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Prosecutors: Anderson placed 911 call after assaulting Ebner

911 call after attack on Ebner

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By Valerie Lough, Staff Writer Updated 7:11 PM Tuesday, July 20, 2010

SPRINGFIELD — Willie Anderson called 911 and later confessed to a friend that he had inflicted the injuries that took the life of a local businessman in 2008, prosecutors said in opening statements Tuesday morning, July 20.

Anderson is being tried in Clark County Common Pleas Court on a charge of aggravated murder, three counts of murder, two counts each of aggravated robbery and felonious assault and one count of tampering with evidence in connection to the death of Jeff Ebner two years ago.

Ebner was discovered with massive head injuries at his family business Nov. 13, 2008. He was taken to Miami Valley Hospital where he died the next day.

Police were alerted to the scene after an unidentified man called 911 to report that Ebner had been injured.

Calling the assault a “brutal attack,” Clark County Assistant Prosecutor Lisa Fannin told jurors that Anderson placed the call after beating Ebner in what investigators believe was an attempted robbery.

“It is his voice on that 911 call,” said Fannin. “He confessed to (a friend) that he hit someone with a metal pipe.”

Defense attorneys didn’t present opening arguments Tuesday, opting to give those statements when it presents its case to the jury.

If convicted on all charges, Anderson could be sentenced to life in prison.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0360 or vlough@coxohio.com.

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