Driftwood St., Middletown, Ohio; one count grand theft of a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, from September.
* Braxton Lee Frye, 21, 1327 21st St., Vienna; one count each of felonious assault, a second-degree felony, and assault, a first-degree misdemeanor, from September.