Father Was Murdered Leaving A Counseling Session In Front Of His Kids. Now, The Shooter Faces Life In Prison.
A man was gunned down outside a counseling center in front of his three kids. Now, the man who pulled the trigger will head to prison.
Recently, a federal jury in Ohio convicted Sterling H. Roberts, 38, of shooting and killing Robert Caldwell in August 2017. Federal prosecutors said Roberts was previously convicted of a felony and not allowed to have a gun.
Roberts faces up to life in prison and sentencing will be at a later date.
Around 6 p.m. on Aug. 15, 2017, Caldwell and his children left a counseling appointment in Riverside, Ohio, federal prosecutors said. While crossing the parking lot, Roberts shot the victim multiple times in front of his children.
Caldwell was pronounced dead at the scene.
Earlier the same months, Roberts pretended to be a customer in need of stonework and messaged Caldwell to lure him to a meeting, according to federal prosecutors. Roberts, who was armed, ambushed Caldwell, who fled and called 911.
Between the two events, Roberts fled to a relative in Tennessee. Another relative bought him a rifle in Kentucky before returning to Ohio. Three relatives were also charged in connection to the murder.
That rifle was the weapon used to murder Caldwell. The shooting was over a custody dispute involving the children.
- His Girlfriend’s Ex Went For Counseling. Minutes Later, He Shot Him Dead In Front Of His Kids.
- 'This could have been a massacre': Mom Gunned Down Holding Her Infant. Nine Other Children Were Almost Slaughtered.
- Child witnesses father get gunned down after an argument erupted over unpaid debt, authorities say
“These are very serious charges, there’s no doubt about that,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio Benjamin Glassman said after the arrests, according to the Dayton Daily News. “I commend the FBI and the local law enforcement agencies that have worked with the FBI to bring these defendants to trial.
“I think that rather than just get one person who pulled the trigger, every person who was in any way involved in the chain of events leading up to the murder have been charged."
At the arrest announcement, Caldwell’s sister, Katie Swift, noted there wasn’t much joy.
“This is definitely not a day we’ve been looking forward to. It’s definitely a lot of dread on our part. None of us really want to see him,” Swift said, according to the Daily News. “We don’t want to see the face of the man who pulled the trigger. But we aren’t here for Sterling. We’re here for Bobby.”
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