[Cite as State v. Hayden, 2019-Ohio-1926.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO 

FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT 

SCIOTO COUNTY 

STATE OF OHIO, : 

 : Case No. 18CA3839 

Plaintiff-Appellee, : 

 : 

vs. : DECISION AND JUDGMENT 

: ENTRY 

CARL HAYDEN, : 

 : 

 Defendant-Appellant. : Released: 05/17/19 

_____________________________________________________________ 

APPEARANCES: 

Stephen T. Wolfe, Wolfe Law Group LLC, Columbus, Ohio, for Appellant. 

Shane A. Tieman, Scioto County Prosecutor, and Jay Willis, Assistant 

Scioto County Prosecutor, Portsmouth, Ohio, for Appellee. 

_____________________________________________________________ 

McFarland, J. 

{¶1} This is a delayed appeal from a Scioto County Court of 

Common Pleas judgment entry convicting Appellant, Carl Hayden, of 

aggravated murder with a firearm specification, murder with a firearm 

specification, four counts of felonious assault all with firearm specifications, 

improperly discharging a firearm into a habitation or a school safety zone, 

and one count of menacing by stalking. After merging the count for murder 

and several of the assault counts, the court sentenced Appellant to life 

without parole plus twenty two years. On delayed appeal, Appellant 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 2

contends that 1) the trial court erred when it permitted the introduction of 

testimony that was impermissible as both hearsay and in violation of 

Appellant’s right to confront witnesses against him, 2) the jury’s verdict was 

against the manifest weight of the evidence, and 3) the evidence presented at 

trial was insufficient to support the convictions. 

{¶2} Although we find that the trial court abused its discretion in 

admitting hearsay testimony, we hold that the error was harmless because 

there was still overwhelming evidence supporting Appellant’s convictions. 

Our holding renders the second argument in Appellant’s first assignment of 

error, as well as his second and third assignments of error, moot. 

Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed. 

Introduction 

{¶3} Appellant, aka “Whitey,” and Amber Piquet lived together and 

had a daughter, Sadie. However, in October of 2016 Ms. Piquet moved out 

and lived with her two children, Sadie and Dallas, in a trailer owned by Eric 

and Tonda Martin near the intersection of Martin and Piguet roads in Scioto 

County. Appellant and Ms. Piquet had a lawsuit pending to determine 

custody and visitation of Sadie. 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 3

911 Calls 

{¶4} On the evening of January 9, 2017, the Scioto County Sheriff’s 

Office received multiple 911 calls regarding a shooting at a trailer near the 

intersection of Martin and Piguet roads. The first call was from Kayla 

Rozell and was received at 7:04 p.m. Kayla Rozell, Ms. Piquet’s neighbor, 

said she saw a man trying to force his way into Ms. Piquet’s trailer, and then 

she heard gun shots. She never identified the man by name, but after 

describing the van in which the man escaped in as being red, she said “I had 

seen that guy - -.” Near the end of the call the operator said “And you don’t 

know the guy’s name either” and Kayla Rozell responded: “I don’t – I don’t 

know for sure if it was him or not, but I know that she had problems with a 

guy * * *.” 

{¶5} A second 911 call was received from Gretchen, Ms. Piquet’s 

seven-year-old niece who was in the trailer at the time of the shooting. 

Gretchen told the operator that “[s]omebody just shot in – in the window and 

they killed * * * my aunt.” Gretchen told the operator that “there’s blood all 

over the carpet.” 

{¶6} Finally, the Sheriff’s Office received a third 911 call from 

Tonda Martin about the shooting. Mrs. Martin requested an ambulance be 

sent because Amber Piquet had been shot. 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 4

The Murder Scene 

{¶7} Several deputies were initially dispatched to the scene. When 

the deputies arrived, they were advised by the operator that the suspect had 

fled in a red van. The deputies noticed that the door on the trailer had been 

forced. They entered the trailer and made contact with Eric Martin. He told 

the deputies that the victim, Amber Piquet, was in the bedroom. In the 

bedroom, the deputies found Ms. Piquet lying on the ground with Tonda 

Martin beside her. Deputy Lewis determined that Ms. Piquet had been shot 

and that she was dead. There were several bullet holes in the trailer that 

appeared to have been shot through a window from the outside because the 

blinds were pushed inward. 

{¶8} Later that night, Appellant turned himself in and the deputies 

questioned him about the murder. 

The Charges 

{¶9} The State charged Appellant with aggravated murder with a 

firearm specification, murder with a firearm specification, four counts of 

felonious assault all with firearm specifications, improperly discharging a 

firearm into a habitation or a school safety zone, and one count of menacing 

by stalking. 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 5

{¶10} At trial, the State presented twenty-five witnesses and 

evidence, including sheriff deputies, detectives, neighbors, Ohio Bureau of 

Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI) specialists, the Hamilton 

County Assistant Coroner, a Glock handgun and DNA evidence. The 

defense presented five witnesses. Much of the testimony and evidence is set 

forth below. Detective Jodi Conkel was the lead detective in the case. She 

worked with several detectives and BCI employees in the case. 

