BY STEVE KEMME
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON -- A Butler County grand jury refused to indict Brian Gully on criminal charges in connection with the June 7 death of his 18-year-old roommate.
Mr. Gully, the 19-year-old son of Union Township Administrator Dave Gully, was trying to break up a confrontation between Jeffrey C. Vasquez and a partygoer at their Hamilton apartment.
Mr. Vasquez fell as Mr. Gully intervened, according to witnesses who testified at a July 2 preliminary hearing in Hamilton Municipal Court.
Mr. Vasquez fractured his skull and ruptured a major artery in the head. He died from bleeding inside his skull, caused by "manhandling," Butler County Coroner Dr. Richard Burkhardt said.
Mr. Gully, who, at 310 pounds, weighed more than twice Mr. Vasquez, was charged with involuntary manslaughter. He has been free on $5,000 bond.
But a grand jury did not indict him of that charge.
"It wasn't a case where Brian Gully hit him," Butler County Prosecutor John Holcomb said. "Of all the people who were in the apartment, not a single one said (Mr. Vasquez) had been hit. It was more consistent with falling down and hitting his head."
"We are certainly happy for Brian," Dave Gully said, "but we also have a big hole in our hearts for the Vasquez family." Mr. Vasquez's family had not heard of the grand jury's decision Thursday night and preferred not to comment.
Craig Hedric, Mr. Gully's attorney, had maintained that Mr. Gully was trying to act as a peacemaker and had no intention of hurting Mr. Vasquez.
