3 homicides require assistance

UPPER SANDUSKY — Wyandot County Prosecutor Eric Figlewicz motioned the courts to appoint a special prosecutor for the three pending homicide cases in the county's common pleas court. The motion, filed on March 14, was based on limited staffing in the prosecutor's office, including two attorneys. The motion states "the state believes it is in the best interests of justice to appoint the Ohio Attorney General to provide assistance" based on the complexities with the cases, such as the amount of evidence and preparation time for trial. The three pending cases date back to July 2022, including Melvin E. Nash in the murder of Daren B. High, Bethel M. Bekele in the January murder of Keris L. Riebel and Samuel W. Seabert in the February murder of Nathan Stroub. "The Wyandot County Prosecutor's Office will continue to work the case. The request for a special prosecutor is being made only in the interests of receiving assistance in prosecuting the case," court documents read. According to court documents, the request has been accepted by the Ohio Attorney General's Office and was granted by the Wyandot County Court of Common Pleas on Tuesday. On July 10, 2022, Nash allegedly shot Daren B. High, 53, of Carey. High was found in front of the 500 block of N. Vance St., Carey, with multiple gunshot wounds. He later died at Blanchard Valley Hospital. Nash was found by deputies in the 500 block of N. Vance St. with a handgun and a knife. He pleaded not guilty to six charges including felonious assault; a first-degree felony and four charges of improperly discharging a firearm; a second-degree felony. His pretrial was scheduled to begin on February 1. On Jan. 1, Bekele allegedly entered a Dollar Tree in the 1100 block of E. Wyandot Ave., Upper Sandusky, with a machete, and murdered Upper Sandusky resident Keris L. Riebel, 22. After the incident, he was found in front of the Wyandot County Sheriff's Office. Bekele pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to six charges, including felonious assault, a second-degree felony; aggravated murder, an unclassified felony; aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; two counts of murder, an unclassified felony and aggravated burglary, an unclassified felony. Bekele was ruled incompetent to stand trial at this time. On Feb. 11, Seabert allegedly shot Nathan A. Stroub, 42, of Carey, multiple times. Stroub was found deceased in the 100 block of Lindenwood Place. Seabert turned himself in ten minutes after the shooting. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to seven charges including two counts of aggravated murder, an unclassified felony; aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; two counts of murder, an unclassified felony; felonious assault, a second-degree felony and discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises, a first-degree felony. Seabert is awaiting an evaluation of his mental capacity.