Police: Mom endangered child in murder plot against ex-husband - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Police: Mom endangered child in murder plot against ex-husband

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A former Mark Center woman is facing aggravated murder charges linked to a case from a decade ago.

The Defiance County grand jury indicted Judith Hawkey, 45 in connection with the death of her ex-husband in 2003.

In a statement, Defiance County's Prosecuting Attorney says the fatal shooting was originally reported as an accident involving a 10-year-old boy, but is now an open murder investigation.

A six-count indictment has been filed against 45-year-old Judith Hawkey. Charges include aggravated murder, four counts of child endangering and insurance fraud.

On November 3, 2003 police say Robert Brieninger was found shot in the head inside a Kyle Street Home in Mark Center. At the time, the death was thought to be an accident involving a child.

Now investigators say new information indicates that Hawkey caused "An innocent or irresponsible person to commit the murder."

The statement goes on to say that Hawkey "tortured or cruelly abused that child during a three-year-period."

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