The Case

Single mom juggles family, fun.

From Lima News Oct 1998.

At 3.30am. Sunday, June 29th, 1986, Hope Collins had little reason to worry as she headed west on Sycamore Street in the burgundy hot-rod. It wasn't the first time she had left Cynthia in the care of others. It wasn't even the first time that night.

From 9 to 11.30pm, Hope left Cynthia with a neighbor while she shot pool with Doug Mull in Ottawa (OH). The neighbor, Peggy Price, and her boyfriend bathed Cynthia and put her to bed alone in the apartment next door.

Opening statement from Kluge

Pages 54 and 55 of trial transcripts.

From line 21 page 54 to line 6 on page 55

"Hope Collins, the mother who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and child endangering, the mother who gave this poor little two and a half year old girl sleeping pills so she wouldn't get up at night, the mother who cares so much about her daughter that she left her to stay with anyone, many times runs off without a babysitter, and, in particular, whose credibility is almost zero."

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO
STATE OF OHIO, Case NO. CR86-21
Appellee,
v.
KENNETH T. RICHEY,
Defendant-Appellant

Evidentiary Hearing Requested

AFFIDAVIT OF WILLIAM F. KLUGE, ESQ.

I, William F. Kluge, Esq., having been duly sworn do state under oath:

1. I am an attorney duly licensed to practice law in the State of Ohio.

2. On or about July 14, 1986, Gregory W . Donohue and I were appointed by the Common Pleas Court, Putnam County, Ohio (Mittlekamp, J.) to represent capital defendantKenneth Richey on a five count indictment charging him with, inter alia,aggravated arson and aggravated murder.