A45768800

Sara Ridder was a 24-year-old single mother of three children. David Boyles was the father of her children and had been with Sara for six years. Boyles was violent and abusive towards her during their relationship—he had even served prison time for domestic violence against her.

Approximately one month before Sara’s death, the relationship ended in another episode of domestic violence. Boyles had broken into her house, held a knife to her throat, and punched her. Sara and Boyles had split up just a few weeks before the attack. Sara reported the attack and filed for a protection order. The request was granted, and Boyles was fitted with a Juris Monitor bracelet, which would set off an alarm and warn police if Boyles came within 1,000 feet of Sara’s home.

Boyles faced a court date for this last attack. He was determined not to go back to prison. Boyles would often ask one of his friends to drive over to Sara’s apartment to see if she was there, as she had begun to avoid her apartment. Boyles would describe how he would like to go to her apartment and kill Sara and the children.

Boyles and his good friend, Neely, began to seek a gun with which they could commit the crime. During this period, Neely asked his cousin, Michael Webster, if he could get a gun for him. Boyles eventually purchased an SKS assault rifle. Neely told Webster that he was going to shoot Sara for Boyles.

Two nights before Sara’s death, Neely told Webster that he had been out all night looking for Sara but could not find her. Neely had the rifle in the trunk of the car and the ammunition in the back seat. He could not find Sara because she was hiding from Boyles. But with Boyles wearing the monitor she felt it was safe to return to her apartment.

On April 14, 2002, and into the early morning hours of April 15, 2002, Boyles appeared to be even more distressed because he was to appear in court for his indictment the following morning. Boyles asked Neely to drive over to Sara’s apartment to see if she was home. Neely complied. He grabbed the assault rifle as he left Boyles’ residence.

Neely saw a light on in Sara’s apartment. He backed his car into the driveway and went to the rear door of the apartment with the rifle. Sara was standing behind the rear door, doing laundry. Neely could see her silhouette through the blinds.

Neely fired a single shot ending Sara’s life. Sara’s children found her body the next day and called the police. Neely fled and disposed of the gun by breaking it into pieces and throwing it into the Ohio River.

Neely’s senseless violence not only took Sara’s young life but also left her three children traumatized and without their mother. Sara’s children were the ones who had to wake up in the morning to find their mother’s dead body and ultimately call the police for help. Sara survived her tumultuous and terrorizing relationship with Boyles, fraught with repeated documented episodes of domestic violence, only to die from Neely’s unconscionable choices at the behest of Boyles.

While incarcerated, Neely continues to exhibit aggression and poor decision-making. According to Neely’s Institutional Summary Report, Neely had a tablet containing pornographic content, and he has engaged in verbal and physical altercations with other inmates.



Given all this, it would be highly inappropriate and against the interest of justice to grant Neely early release. He senselessly shot a young, single mother for absolutely no good reason if there ever is one. His choices and attitudes have not positively changed while incarcerated. Therefore, Neely should continue serving his sentence and not be granted release.

Public Hearing Comments