Boyfriend charged in triple slaying of girlfriend, two children (Pendleton, Ohio)

Boyfriend MARK PICKENS has been indicted for three counts of murder in the slaying of his girlfriend, her infant son, and a child that the girlfriend had been babysitting. The girlfriend had accused him of rape, and it's believed that the murders were committed to keep her from testifying. Pickens is also charged with shooting (but not killing) the father of the infant son on an earlier date.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090804/NEWS0107/307300061/

Boyfriend charged in triple homicide
By Kimball Perry • kperry@enquirer.com • August 4, 2009

Mark Pickens could have happen to him what authorities say he did to three people – he could be executed.

Pickens, 19, was indicted today by a Hamilton County grand jury for three counts of murder, charges that carry the death penalty.

Pickens is accused of shooting three people – two of them children – in the head in a June 1 shooting in Pendleton.

Pickens is charged with killing his former girlfriend, Noelle Washington, 19; her 9-month-old child, Anthony Jones III; and 3-year-old Sha’Railyn Wright, who Washington was babysitting.

“It’s a level of violence that is grotesque in nature, something that we’ve never seen before,” Prosecutor Joe Deters said.

Washington accused Pickens of rape the day before.

“I think he did not want her to testify against him,” Deters said.

"This is one of the more horrific crimes that I think law enforcement has seen. I think it also shocked the community,” Deters said.

Pickens was indicted today for rape, three counts of aggravated murder, and two counts of being a felon with a weapon.

Pickens already is charged with felonious assault for shooting Anthony Jones, the father of the infant Pickens is accused of killing. He has been in the Hamilton County jail.

Deters believed had the public helped police after Jones was shot, Pickens would have been arrested then – and three people would not have been killed.

Pickens next is in court Aug. 12 to answer to the felonious assault charge