Ohio man pleads not guilty to rape of 9-year-old neighbor
An Ohio man on Thursday pleaded not guilty to raping and strangling a neighbor’s 9-year-old daughter whose body was found in a trash bin at their trailer park.
Jerrod Metsker, 24, was the last person to see Reann Murphy, 9, at their trailer park in Smithville, about 30 miles southwest of Akron.
Metsker was seen building a snowman with the child on Dec. 14 and reported her missing, authorities said.
Metsker joined the search for the child, whose body was found in a trash bin at the trailer park on Dec. 15.
Metsker was arrested later that day and has been held in lieu of a $1-million bond on charges of aggravated murder, kidnapping and rape.
He could face the death penalty if convicted of the murder charge.
On Thursday, a court-appointed lawyer entered a not guilty plea to the charges.
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