Katrina Culberson

Parties

• Katrina Culberson (22) — Canton resident; pleaded guilty to aggravated murder, aggravated arson and kidnapping in connection with the death of Celeste Fronsman.
• Celeste Fronsman (29) — victim; found beaten and burned on a remote road in rural Muskingum County; died two days later.
• LaFonse Dixon Jr. (34) — Canton resident; sentenced to life in prison without parole on charges of aggravated murder, aggravated arson and kidnapping.
• Monica Washington (25) — Canton resident; pleaded guilty to murder, kidnapping and arson in March and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years; testified against Dixon.
• Marie Rickmann (7-year-old at the time) — witness and caregiver figure; described Culberson as a child she had custody of for nine months.
• Robert Saloiye — Rickmann’s father; described as “grandpa” by Culberson in Rickmann’s account.
• Brady Hittle — detective with the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Department.
• Todd Mahle — Muskingum detective.
• Mark Bretz — Newark man who saw Fronsman on the road and called 911.
• Bryan McWilliams — Canton officer who shadowed the detectives and assisted them with finding witnesses and other work.
• Bruce Lawver — Police Chief of Canton.
• Michael Haddox — Muskingum County Prosecutor since 1999.
• Ron Welch — assistant Muskingum County prosecutor.
• Greg Meyers — attorney of Katrina Culberson.
• Kelly Cottrill — Muskingum County Common Pleas Judge.

Timeline

• Aug. 26, 2012 — Celeste Fronsman (29) was found on a remote stretch of road in rural Muskingum County after being beaten and set on fire; she later died two days later.
• September 2012 — Katrina Culberson (22 at sentencing) signed a plea agreement with death penalty removed from her charges.
• March — Monica Washington pleaded guilty to murder, kidnapping and arson.
• late October — LaFonse Dixon Jr. was convicted of aggravated murder, kidnapping and aggravated arson.
• November 6, 2013 — Katrina Culberson was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
• November 7, 2013 — Monica Washington had previously been sentenced Monday to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years; Katrina Culberson’s life sentence without parole was discussed in a separate report.
• November 9, 2013 — Muskingum County investigators described how they traced the case back to Canton.

Background

The Celeste Fronsman murder was described as the highest profile case in Muskingum County in more than 15 years. Muskingum County received statewide media attention previously when, in October 2011, a man released dozens of exotic animals from cages on his private reserve in the Zanesville area before committing suicide; authorities killed more than 40 animals including black bears, Bengal tigers and African lions citing public safety.

The offence

Celeste Fronsman was beaten and burned in rural Muskingum County and was found on a remote road. Her injuries included burns on 70 percent of her body. A strap was described as around her neck; she had been raped and burned, and the homicide was ruled by the Franklin County coroner as a homicide, with exact cause of death to be determined after four to six weeks due to the extent of burns.

At Dixon’s trial, it was testified that Katrina Culberson gave names including Dixon and Washington. At the scene, Fronsman later provided names of those who left her there before she died two days later. A man who helped her scribbled down one of the names for law enforcement.

The crime was described as involving a false motive: Dixon suspected Fronsman of leaking information to Canton police that led to a drug raid. Haddox also described the case as involving gasoline; Fronsman was doused with gasoline after being beaten and then choked with a tow-strap on an early-morning ride from Canton to Muskingum County, and was set ablaze.

Investigation

After Fronsman was found, investigators were unable to interview her because she was put in a medically-induced coma due to her pain. She had given her own name and the last thing she said was her Social Security number. Detectives took the information to Canton and confirmed her identity; the burns made it difficult, and a record of a tattoo helped.

Brady Hittle described that Fronsman had walked or crawled—maybe both—1,487 feet out of brush and weeds to state Route 208. Despite burns on 70 percent of her body, she found enough strength to utter the names of those who left her there. Mark Bretz testified that at about 8:30 a.m. he saw Fronsman moaning and wailing and she threw herself on the hood of his vehicle; he called 911.

