Jury Convicts Dillon Brewster Of Murder, Kidnapping, Firearm Possession, Persistent Felony Offender 1st Degree, And Sentences Him To Life In Prison
On April 14, 2023, at the conclusion of a week-long trial, a Kenton County jury took less than one hour to find Dillon Brewster guilty of Murder, Kidnapping, and Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon. During the sentencing portion of the trial, the same jury found Brewster guilty of being a First Degree Persistent Felony Offender and sentenced him to Life In Prison.
Brewster was originally arrested on October 20, 2021 after leading the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) on a high speed chase for over seven miles before Troopers used “stop sticks” to disable his vehicle near Troy, Ohio. Troopers discovered Brewster had his girlfriend’s 3 year old child strapped in the backseat, along with her wallet, keys, and cell phone. OSHP asked Kenton County Police to make contact with the child’s mother, Kameryn Recchia, at the residence they shared on Brewster Lane in Morning View, Kentucky, but officers got no response to knocks on the door.
While Recchia’s father drove to retrieve his grandson from the OSHP’s Piqua, Ohio post, her mother and step-father asked Kenton County Police to return to her home because they said she would never allow Brewster to take her child out of state and were concerned for her safety. Recchia’s step-father climbed in the double-wide home through an unlocked window and opened the door for police. Officers found Recchia dead on the kitchen floor, suffering from two gunshot wounds to the head.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Emily Arnzen called 15 witnesses and presented over 135 pieces of evidence during the weeklong trial. OSHP Troopers testified about the high speed chase and told jurors Brewster said his girlfriend knew he had her child and she was “back in Kentucky.” In-car video showed Brewster giving the troopers his home phone number so they could call Recchia but never told them she was dead. The troopers also located a .22 rifle on the backseat floorboard along with a box of ammunition.
Jurors also heard testimony from Detective Nick Rhoden who interviewed Brewster at the Miami County Jail. The jury watched the recorded interview of Brewster telling the detective his girlfriend was still alive when he left. Once the detective confronted Brewster with the fact that Recchia was dead, Brewster ended the interview.
Crime scene investigators recovered one .22 round from a wall where it lodged after passing through Recchia’s face and neck. A second .22 round was recovered from Recchia’s body during autopsy. KY State Police Crime Lab analysts testified the shell casings recovered from the crime scene matched the .22 rifle found in Brewster’s possession. Kenton County Police Detective Brian Jones testified he analyzed Recchia’s cell phone and discovered texts indicating the couple had been feuding over money, drug use, and Brewster keeping Recchia’s child out until the middle of the night while she was at work. Jones said in one of her final texts to Brewster, Recchia stated she intended to leave him and find a new place to live.
At trial, Brewster’s attorneys claimed Recchia was conspiring with unidentified persons to steal property from Brewster to buy drugs. They also claimed Recchia was setting him up to be robbed on the night she died. Commonwealth’s Attorney Sanders argued to the court that, even if the defense’s claims were true, Recchia, who was unarmed, posed no physical threat to Brewster which would permit the use of deadly force against her. Sanders also told the jury the defense theory of the case did not explain the second shot to Recchia’s head. Sanders said blood stains on Recchia’s pants indicate she was on her knees when Brewster shot her the second time. “This wasn’t just a murder, it was an execution!” said Sanders.
Sanders said he was pleased the jury wasted no time in convicting Brewster. “The closing arguments lasted longer than deliberations,” Sanders said. “Obviously our law enforcement partners from Kenton County Police and Ohio State Highway Patrol built a very strong case for us to present and it showed,” said Sanders, who never made Brewster a plea offer.
After hearing additional testimony about Brewster’s four previous felony convictions in Kentucky and Ohio, the jury also convicted him of being a First Degree Persistent Felony Offender. The jury then recommended a sentence of Life In Prison. “Given the brutal nature of this murder, Dillon Brewster deserved a life sentence, and that’s before considering his record,” Sanders said. “His criminal history is just offensive!” he said.
Sanders said under Kentucky law, Brewster will “unfortunately be eligible for parole in 20 years” but added “Hopefully God and the parole board see to it that he dies in prison because that’s what he deserves!”
For additional information contact:
Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders
rsanders@prosecutors.ky.gov
(859) 292-6580
Posted on Saturday, April 15th, 2023 @ 1:08PM
Categories: Blog, Commonwealth's Commentary, Media/Press Releases, Press Room
