MARIETTA - A Florida man arrived in Marietta Wednesday afternoon to face a charge that he murdered his newborn daughter here in 2008.
Meanwhile, a judge has been appointed to hear the case of a second person charged in juvenile court in connection with the crime.
Landon C. Evans, 25, of Eustis, Fla., was brought into the Washington County Jail around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday. He was arrested Jan. 14 on a charge of first-degree murder and had been in custody in Lake County, Fla., since his arrest, following a pursuit that involved helicopters, bloodhounds and a half-mile chase on foot.
Evans fought extradition to Ohio. After the signing of a governor's warrant to return him to the Buckeye State, Washington County sheriff's Detective Mark Johnson and Marietta police Detective Troy Hawkins left for Florida on Monday. They picked Evans up early Wednesday morning and made the nearly 880-mile trip back to Marietta.
Police have said Evans fathered the child with an underage girl with whom he had been having a continuing sexual relationship. He allegedly assisted in the child's delivery at a Marietta motel in June 2008.
Officers believe the baby girl was suffocated with a pillow and her body burned in the Wayne National Forest.
The investigation began in December when the child's mother, who is now 18 and incarcerated at the Washington County Juvenile Center, reported the killing. Law enforcement officials have said she could also face charges.
Washington County Prosecutor Jim Schneider has said Evans could face the death penalty because of the age of the victim and the allegation that the crime was committed to cover up another crime - sex with a juvenile.
An initial local hearing had not been scheduled for Evans as of Wednesday evening.
A second person has been charged in Washington County Juvenile Court in connection with the incident, but Schneider has not identified that individual or said whether it is the child's mother.
The charge has also not been disclosed.
On Wednesday, Schneider said Morgan County Common Pleas Judge Dan Favreau has been appointed to hear that case because Washington County Juvenile/Probate Judge Timothy Williams has a conflict of interest.
Schneider said a representative from his office is scheduled to meet with Favreau about the case on April 2.
