19 Action News
November 21, 2014
Two brothers accused in the New Year’s Eve triple murder of a family in Barberton are negotiating a plea deal with prosecutors to avoid the death penalty.
Michael and Eric Hendon both appeared in court on Monday in Akron. The pair is accused of shooting and killing John Kohler and his two children, Ashley and David, in their Barberton home.
Ronda Blankenship, who survived the shooting, was also in the courtroom.
Defense lawyers and the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office tried to hammer out a deal, but after three hours of negotiations, no agreement was reached.
The plea deal could include life in prison with no chance of parole for the shooter, and maybe a life sentence with a possibility of parole for the other.
The prosecution received a confession from one of the brothers earlier in the case.
The Hendons are due back in court next week for an update on a possible plea agreement.