The State’s Case 

a. Lay Witnesses 

{¶11} Kayla Rozell testified that she lived across the street from the 

trailer where Amber Piquet was shot. She testified that she worked at home 

and would often see a man in a silver pickup truck try to get into Ms. 

Piquet’s trailer, or chase Ms. Piquet across her front yard. She testified that 

the man had placed a deer camera outside of Ms. Piquet’s trailer. 

{¶12} Kayla Rozell testified that on the evening of January 9, 2017, 

she “saw headlights and saw a vehicle there and a moment or two later I 

heard very loud banging noises and that’s when I went up closer to the 

window and I saw him with a - - long object, like maybe an ax or a baseball 

bat. I couldn’t tell exactly what. Just banging on the door like - - like he 

was trying to bust it down.” She further testified that she stepped away from 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 6

the window for a moment, because with all her lights on, she was afraid that 

he would see her, but two or three seconds later she heard gunshots and 

looked out the window and saw the man run away from the trailer to a 

“burgundyish, reddish” van. As the man got in the van, it was illuminated 

from the headlights of a neighbor’s car. As the van fled at a high rate of 

speed, she called 911. Kayla Rozell testified that she did not know 

Appellant by name before the night of the murder, but had seen him at 

Amber Piquet’s home many times before. 

{¶13} Kayla Rozell testified that on the evening of the murder, 

Detective Malone showed her a photo array of six men and asked if she 

recognized any of them as the man outside Amber Piquet’s trailer. She 

picked Appellant’s photo. Ms. Rozell also identified Appellant in open 

court as the man who was beating on the door of Amber Piquet’s trailer on 

January 9, 2017. 

{¶14} Ms. Rozell testified that she could see well even though it was 

dark because of the numerous lights on her property (LED porch lights, a 

pole light and a light at the top of her garage), Amber Piquet’s porch lights 

and her bedroom light were on, and when a neighbor pulled into their 

driveway the vehicle’s headlights lit up the van. 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 7

{¶15} On cross examination, defense counsel pointed out that during 

the 911 call Ms. Rozell stated: “And I am not for sure if it’s him or not.” 

However, Ms. Rozell responded: “Well I did know for sure it was him. As 

you can tell I was flustered * * *.” Later during cross examination, after 

defense counsel questioned whether Appellant’s name had been “suggested” 

to her, she responded “It was not suggested to me. I knew his face. I just 

didn’t know his name.” 

{¶16} The defense attorney also asked Ms. Rozell if she noticed that 

one of the headlights was out on the van. She said she did not notice that 

damage. 

{¶17} Eric Martin testified that he was married to Tonda Martin and 

they were Amber Piquet’s landlords. Ms. Piquet’s trailer was at the end of 

the Martins’ driveway. Eric Martin testified that he and his wife were 

friends with Amber Piquet and her children, Dallas and Sadie. 

{¶18} Eric Martin testified that he had known Appellant, as Whitey, 

since the 1980s. He testified that Appellant drove through the neighborhood 

often in a silver pickup with a loud muffler and often stopped by to harass 

Ms. Piquet. Mr. Martin testified that Appellant admitted he placed a camera 

outside Amber Piquet’s trailer. Mr. Martin said that Appellant was telling 

all the neighbors that he was renting to a pedophile. 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 8

{¶19} Eric Martin testified that on January 9, 2017, Tonda Martin 

took Ms. Piquet to a court custody hearing and then Tonda Martin went to 

work, while Sadie stayed at home with him. He testified that he and his wife 

were sitting down to dinner in their house that night at about 7:00 p.m. when 

Mrs. Martin received a call indicating that it was from Amber Piquet, but 

when she answered, the call dropped. Eric Martin testified the phone rang 

again and Mrs. Martin answered it and screamed “Oh my God Amber’s 

dying.” Eric Martin stated that he and his wife jumped in their vehicle and 

drove to Ms. Piquet’s trailer, and that it took about a minute and a half to get 

to there. Mr. Martin testified that the trailer door was dented and the door 

handle had been broken off, but the door was still locked. He kicked the 

door down. He testified that the kids (Gretchen, Dallas, and Sadie) were 

screaming and yelling; they were horrified. 

{¶20} The prosecutor asked Eric Martin if the children said anything. 

Defense counsel objected. At a side bar discussion, the prosecutor argued 

the statements were admissible as a present sense impression or an excited 

utterance. Defense counsel argued that they were too remote in time. After 

the court overruled defense counsel’s objection, Mr. Martin testified that 

Gretchen said “Whitey killed sis” and that Dallas said “Whitey killed mom.” 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 9

{¶21} Eric Martin went to get his sister-in-law, Christy Martin, who 

lived nearby and was a nurse practitioner. He returned to the trailer with 

Christy Martin, who determined that Amber Piquet had no pulse. 

{¶22} On cross examination by defense counsel, Mr. Martin admitted 

that he did not like Appellant. 