Investigators traced the case back to Canton and worked there. It was stated that detectives were in Canton by 4. Canton neighborhoods referenced included the Newton Zone and Shorb Avenue NW. It was also stated that the case could not have been solved as quickly and as effectively without help from the Canton Police Department. The detectives lived in Canton, and Hittle and Todd Mahle spent about four weeks in Canton and returned periodically to check on witnesses and continue the investigation. Police Chief Bruce Lawver said the department was happy to assist and described the outcome as appropriate.

Travel time between Canton and Muskingum County was described as a logistical challenge. It was stated that in at least one case, a detective drove a witness from Canton and back, and hotel expenses were covered for about six Canton witnesses. Law enforcement was posted outside some hotel rooms. Some witnesses showed up drunk, high or belligerent and were not put on the witness stand.

Ron Welch said there was “no easy way to get to that location.” It turned out that Culberson had visited the area when she was younger.

Arrest and charges

Katrina Marie Culberson was arrested in the death of Celeste Fronsman. Charges of aggravated murder, kidnapping and aggravated arson were filed Friday against 20-year-old Katrina Marie Culberson of Canton.

Trial

Katrina Culberson pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated murder, one count of aggravated arson and one count of kidnapping in connection with Fronsman’s death. Her plea agreement ruled out the death penalty.

It was described that she signed a plea agreement one month after Fronsman was discovered and after death penalty specifications were removed from her charges. The agreement was stated to stand only if she cooperated completely with law enforcement, including testifying against Dixon, taking a polygraph test, and not having any further contact with Washington, Dixon or anyone else who might be involved in the case. There remained the option that if the agreement was void at any time, prosecutors would return to the original indictment.

At the time of her sentencing appearance, Culberson was described as dressed in an orange jumpsuit with hands and feet chained; she sobbed before the judge entered the courtroom and apologized to Fronsman’s family and friends, saying:

“What I did was really horrible, and there’s nothing I can do to make it better,”
“I’m sorry.”

Sentencing

Katrina Culberson was sentenced to life in prison without parole on November 6, 2013.

At her sentencing, her attorney Greg Meyers asked for leniency and requested a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole after 41 years. Meyers said Culberson was raised under “terrible circumstances”—surrounded by drugs, prostitution—and that she had been impregnated when she was 14 by a 22-year-old. Meyers said:

“Her life was one of misery, of fracture,”
“She’s now 22. We ask that you consider giving her some hope”
“of one day being paroled.”

Judge Kelly Cottrill did not budge and stated:

“Ms. Culberson, you know what you did,”
“And you knew what you did the date you signed that plea agreement.”

Muskingum County Prosecutor Michael Haddox described that Culberson’s plea agreement likely saved her life, but that she would spend the rest of it in prison. Haddox had previously described his recommendation for Culberson as life in prison on the murder charge, 11 years—the maximum sentence—for the aggravated arson charge, and 11 years—the maximum sentence—for the kidnapping charge, with all should run consecutively.

Appeals

LaFonse Dixon Jr. was described as having plans to appeal.

Other details

What Fronsman said and what was done with it

Hittle said Fronsman uttered the names of those who left her there before she died two days later and that a man who helped her scribbled down one of the names for law enforcement. Hittle also described that if Fronsman had not made her way to the roadway, there was a chance she wouldn’t have been found unless a hunter came by that remote area and that they would have found bones. It was also said that law enforcement officials were not divulging details into how Fronsman arrived in Muskingum County.

Relationship descriptions and alleged abuse

Friends described Fronsman’s strength. Frank Vaughns and Howard Cammon said Fronsman may have been tortured and tormented but ultimately dragged herself from the spot they thought was her grave, reached the road, and “with God’s grace” told authorities who did this to her. Vaughns said:

“She drug herself from the spot they thought was going to be her grave, found the strength to make it to the road and with God's grace told authorities who did this to her,”
“Celeste got the last word.”

