Man Indicted In Emily Rimel's Death
Bruce Could Face Death Penalty If Convicted
UPDATED: 7:05 pm EDT June 12, 2006
http://www.nbc4i.com/news/9358197/detail.html
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A Franklin County grand jury indicted a man on Monday in connection with the death of a 5-year-old girl.
Lindsay Bruce, who was already convicted in kidnapping Emily Rimel,
was charged with her murder, NBC 4's Holly Hollingsworth reported.
Bruce, 25, was indicted on four counts, including two counts of aggravated murder. He was also charged with murder and tampering with evidence, Hollingsworth reported.
Bruce could face the death penalty if he is convicted. He is already serving a 10 year sentence, the maximum sentence possible for the kidnapping charge, NBC 4 reported.
The indictment came a month after Rimel's remains were found in Big Walnut Creek in southern Franklin County. A woman who was fishing with her son found the child's skull.
DNA was taken from three of the five teeth in the skull. At the state's crime laboratory, the DNA was matched with the girl's DNA, along with the DNA from her mother and father, NBC 4 reported.
Police obtained Rimel's DNA from a winter coat, Burton reported.
Rimel was last seen inside her Madison Township home in December 2004. The 5-year-old girl disappeared from her home while Bruce, who was called a family friend, was visiting.
Detectives believed the girl died, but Bruce was not charged with her murder. Bruce was accused of raping her after Rimel's DNA was allegedly found on his genitalia, NBC 4 reported. A jury later found Bruce not guilty on the rape charge.
Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said he did not expect a plea agreement from Bruce, who could face the death penalty if convicted.
"He refused to do it then. He refused to do it thereafter," O'Brien said. "He refused to do it before the start of the rape and kidnapping trial. I would not expect there to be any attempt at pleas in this case."
Bruce, who is being housed at the Warren Correctional Institution in southwest Ohio, is scheduled to be arraigned on the murder charge later this week, Hollingsworth reported