Man admits guilt in babysitter murder

Cassell takes plea deal; two others face charges in March 12 shooting.

Evans Cassell III pleaded guilty Wednesday morning to complicity to commit murder in connection with the March 12 shooting death of 20-year-old Taylor Brandenburg.

Cassell, 36, was to go on trial Tuesday in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court on several counts including complicity to commit felonious assault, tampering with evidence, complicity to commit discharge on or near a prohibited premises and having weapons under disability.

All other counts besides complicity to commit murder and a three-year firearm specification were dismissed as part of the plea deal, according to court personnel.

Chuckie Lee, 38, and Kara Parisi-King, 27, also face charges in connection with the death of Brandenburg, who was killed while babysitting when police say Lee opened fire at a home on Huffman Avenue in Dayton.

Brandenburg died of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office.

Neither the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office nor Cassell’s attorney commented on the plea deal.

Lee’s and Parisi-King’s trials will be in early 2018, according to Judge Gregory Singer, who restricted any access to the dockets in all three defendants’ cases.

Cassell was arrested during the afternoon of March 12. Cassell hit Tyler Hudson in the head with a pool cue, “causing severe harm” at 3:10 a.m. that day, according to a Dayton police report.

A 911 caller from the Glass Hat Bar & Grill said, “there’s blood everywhere” and that “there are people outside of the bar threatening to shoot the people inside.

“We can’t let them leave. There was a big fight that broke out. I just wanted to call to make sure in case anything happened.” Contact this reporter at 937-2256951 or email Mark.Gokavi@coxinc. com.