By Sheila McLaughlin
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Attorney Jeff Kirby points out Rhonda Ricketts' injuries at her arraignment Thursday. She had a black eye and bruises elsewhere on her body, he said. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

LEBANON - The city prosecutor said Thursday that she expects a grand jury will increase charges against a 50-year-old woman in the fatal shooting of her ex-husband this week.

"I think it will end up being aggravated murder," said Lebanon Prosecutor Andrea Hicks.

She said that information about the killing continues to emerge. Hicks said police were looking into allegations from some people who knew the couple that Rhonda Ricketts may have planned the slaying, staged a hysterical 911 call, and hurt herself to make it appear that she was battered.

Still, advocates for battered women were at Ricketts' side in court Thursday. Ricketts, a mother of four, is expected to employ the battered woman's defense, which has been used by victims of abuse.

"Evidence that either supports or doesn't support that is being developed, has been developed," said Lebanon City Attorney Mark Yurick.

Ricketts, who confessed to a 911 dispatcher that she killed her 45-year-old ex-husband, Steve, Tuesday after he struck her in the face, remained in the Warren County Jail on a murder charge after a city judge refused to reduce her $500,000 bail.

The murder charge implies that Ricketts purposely caused her ex-husband's death. An aggravated murder charge means that she also planned the homicide, and could carry the death penalty.

Ricketts could be heard sobbing from the holding cell in the back of the courtroom before she was led in front of Lebanon Municipal Judge Mark Bogen for arraignment.

Clutching her lawyer, Ricketts covered her face with her other hand and cried as she shuffled to face the judge. A black eye, which police say may have happened during an altercation between the couple Tuesday, was still evident.

Ricketts was trailed by an advocate from the local battered women's shelter and two sheriff's deputies who were there for security.

Attorney Jeff Kirby, who represented Ricketts for free as a board member for the Abuse and Rape Crisis Shelter of Warren County, asked Bogen to consider lowering the bond to $50,000 to $100,000 so Ricketts could participate in her defense.

He portrayed Ricketts as a responsible mother, who worked and had never been in trouble before. Police said she worked recently as a medical assistant at an urgent care center in Sharonville.

"I also want to point out ... she does have an enormous black eye on her right side. She showed me some bruises she has over other parts of her body. ... That fits exactly with what her defense is," Kirby told the judge.

No family members attended Thursday's hearing as Steve Ricketts' relatives arranged for his body to be returned to Alabama for a funeral. Arrangements are expected to be completed today.

Ricketts is scheduled to appear next for a preliminary hearing on May 22 to determine if there is enough evidence to turn the case over to a county grand jury for consideration.

The grand jury could decide to drop charges against Ricketts, to proceed with the same or lesser charge, or indict on a more serious charge.

E-mail smclaughlin@enquirer.com