Bond set at $500,000 for murder suspect
A bond was set at $500,000 for murder suspect Matthew Pierson during his arraignment Tuesday morning in Hillsboro Municipal Court.
The Honorable Judge David H. McKenna, on multiple occasions, asked the defendant if he understood the proceedings. Each time, Pierson responded, "Yes, sir."
Pierson entered the courtroom wearing a "suicide smock" as a precautionary measure, according to Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward.
The state, represented by Highland County Prosecuting Attorney Anneka Collins, had requested the $500,000 bond, stating the defendant had no ties to the community.
McKenna granted the request and announced that Hillsboro Attorney J.D. Wagoner had been appointed to represent Pierson.
A preliminary hearing was set for 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 23.
Relatives of Pierson were visibly sobbing in the courtroom.
Following the arraignment, Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward and Collins held a press conference at the Highland County Justice Center.
During the conference, Ward said the preliminary investigation shows the victim, a 5-year-old Belfast-area girl, died as a result of multiple blunt force trauma to the head and neck areas. Ward said the preliminary investigation indicates the murder weapon was a hand tool, a scythe, recovered at the scene.
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"We are still interviewing family members and individuals of interest and tracking the victim's last hours," Ward said. "We believe we have the murder weapon. We believe it took place Saturday evening inside the structure of the house or garage.
"Part of the investigation goes to who had care/custody of this child," Ward said. "Someone failed this child."
Matthew Kaleb Pierson, 18, was charged with murder in the Aug. 12 death of his 5-year-old niece at a Flat Run Road home in Jackson Township.
His last known address is the 897 Flat Run Road home where the victim's body was discovered Sunday.
A 38-year-old male who had been in custody has been released but remains a "person of interest" in the case, Ward said.
"It's evident that (the child's) death was the result of a criminal act," Ward said.
The case will be presented to the September grand jury, Collins said.