GREENE COUNTY — An 18-year-old woman was brutally murdered with a railroad spike in Greene County 37 years ago, and the man convicted of her murder, David Lee Myers, is now awaiting a new trial out of jail.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
The case, which dates back to 1988, has resurfaced in the public eye as Myers, previously sentenced to death, was granted a new trial.
This decision has been met with controversy from the victim’s family, especially since Myers is not currently held in jail while awaiting the trial.
“A sense of peace, a sense of comfort, I guess the only thing that was stable,” Sarah Sparkman said, the victim’s daughter, reflecting on the original conviction.
TRENDING STORIES:
- ‘Harry Potter’ star spotted at Ohio amusement park
- Investigation continues after body found in cooler in Montgomery County
- Popular 1980s actor Loni Anderson of the hit TV series ‘WKRP in Cincinnati’ has died
Sarah Sparkman was only 8 months old when her mother, Amanda Jo Maher, was killed.
On the night of the murder, Maher had gone out with her boyfriend, who was later arrested after an incident at a bar.
Myers, who knew both Maher and her boyfriend, offered to take Maher home.
However, police found Maher dead by the railroad tracks with a spike in her head shortly after.
Myers was arrested after police found Maher’s wallet hidden under his car seat, and he reportedly confessed to the crime.
A jury found him guilty, and he was sentenced to death.
The Innocence Project played a significant role in securing a new trial for Myers, arguing that his DNA was not found on the railroad spike or a rock at the scene.
However, Sparkman and prosecutors argue that the conviction was based on overwhelming non-DNA evidence.
Sparkman expressed her frustration, noting that the absence of DNA evidence does not exonerate Myers, especially given the limited DNA technology available at the time of the original trial.
As the case awaits a new trial, it continues to stir emotions as the victim’s family seeks justice and closure after nearly four decades.
[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
©2025 Cox Media Group
