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Man who confessed to Morrow County murders asks judge for death penalty

Brian Lee is charged with two counts of murder. Leann Kinder is charged with two counts of complicity to murder.

MORROW COUNTY, Ohio — The man charged in connection to two shooting deaths in Morrow County continued his request on Thursday to die for the crimes he says he committed.

Brian Lee, 39, appeared via video conference along with Leeann Kinder, 27, for their initial court hearings on Thursday. 

Lee has been charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Linda Vannatta and Brandon Petty. Kinder has been charged with two counts of complicity to murder.  

Sheriff John Hinton said the shootings happened on Monday around 4:25 a.m. in Harmony Township. Two other people were injured.

Law enforcement agencies from multiple counties searched for Lee on Monday until he was arrested in a backyard in Columbus Monday night.

Morrow County Municipal Court Judge Jenifer Murphy Burnaugh told Lee and Kinder they could not enter a plea on the charges Thursday as the cases will be moved to Morrow County Common Pleas Court.

The prosecution asked for a $1 million bond per count for Lee. Judge Burnaugh said Lee will be held without bond until that hearing.

Lee waived his right to counsel and to a preliminary hearing.

"I made a mistake, I protected myself, however I'm willing to pay for it, I'm willing to pay for it,” said Lee.

Morrow County Prosecutor Tom Smith called Lee’s request unusual, saying it may complicate the case if it goes to trial.  

In an exclusive interview with 10TV's Kevin Landers on Wednesday, Lee said he wants to die for his crimes and that the killings were in self-defense and that he was threatened.

Lee told 10TV he didn’t expect Brandon Petty to be at the home on the day of the shooting. Lee said Petty drew his gun on him and Lee shot him in return. He then said he killed Vannata, who he claimed also had a gun. 

Kinder declined to be interviewed by 10TV.

In court, Kinder asked for counsel and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for June 4.

Kinder was being held without bond but the judge granted the prosecution's request for a $250,000 bond on each count.  If Kinder posts bond, the judge ordered she not have contact with Lee.

Lee’s bond remains at $500,000, though he told the judge it should be higher in case someone tried to bail him out.

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