Ohio Boy, 4, Found at Rest Stop After Mother Killed During Home Invasion
Columbus man arrested after boy, 4, found at rest stop following mom's murder.
Jan. 5, 2009— -- The memorization drills 4-year-old William Nelson were taught by his parents helped police reunite him with his father after his mother was murdered during a home invasion.
Eddie Nelson told ABCNews.com today that his son was able to give police his address and his parents' cell phone numbers after a Maryland couple found him at an Ohio highway rest stop and called 911 hours after his mother had been shot and killed by an intruder who police say is now in custody.
"We've been drilling him with that since he could talk," Nelson said, so that "if he was scared or something, he could do it without thinking."
Jennifer Nelson was found shot to death Friday in the hallway near the front room of their Dayton, Ohio, home.
Police arrested Charlie W. Myers, 22, on aggravated murder charges, after finding a Nelson family car that was reported stolen near his Columbus, Ohio, home.
William's information about the murder and a description of the suspect also helped police, according to Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer.
Plummer said William told police that "a stranger killed his mother. He's a very intelligent young man, luckily."
Myers "implicated himself " in the crime, Plummer told ABC News.
William is now home with his father after being examined at a children's hospital, while police continue their investigation.
Plummer said Myers will likely face more charges, including kidnapping, when the sheriff's office takes the case to prosecutors Tuesday. Two other suspects were questioned and may face conspiracy charges, Plummer said, but police believe Myers acted alone during the actual home invasion, murder and kidnapping. It was not immediately known if Myers has a lawyer.
Nelson said he was at work Friday evening -- at one of three jobs he holds down so his wife can be a stay-at-home mom -- when sheriff's deputies came to notify him that his wife had been shot to death and that his son had been recovered from the rest stop about a half-hour away from their house.
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