COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Ashley Fagan, facing multiple charges including murder and involuntary manslaughter, pleaded not guilty to all counts Friday in the death of her daughter, 6-year-old Eva Bretz.
Fagan, who was indicted Wednesday, is being held without bond. Her charges also include obstructing justice, permitting child abuse, and endangering children.
Darcy Bretz, the grandmother of the deceased child, attended the hearing but left without speaking to the media. She expressed her desire for justice, saying how she was planning a future for her grandchild, and now that future is gone.
Fagan’s attorney was present, though her family did not appear to attend the hearing. Chad Bretz, the father, was absent, but Darcy mentioned he has two other children, with the youngest currently in state care.
The case remains under investigation as authorities await the results of the child’s autopsy. If convicted, Fagan faces significant prison time with murder charges carrying a sentence of 15 years to life.
Eva, a kindergarten student at Finland Elementary School, loved to sing, play the guitar, and go swimming, her grandmother said. However, on April 13, Columbus police responded to a 911 call about an unresponsive child at a home on Migration Lane in Northland. Eva was rushed to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where detectives reported she had suffered life-threatening injuries, including a severed liver, marks around her neck, and bruising, among others.
Detectives allege Fagan made false statements regarding the circumstances of her daughter’s injuries.
Fagan’s boyfriend, 24-year-old Blake Hutchinson, also was charged with murder and endangering children. However, when Knox County SWAT attempted to arrest him in Centerburg, Hutchinson took his own life after being approached by detectives.
Franklin County Children Services said it has been involved with Eva and her family since she was born in 2019, initially due to a positive drug test. A second case was opened in late 2020 for suspected neglect and abuse, but both cases were closed when investigators believed the child was safe after meeting with the family. Children’s Services also reported having an open case involving one of Eva’s siblings at the time of her death. Officials said services were provided to the family, but they were not successful.
In a statement to ABC 6 News about Eva’s death, a spokesperson for Franklin County Children’s Services said, “Our focus is on keeping Eva’s siblings safer, mourning this young life lost and helping police and prosecutors hold the perpetrators accountable for this horrendous crime.”
The child’s death is part of a disturbing trend ABC 6 News has been tracking for more than a year, involving young children trapped in dangerous situations at home while their families are under investigation by FCCS. In just over a year, ABC 6 News has covered four other cases where children have died allegedly at the hands of their parents, with FCCS having been involved in some capacity throughout the child’s life.
