Defense says suspect’s rights violated during police questioning in murder investigation

Fermin Garcia-Gutierrez, 46, now charged with aggravated murder in a Hamilton case, is shown on a poster prepared by Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones and featured at a press conference March 29, 2024. Garcia-Gutierrez has been arrested several times, deported and arrested again, Jones said. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF

Fermin Garcia-Gutierrez, 46, now charged with aggravated murder in a Hamilton case, is shown on a poster prepared by Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones and featured at a press conference March 29, 2024. Garcia-Gutierrez has been arrested several times, deported and arrested again, Jones said. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF

The attorney for a suspect in last spring’s murder of a Hamilton man says police violated his rights, and his alleged confession should be thrown out at trial.

Fermin Garcia-Gutierrez, 47, is charged with aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault and kidnapping, with firearm specifications, for the death of Fernando Reyna Oviedo, who was found dead in a garage in April.

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones called a press conference shortly after the arrest pointing to Garcia-Gutierrez as a multiple-time offender who has been deported seven times.

At arraignment, Butler County Common Pleas Judge Jennifer McElfresh set bond at $5 million cash or surety.

Attorney Keith Fricker said in a motion to suppress evidence that Garcia-Gutierrez is illiterate, but he “was incarcerated on other charges and the Hamilton detective interrogated the defendant knowing he was unable to read or write either (English or Spanish) and without the aid of an interpreter being present.”

Fricker also said the detective observed that Garcia-Gutierrez had suffered injuries, including a head injury.

“The detective still read the defendant the Miranda warnings and had him make a mark on the Miranda card,” Fricker said in the motion.

The defense says Garcia-Gutierrez’s rights were violated because he did not understand his right to remain silent or to have a attorney present, so the alleged confession and any other evidence collected should be suppressed.

Garcia-Gutierrez is scheduled to be back in court Jan. 29 for a hearing on the motion. A trial date has not yet been set.

Oviedo, 41, was found dead on April 1 after Hamilton police officers were called about a body in the 1100 block of South 13th Street.

Investigators believe Garcia-Gutierrez committed the homicide before he was arrested on other charges

Fermin Garcia-Gutierrez, 46, is an illegal immigrant and is charged with aggravated murder, in connection with the death of a person found in the 1100 block of South 13th Street in Hamilton. PROVIDED

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Jones said Garcia-Gutierrez is an example of his frustration with the Biden Administration’s immigration enforcement and border policies.

Jones said Garcia-Gutierrez had been to prison three times and deported seven times to Mexico, but keeps returning.

“Says it takes him two weeks to get back,” the sheriff said.

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