Tyler Thompson Found Guilty of Murdering Leah Brooke Hines

Noble County Sheriff Jason Mackie announced that Tyler Thompson, age 28 of Belle Valley, was found guilty by a jury of his peers on November 10, 2021 of Aggravated Murder, Murder, and Felony Murder, with each charge containing a firearm specification, as well as a charge of Tampering with Evidence. The jury trial began on Monday, November 8 stemming from an indictment by the Noble County Grand Jury on April 14, 2021. Thompson was originally charged following an investigation into the shooting death of Leah Brooke Hines, age 27 of Belle Valley.

The incident occurred on Outpost Road in Belle Valley on March 21, 2021, shortly after 1 a.m. A call placed to 9-1-1 operators at the Noble County Sheriff’s Office from an individual who discovered Hines had been shot and was unresponsive led to the dispatch of sheriff’s office personnel who found Hines had suffered a single gunshot wound to the back. The Noble County Coroner confirmed Hines’ death at the residence. The scene was processed in a joint effort between the Noble County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Contact with Thompson was made by Noble County Sheriff deputies at a neighboring property. Following a brief inquiry into the circumstances of the shooting, Thompson was taken into custody, interviewed, and ultimately charged with Hines’ death. A complete investigation into the circumstances of Hines’ death was conducted by members of the Noble County Sheriff’s Office, Major Crimes Task Force, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Thompson, represented by Attorney Samuel Shamansky, had previously entered a plea of Not Guilty and was being held without bond pending his trial set to begin on November 8. Thompson’s charges were pursued by Noble County Prosecutor Jordan Croucher and Special Prosecuting Attorney James Lowe of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. After the presentation of closing arguments and jury instructions on November 10, the jury deliberated and ultimately returned verdicts of guilty on all charges and specifications. Following a reading of the jury’s decision, Noble County Common Pleas Judge Kelly Riddle remanded Thompson to the custody of the Noble County Sheriff’s Office where he is currently being held awaiting his sentencing hearing set for 1:30 p.m. on November 22.