COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Morrow County man wanted for questioning in the death of two people in that county is behind bars on a $500,000 bond for unrelated crimes.
Brian Lee, 39, was arrested in a Columbus back yard on Monday for questioning in connection to deadly Morrow County shootings. He has since been charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Linda Vannatta and Brandon Petty.
Additionally, 27-year-old Leeann Kinder has been charged with two counts of complicity to murder.
Morrow County Sheriff John Hinton said the shootings happened on Monday around 4:25 a.m. in Harmony Township, and that they were looking for Lee to bring him in for questioning.
Later in the afternoon, Columbus police said Lee was believed to have stolen a car near East Woodrow Avenue and South High Street.
According to the Delaware County Prosecuting Office, Lee drove 120 miles per hour, at times without headlights and the wrong way down streets, in an attempt to avoid police prior to his arrest.
Police were able to locate him and arrest him in a back yard near Grasmere Avenue around 9 p.m. He was then put into the back of a cruiser.
The Delaware County Sheriff's Office said he was evaluated at the hospital before being booked into jail.
He is also charged with felony eluding police, as well as failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer and and receiving stolen property.
Several agencies were involved in the arrest including the Columbus Division of Police, Delaware County Sheriff's Office, Genoa Township Police Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The prosecutor said Lee also has an active warrant out of Franklin County from last year for felony assault and discharging a firearm. According to the prosecutor, Lee has a history of crimes that date back to 2002. They include burglary, theft, receiving stolen property, and breaking and entering.
Lee’s initial appearance Tuesday in Delaware County did not require him to enter a plea to the charge of fleeing from police.
That will take place at his arraignment on June 3 at 3 p.m.
Additional charges are pending.