Vaughns and Cammon described Fronsman as being misunderstood and as a victim of a more dominant Culberson. Vaughns described Culberson as “pure evil.” Vaughns said:

“Celeste had a heart of gold. Did she have problems? Yes. But she wasn't a fighter,”
“She was a very misunderstood young woman who seemed to take the wrong advice from the wrong people.”

Cammon said Fronsman spent many days and nights at his home trying to stop using drugs or needing a place to rest, and he said “K.C. (as Culberson likes to be called)” was always after her and Fronsman would listen to her. Cammon said:

“But K.C. (as Culberson likes to be called) was always after her,”
“and we don't know why, but Celeste would listen to K.C.”

Vaughns said:

“K.C. even came to my house looking for Celeste the week they took Celeste,”
“She was running all over my house, screaming for Celeste. The woman wanted to control Celeste in every way, and Celeste thought they were friends.”

Vaughns also said Culberson abused Fronsman, including blackening her eyes, punching her, and threatening to kill her.

Childhood and custody account by Marie Rickmann

Marie Rickmann said Katrina Culberson was outgoing, intelligent and great with Rickmann’s children when she came into her life. Rickmann said Culberson would hang out at Rickmann’s house all day, calling Rickmann “mom” and Robert Saloiye “grandpa.” Rickmann said that when Culberson was 13, she gained custody for nine months after an incident involving Culberson’s mother, and Rickmann enrolled Culberson in school and got her involved in cheerleading and swimming in an effort to undo a neglectful childhood. Rickmann said:

“I think of Katrina as the child,”
“If you would have known her as a little girl, every single one of you would have fallen in love with this child.”
“It’s very hard to believe. We loved this child and tried to help her, but the people in Canton just relentlessly pursued her into prostitution.”

Rickmann said Rickmann was not a foster parent by trade and that Culberson was the only foster child she had. Rickmann said:

“It’s just, I loved Katrina. I wanted to help Katrina,”
“I loved Katrina. I wanted to help Katrina,”

Rickmann said that once Culberson moved in, the phone rang constantly with adults from Canton calling for Culberson and that “We got Katrina out of that situation,” but adults “just called constantly trying to meet up with her,” and that they “relentlessly pursued her into prostitution.” Rickmann said:

“We got Katrina out of that situation, and they just called constantly trying to meet up with her,”
“They relentlessly pursued her into prostitution.”

Rickmann said custody was regained by Culberson’s mother and that Rickmann lost touch with Culberson until Wednesday. Rickmann said that as Culberson was taken into custody on Wednesday, Culberson turned and said “I love you guys. I love you guys” to the group gathered on the benches behind her, and that she asked Rickmann to write her. Rickmann said:

“I don’t know what to say to her. It’s just a shock,”
“I always thought she’d be on the other side. I thought she’d end up a victim.”

Rickmann said the first time she had seen Culberson in years was heartbreaking and nearly impossible to reconcile the 22-year-old convicted killer with the 7-year-old girl she once knew.

Prosecutor’s statements after sentencing

After sentencing, Haddox said it was a relief to be done with the case and at the same time sad to think about how many lives were ruined. Haddox said:

“Even if you’re high, you make decisions”
“and you have to live with your decisions.”

Haddox also said:

“At the end of the day, (Culberson) is the one that poured the gasoline, and she’s the one that lit it. ... When you look at the victim whose life was wiped away ... how can you say that life without parole is a heavy sentence?”

Detailed sentencing recommendations for other charges mentioned

A Muskingum County Prosecutor recommendation for sentencing for Culberson included life in prison on the murder charge, 11 years—the maximum sentence—for aggravated arson, and 11 years—the maximum sentence—for kidnapping, with all consecutive. The recommendation and options were discussed in relation to Judge Cottrill’s sentencing options, including a possible life sentence with parole possible in 20, 25 or 30 years.