Urbana son admits killing father; sentencing in January

UPDATE @ 5:51 p.m.: The Urbana man who pleaded guilty Monday to charges accusing him of causing his father's death could face 20 years in prison when he is sentenced next month.

Christopher L. Myers, 38, of 536 S. Kenton St., appeared in Champaign County Common Pleas Court and admitted to voluntary manslaughter, complicity to tampering with evidence and two counts of weapons under disability.

He will be sentenced Jan. 12, according to county Prosecutor Kevin Talebi.

Talebi declined to comment further about the case.

Jerald Myers, 65, was killed over Memorial Day weekend. He suffered multiple serious injuries, including blunt-force head trauma, facial lacerations and bruising on the neck, according to county Coroner Joshua Richards.

A Champaign County grand jury indicted Christopher Myers in June on 10 felony counts, including aggravated murder and multiple charges of murder, felonious assault and domestic violence.

The indictment also indicated Myers had pleaded guilty or been convicted of domestic violence in 1995, 1998 and 2009.

Urbana police originally arrested Myers for an argument he was having with his brother outside the household when police arrived to investigate the death. Chief Matt Lingrell said Christopher Myers’ brother, Brian Myers, came to the house and learned Christopher Myers was the only person in the house when his father had died.

“No contact was made. Just they got into an altercation where threats were made toward Brian from Chris,” Lingrell has said.

Matthew Kerns, 38, a 14-year veteran of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, pleaded guilty in September to one count of attempted obstructing official business related to the Meyers case. Kerns admitted to destroying letters that were written to him by Christopher Myers, who is his cousin, after Jerald Myers was killed.

Kerns is to be sentenced the same week as Myers.

FIRST REPORT

A 38-year-old Urbana man admitted guilt in the death of his father.

Christopher L. Myers pleaded guilty Monday to voluntary manslaughter, complicity in the commission of tampering with evidence and two counts of having weapons while under disability, according to Champaign County Common Pleas Court.

As part of the plea agreement with prosecutors, the judge is expected next month to impose the maximum for each count for a total f 20 years in prison.

Myers killed his father, 65-year-old Jerald L. Myers.

Jerald’s body was found at his South Kenton Street home on May 25.