Teen murder witness to remain detained

Boy saw his father die; move is for his protection.

Jacob Caldwell will remain in Greene County’s juvenile detention center, where the teen was taken after officers found him last week living in the basement of a home in Miami Twp.

Jacob had been missing for more than a year after he and his two brothers witnessed their father, Robert Caldwell, fatally shot Aug. 15 in a Riverside parking lot.

Judge Adolfo Tornichio presided over Friday’s hearing, which was solely held to determine where Jacob should reside for now.

This news organization was barred from attending the initial hearing Tuesday, but the Dayton Daily News and WHIO reached an agreement with the court to get access to Friday’s hearing.

Tornichio decided to keep Jacob in the detention center in part so he can receive medical care, both physically and psychologically. Tornichio also noted Jacob’s history of running away from home, including two different occasions last year prior to his father’s murder.

“Both times he was returned to his biological father, who had custody of him. And both times he ran away,” Tornichio said.

Jacob now has a court-appointed attorney representing his interests.

During the initial hearing after he was found, Jacob was represented by Lori Cicero, attorney for Jacob’s legal custodian, his paternal grandmother Sally DeThomas.

Jacob did not appear in court on Friday, as the judge agreed with his lawyer that his presence was not necessary.

Cicero said keeping Jacob in the detention center is for his own protection.

“The individuals that had Jacob over the last year are related to or associated with the maternal family — two of which have already been federally indicted — related to the homicide of Robert Caldwell,” Cicero said. “As previously stated, Jacob’s safety and health, including his mental health, are the primary and utmost concern of the court and as well as all the parties involved in this matter.”

Police said Jacob was not held against his will — but criminal charges are possible against the four adults and anyone else who may have helped Jacob disappear and keep him hidden.

Six people are charged in Jacobs’ father’s death, including Jacob’s biological mother and Robert Caldwell’s ex-wife, 34-year-old Tawnney Caldwell, and the alleged shooter, 35-year-old Sterling Houston Roberts, who remains in custody in Spartanburg, S.C., where he is facing charges stemming from his capture. Authorities said Roberts fired shots at a deputy.

Roberts was dating Tawnney Caldwell at the time of the shooting.

Tawnney Caldwell is being held on federal charges in the Shelby County Jail.

Four others were indicted for allegedly having a role in the plot to kill Robert Caldwell. The case against the six people charged in connection to his death is proceeding through the U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio in Dayton.