MOUNT LIBERTY — A man is dead after an apparent suicide encounter with law enforcement at the Heart of Ohio Bike Trail on Tuesday morning, according to a press release from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff detectives were assisting the Columbus Division of Police Homicide Unit in conducting surveillance on a residence believed to be concealing a suspect wanted on outstanding murder and felony child endangerment warrants.
The Columbus Division of Police identified the suspect as Blake Hutchinson, 24.
According to the release, several hours later, detectives saw Hutchinson exit the residence, enter the Heart of Ohio Bike Trail access, and walk eastbound.
Detectives approached Hutchinson, identified themselves as law enforcement, and told him to stop.
According to the release, Hutchinson produced a firearm from his jacket pocket and took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The release states the coroner processed and cleared the scene. The investigation is active and detectives are collecting additional information to assist the Columbus Homicide Unit.
According to a Columbus Police Department incident summary, CPD officers responded to the 4000 block of Migration Lane in Columbus on April 13 at 3:25 a.m. Police were called on a report of an unresponsive child.
The summary also states officers located the victim, Eva Bretz, 6, and began CPR. Bretz was transported in critical condition to a local hospital by Clinton Township Medic 61 personnel with significant internal and external injuries.
Bretz was pronounced deceased at 10:14 a.m. on April 13, the summary states. The death was determined to be homicide.
Also, according to the summary, warrants were filed against Bretz’s mother, Ashley Fagan, 32, and Fagan’s boyfriend, Hutchinson, for endangering children/child abuse and murder.
The summary states that on May 5, Fagan was arrested without incident on her warrants.