St. Marys shooting case moves forward

WAPAKONETA - A Columbus-area woman charged in connection with a 2018 fatal shooting in St. Marys is tentatively set to go to trial April 27-May 1 in Auglaize County Common Pleas Court.

Syniqua Bell, 31, appeared in court on Tuesday with her defense attorney Isabella Dixon for a short pretrial hearing. Dixon said a trial date in April would likely give her enough time to prepare to defend Bell and would not conflict with her other cases.

Both Dixon and Auglaize County Assistant Prosecutor Josh Muhlenkamp estimated the trial would take about five days.

According to the common pleas court website, Bell has been scheduled for a final pretrial hearing at 11 a.m. Jan. 24 with her jury trial set for April 27-May 1.

In September, Bell pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and murder, both unspecified felonies; attempted aggravated murder and two counts of attempted murder, all first-degree felonies; two counts of felonious assault, a second-degree felony; and third-degree felony obstructing justice.

Bell was one of three suspects arrested and charged in connection with the April 2018 shooting at a condominium at 10988 State Route 364, St. Marys. At about 3:22 a.m. April 11, 2018, a male called 911 stating he had been shot, according to the Auglaize County Sheriff's Office. Deputies found two victims later identified as Dexter Lee Turner, 47, and Alim Amir Turner, 25, with gunshot wounds. The father and son were transported to hospitals by the St. Marys Rescue Squad.

Alim Amir Turner was transferred to Lima Memorial Health System while Dexter Lee Turner was taken to St. Rita's Medical Center, where he later died of his injuries.

Also arrested were Jacar Bitting, 27, and Keith T. Waddell Jr., 31, both also from the Columbus area. Bitting also had been scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing on Tuesday, but that hearing was continued. Waddell is scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing at 11 a.m. Nov. 26.