Plea negotiations underway in Leipsic murder case

Oct. 28—OTTAWA — A resolution in the case of a Lima man charged with murder in the April 18 shooting death of a woman at a Leipsic trucking company could be close at hand.

Konner J. Dunklee, 26, Lima, appeared Monday in Putnam County Common Pleas Court for a pretrial hearing related to the death of 30-year-old Deshler resident Farrah Croninger. Police say Croninger died when Dunklee entered the Kitchen Enterprises Trucking Company in Leipsic with a gun and opened fire.

Putnam County Sheriff's Office deputies responded and found Croninger dead at the scene. Michael Kitchen, 54, was also injured during the shooting.

Dunklee was indicted on charges that include aggravated murder; murder, attempt to commit an offense; felonious assault; and assault. A plea of not guilty by reason of insanity was entered on his behalf, but a psychological evaluation earlier this month found Dunklee was competent to stand trial.

Putnam County Prosecutor Gary Lammers told Judge Keith Schierloh during Monday's hearing that negotiations have been taking place, and a potential resolution to the case has been discussed, "but we have not arrived at a conclusion at this time."

Following Monday's hearing, Lammers said his office will seek "the harshest possible penalty, which is life (in prison) without parole."

With a pending trial date of Dec. 12, Schierloh set a cut-off date for a change-of-plea decision on Nov. 27. Lammers said if no resolution is reached, a motion to postpone the trial until after the holidays will likely be filed, at the request of the victim's family.

Dunklee is being held in the Putnam County jail on $1 million bond. He is represented by Findlay attorney and public defender Drew Mihalik.

Featured Local Savings