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Man charged with aggravated vehicular homicide following 13th OVI conviction

A Franklin County man was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide following a crash in October that killed his wife.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Franklin County man was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide following a crash in October that killed his wife.

Robert Ellis, 53, was indicted Monday on charges of two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and two counts of operating a vehicle under the influence for the crash that killed 51-year-old Dawn Ellis on Oct. 16.

Authorities say Ellis had a blood alcohol level of .185 — more than twice the legal limit.

He was arrested Tuesday evening at his home.

“He was just at the back — he didn't have any emotion. Meanwhile, the victim, his wife, was in the truck, dead,” said Franklin County Sheriff, Dallas Baldwin.

Shortly after the crash, 10TV talked to Dawn's daughters, who described their mom as a caring woman who could make anyone smile.

“She was so funny. She was loving, she was caring. She would give you the shirt off her back,” said daughter Dee Dee Thacker.

Ellis has been previously convicted 12 times on OVI charges with a total of 36 past driving suspensions. His license was suspended the day of the crash.

“He wasn't supposed to be driving at all," Thacker said.

In 2016, Ellis pled guilty and was sentenced to three years in jail.

Baldwin said there was more than a six-year gap between some of Ellis' OVI's, so judges couldn't take all of his convictions into account while sentencing. He had been released from serving three years behind bars in Delaware County shortly before the October crash.

“Physically incarcerating him is about the only way we can ensure the safety of the motoring public,” said Franklin County Sheriff Chief Deputy Jim Gilbert.

If convicted on the most recent charges, Ellis could face a maximum of 26 years in prison.

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