New details revealed in slaying of pregnant Columbus woman as suspect appears in court
A man accused of killing his pregnant estranged girlfriend and her unborn child will not have an opportunity to be released while his case is pending.
Devon Blair, 23, is charged with murder in the June 16 death of 19-year-old Brooke Devinney, who was 14 weeks pregnant.
Prosecutors had requested Blair held without bail given his criminal history and the nature of Devinney's death. That criminal history includes a felony domestic violence conviction Blair pleaded guilty to in May.
Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Holbrook granted the request Tuesday, ordering Blair held without bond. Blair had been held on a $11 million bond previously set in Franklin County Municipal Court.
During a hearing Tuesday, additional details were revealed about Devinney's death, including that the mother-to-be had shared news of her pregnancy with Blair and other family and friends.
"It was no secret Ms. Devinney was pregnant," Columbus police homicide Det. James Jude testified.
Jude said a relative of Devinney's had texted 911 after hearing what sounded like a physical altercation between Blair and Devinney in a room at Parkwick Drive home where Devinney lived with family members.
"Devon and Brooke had had domestic violence in the past. They thought maybe this would blow over," Jude testified. "When it got louder and worse, they realized something was amiss, and then it got oddly quiet."
A relative forced their way into Devinney's locked bedroom, which they had seen Blair coming out of with a backpack, Jude testified. The relative could not find Devinney initially in the bedroom, which showed signs of a struggle.
More on Devon Blair: $11M bond set for Columbus man accused of beating pregnant ex-girlfriend to death
Officers who got to the home found Devinney balled up on the bed, wrapped up in sheets. She was unresponsive, Jude said.
Devinney was 14 weeks pregnant.
She was taken to an area hospital where both she and her unborn baby died. An autopsy revealed Devinney died from cervical compression injuries commonly seen in strangulation, Jude said. The Franklin County Coroner's office report has not been finalized.
Jude said as officers got to the home, they also saw Blair, who officers knew had an active arrest warrant, standing near the driver's door of Devinney's vehicle with a backpack and no shoes.
Blair fled and was able to escape pursuing police, Jude said. Blair left his backpack, which contained his cellphone, behind.
Jude said Blair was arrested several hours later, wearing different clothing and shoes.
Devon Blair previously charged
Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor Dan Meyer told Judge Michael Holbrook that Blair had a history of domestic violence, particularly against Devinney.
In May, Blair had pleaded guilty to felony domestic violence and assault on a police officer in front of Holbrook, with sentencing scheduled for July 22.
Holbrook, at that time, had allowed Blair to be released while he awaited sentencing but with an ankle GPS monitor. That monitor included an exclusionary zone that barred him from being at Devinney's residence.
The charges to which Blair pleaded guilty stemmed from a December assault on Devinney that involved Blair forcing her to strip naked in the driveway of a home, dragging her by the hair, punching her repeatedly and threatening her with a knife, court records say.
Prosecutors had objected to Blair being allowed to remain free, but Holbrook said he would give Blair a chance.
Within two weeks, Blair's bond had been revoked for unspecified violations of his release conditions, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Related article: Court records: Pregnant woman reported beating, threats from man days before he killed her
"Clearly, he doesn’t want to abide by the orders I set at that time," Holbrook said Tuesday. "Clearly, he’s going to do what he does. I’m worried that he’s a danger."
Meyer also said Devinney had gone to the police just days before her death, reporting another instance of domestic violence involving Blair.
During Tuesday afternoon's hearing, which Holbrook also presided over, the judge said Blair had reportedly said the ankle monitor he was supposed to have been wearing came off during a crash just days after it had been installed.
"His story was it was knocked off, probably would have had a broken leg if it was an accident," Holbrook said. "That shows manipulation of the system, an effort to do what he wants to do."
Tuesday's hearing did not involve any outbursts from Blair, who had been verbally disruptive during his initial court appearance.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Details revealed in death of pregnant Columbus woman Brooke Devinney
