Article from the Hamilton Journal News 09/06/2006

Foster parents of 3-year-old Marcus Fiesel indicted for murder

 

Authorities said couple faces life in prison if convicted

 

Staff Writer

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

The two foster parents charged in Hamilton County in the killing of 3-year-old Marcus Fiesel were indicted Wednesday morning in Clermont County on charges that could keep the couple in prison for life.

A Clermont County grand jury indicted Liz and David Carroll, Jr. on seven felony charges including, murder, involuntary manslaughter, kidnapping, felonious assault and three counts of endangering children. Additionally, David Carroll, Jr. was indicted on a gross abuse of a corpse charge for allegedly taking the dead body of little Marcus to a secluded chimney in rural Brown County where he burned it.

Extras

Clermont County Prosecutor Don White and Assistant Prosecutor Woody Breyer said the Carrolls may be arraigned Thursday in Clermont County Common Pleas Court where they will likely face a similar $10.1 million bond set in Hamilton County two weeks ago.

White said all charges the Carrolls face are serious, but the murder charge is the biggest.

"That's the primary charge in this case, and that is obviously the most important," White said.

Amy Baker, David Carroll's live-in girlfriend, has helped law enforcement officials with the case thus far and as a result has not faced any charges. Breyer said Baker's immunity is dependent on two key facts: that she inflicted no harm on Marcus, and that she remains honest with prosecutors.

"Amy Baker is the be-all, end-all to this case," Breyer. "The fact remains that if it weren't for Amy Baker, we wouldn't be where we are today."

Prosecutors stressed that they did not want to try the case in the media and would be guarded with statements from now to protect against tainting a potential jury pool.