UPPER SANDUSKY—Bethel Bekele, 27, of Upper Sandusky, made his initial appearance in the Wyandot County Municipal Court Tuesday.
Bekele is charged with one count of murder, an unclassified felony punishable with up to life in prison.
Bekele is charged with the New Year’s Day death of Keris Dilgard Riebel. Riebel was working as a cashier at the Dollar Tree Store in Upper Sandusky. A 2019 graduate of Wynford High School, Riebel was married last October. She recently earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources.
According to the 911 call, Bekele walked into the store and struck Riebel in the back of the head with a machete. According to the caller, Riebel fell to the floor. Customers ran out of the store and called 911.
Wyandot County Municipal Court Judge James Ruhlen presided over the arraignment.
After Judge Ruhlen read the charges levied against Bekele, he asked Bekele if he understood the charges.
Bekele affirmed he understood and immediately asked for a court-appointed attorney.
Ruhlen explained to Bekele about his rights to an attorney and began an examination under oath to determine his indigence.
Under oath, Bekele told the court that he had worked two jobs recently but was now unemployed. He told the court he worked at Bob Evans and another (inaudible) part-time job. He leases a car and does not have other assets. He testified that he had $1300.00 in his checking account.
Based on his testimony, Judge Ruhlen found Bekele indigent and appointed attorney William Kluge to represent him.
Wyandot County Prosecutor Eric Figlewicz asked the Bekele be held without bail until a bond hearing could be set. Figlewicz told the court that Bekele is a substantial risk to the community:
“The State’s main and most vehement assertion is that the defendant be detained until a bond hearing is set. If the court is inclined to set bail at this time, the State would request a cash surety bond of not less than six million dollars with conditions.”
A few of those conditions included the surrender of his passport, a waiver of extradition, and a curfew.
Figlewicz told the court that Bekele had no strong ties to Upper Sandusky and had only lived there a short time. Bekele has family ties to North Carolina.
Figlewicz told the court that there is strong evidence against Bekele, including interviews with law enforcement, eyewitnesses, and surveillance footage.
There is no apparent relationship between the victim and Bekele. The attack was random and unprovoked, making Bekele even more of a danger to the general public, according to Figlewicz .
The victim’s family was represented in court by victim advocate Marnie Hahn. Hahn asked that a no-contact order be placed against Bekele to protect the victim’s family.
Judge Ruhlen asked Bekele if he wanted to make a comment regarding bail. He declined.
Ruhlen ordered Bekele to be detained until a bond hearing can be set in the near future.
A Preliminary Hearing is set for January 11 at 2 PM.
A Recording of the 911 call was released to Crawford County Now by Police Chief Lucas. The material in the call is disturbing and may not be suitable for some listeners.
Crawford County Now will continue to cover this developing news story.