Wednesday, December 29, 1999
Murder charge filed in teacher's death
Police say woman was driving drunk
BY TERRY FLYNN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
NEWPORT — Fort Thomas police, saying there were aggravating circumstances that led to the traffic death of Holy Cross High School teacher Susan Schlarman, Tuesday added a murder charge to the list of offenses against 32-year-old Jill Ott.
Ms. Ott, distraught, tearful and wearing a neck brace over her jailhouse-orange jumpsuit, appeared for a hearing Tuesday before Campbell District Judge Gregory Popovich.
Ms. Ott was also charged with first-degree assault, driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident. Police said she struck a car near her home Sunday night that then hit Mrs. Schlarman, who was loading packages into her car. Ms. Ott and the Schlarman family lived three houses apart.
“We have not received lab results yet on (Ms. Ott's) blood alcohol level, but we think it will be high,” Fort Thomas Sgt. Wayne Turner said Tuesday after the hearing.
“I think we need to emphasize that this was more than someone driving after drinking a couple of glasses of wine,” Sgt. Turner said. “(Ms. Ott) said she had two shots of tequila and four, five beers. And she was taking prescription medication that was labeled not to be mixed with alcohol. Those drugs intensify the effects of alcohol.”
The hearing was delayed briefly Tuesday while police completed the formal murder charge document. Because Ms. Ott did not have an attorney, Judge Popovich entered a not guilty plea for her. He asked public defender Steve Dowell to initially take the case after the defendant said she could not afford an attorney.
Ms. Ott's father, John Mischler of Anderson Township, told Sgt. Turner he would offer money to the Schlarman family rather than pay for a lawyer.
“He said the money that would go to the defense of a child would be better used to ease the pain of the victim's family,” Sgt. Turner said.
Mrs. Schlarman leaves a husband and four children. The family was preparing for a move to a new house in Southgate.
Ms. Ott was ordered held on $250,000 cash bond pending a preliminary hearing before Judge Popovich on Jan. 6.
Four from Cincinnati shot to death in Georgia
Newport prepares to let New Year ring
How to prepare for Y2K
Murder charge filed in teacher's death
Slain clerk's family tries to deal with loss
Aberdeen responds to fire survivor
Deaf teacher marks milestone
Driver who backed into stroller guilty of felony DUI
Voinovich aides are cleared
Waynesville mayor cleared of charges
Man charged in fire at apartment complex
Portune: Open up on police reviews
Portune: Transfer funds to fix roads
Where there's smoke, there's a firehouse cook
Health events in 2000
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
GET TO IT
Icons of the '90s
Family escapes as fire destroys home
Federal grants promise help for homeless
Feds plan to sample Paducah soil
Hundreds of inmates in line for payments
Indictment: Drugs put in prison coffee
Job Service opens office at airport
Lebanon council OKs budget
Lottery audit critical of returns
TRISTATE DIGEST
