News
New Lex Man Gets 26 Years For Attempted Murder
By: Susan Tebben
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A New Lexington man will serve nearly 30 years in prison for the attempted murder of his ex-wife.
Frederick “Fritz” J. Craig, Jr., 53, was sentenced on Monday in Athens County Common Pleas Court to 26 years in prison on one count each of attempted murder, tampering with evidence and domestic violence; and two counts each of felonious assault, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary
Craig was charged after Glouster police were called to a domestic dispute incident on Oakdale Road on March 11. A neighbor had called police after hearing screaming, Glouster Mayor Miles Wolf told WOUB at the time of the incident.
When an officer went to the residence, a 46-year old woman was found lying on the floor with multiple stab wounds, “resulting in life threatening injuries,” Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn said in a press release on Tuesday.
She was transported to Trimble High School where she was picked up by MedFlight and flown to Grant Medical Center, according to previous WOUB reporting.
The knife that was used in the stabbing was not found in the house, but was later found hidden in a bag of dog food, according to the prosecutor’s office. Craig was found in the vicinity of the property and taken into custody.
Craig changed his plea to guilty on June 4 after being indicted on the charges.
The prosecutor asked for a 39-year sentence for Craig, and a defense attorney asked for an 11-year sentence.
Craig is being held at the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail, where he was being held on $125,000 bond.