Detective testifies that Pierson admitted to causing child's death

Highland County Sheriff's Office Det. Randy Sanders was the lone witness to testify in a hearing Thursday morning for Matthew Kaleb Pierson in Hillsboro Municipal Court before Judge David McKenna.

During his testimony, Sanders told the court that Pierson, 18, admitted to causing the death of his 5-year-old niece at a Flat Run Road home in Jackson Township.

Sanders identified Pierson in the courtroom and said during an interview at the Highland County Justice Center, Pierson admitted to the crime and identified the weapon used.

Pierson was represented by Hillsboro attorney J.D. Wagoner. The state was represented by Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins and assistant prosecutor Molly Bolek.

Following Sanders' testimony, Wagoner requested that bond be reduced for his client.

Collins requested that bond remain at $500,000.

Judge McKenna ordered bond to remain at $500,000 with all previous conditions still in effect.

The case will now go before a Highland County grand jury.

As previously reported in The Highland County Press, the Highland County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 transfer call from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office from a female reporting an unresponsive child at 897 Flat Run Road in Jackson Township, near the Adams County/Highland County line on Aug. 12.

Sheriff’s deputies, along with the Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, were dispatched to the scene and arrived approximately 10 minutes later, where upon arrival they found a 5-year-old female in an attached garage of the residence deceased.

Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward stated that three adult males and one adult female, the victim's grandmother, were on the scene when deputies and EMS personnel arrived. A 38-year-old male and an 18-year-old male were initially taken into custody.

The 38-year-old male, who is the owner of the home was later released.

"It's evident (the child's death) was the result of a criminal act," Ward said.