{¶23} On re-direct examination, Eric Martin testified that there was 

no bad blood between he and Appellant until after Appellant met Ms. Piquet. 

{¶24} Tonda Martin testified that she did not know Appellant until 

after Amber Piquet moved into the trailer. Mrs. Martin recalled that 

Appellant would often stop by and talk about a sexual predator who was in 

the area, although she admitted that he spoke to her husband more about that 

issue that he did with her. However, Mrs. Martin did testify that she was 

concerned with Appellant “circling” the house to the extent that if Ms. 

Piquet heard Appellant’s truck “Eric would drive down and/or we would tell 

her to just come up to the house, because we did not want her to be afraid 

* * *.” 

{¶25} Mrs. Martin went on to testify regarding the events of January 

9, 2017, which in large part corroborated with Eric Martin’s testimony, 

subject to the following exceptions. She testified that after the phone call 

from Ms. Piquet dropped, she called back and Gretchen answered (Eric 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 10

Martin testified that Gretchen called Tonda Martin), and said “sis is dying.” 

Mrs. Martin recalled that after the phone call they made it to the trailer in 

five minutes at the most (Eric Martin said one minute thirty seconds). 

{¶26} Except for Sadie saying that she was scared, Tonda Martin 

testified she did not recall anything that the children said. She testified that 

she took the children out of the trailer and put them in their car and called 

911. 

{¶27} On cross examination, Mrs. Martin testified that when she 

called 911 and said “I just know that [Appellant] did it,” she admitted that 

she never saw Appellant that night, it was just her opinion that Appellant 

killed Amber Piquet. 

{¶28} Christy Martin, Eric Martin’s sister-in-law, testified that after 

she had determined that Ms. Piquet had no pulse, she noticed the children 

were alone in the car and they appeared to be upset. Ms. Martin didn’t think 

they should be alone, so she got into the car and asked them what happened. 

After the court overruled Appellant’s objection, she said that Gretchen 

responded “ ‘Whitey shot her’ and she told me about the door and Amber - - 

he was wanting in and Amber said, ‘You can’t come in. You better leave 

Carl.’ ” 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 11

{¶29} On cross examination, Christy Martin testified that she spoke 

to the children about 15 minutes after she arrived at the scene. 

{¶30} Amanda Twaddle testified that she knew Appellant as Whitey. 

She testified that on January 9, 2017, Appellant was waiting in his driveway 

in his maroon van until she drove by so he could pull out of his driveway. 

She testified that he turned left heading toward South Webster at 

approximately 6:45 p.m. 

{¶31} On cross examination, Ms. Twaddle testified that her sister had 

sold an identical looking van to Jerry Hammonds, Appellant’s neighbor. 

She also testified that she did not notice a missing headlight on Appellant’s 

van that night. 

{¶32} Lisa Roof testified she lived at 212 Martin Road. She was not 

familiar with either Amber Piquet or Appellant. She testified that on 

January 9, 2017, she was on her way home at about 7:00 p.m. driving 

through the intersection of Piguet Road and Martin Road when she noticed a 

“reddish maroon” van parked alongside the road. She testified that after she 

pulled up her driveway, the van sped off. 

{¶33} Gene Smith, one of Appellant’s neighbors, testified that he also 

knew Appellant by the nickname “Whitey.” He also testified that Appellant 

usually carried a Glock 27 in a waistband holster, but he wasn’t carrying a 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 12

gun that night. Mr. Smith testified that Amber Piquet and Appellant had 

lived together, but after Ms. Piquet moved out, Appellant told Gene Smith 

that “he had thought about killing Amber, Amber’s mom and brother, the 

whole family.” Mr. Smith also said that Appellant commented that “he 

needed a quieter vehicle so he could sneak up on them.” Mr. Smith testified 

that Appellant had a gray Dodge truck with a diesel, but later acquired a red 

minivan. 

{¶34} He further testified that the date of the murder, he saw 

Appellant pull into his driveway in his van when it was almost dark. Mr. 

Smith testified that he parked the van in the field by his house and shortly 

after he got in his truck and left. 

{¶35} On cross examination, Mr. Smith testified that he thought that 

Appellant was merely blowing off steam when he made the comment about 

killing Amber and her family. 

{¶36} John Bair, also a neighbor of Appellant, testified that he was 

aware that Appellant was in a custody dispute with Ms. Piquet. He testified 

that his conversation with Appellant about Ms. Piquet led him to believe that 

Appellant was “obsessive” about her, and he became more obsessive prior to 

the date of her death. 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 13

{¶37} Mr. Bair also testified that Appellant owned and truck and a 

red minivan. He stated that on the day of the murder, Appellant pulled into 

his driveway in his truck at “roughly dark.” At the time that “dark actually 

fell,” he saw a vehicle leave Appellant’s house. He assumed it was the van 

since he did not hear the sound that the truck made. Later, at 8:00 p.m., he 

saw headlights of a vehicle pulling into Appellant’s driveway that parked in 

the field by Appellant’s house. 

{¶38} Mr. Bair testified that Appellant came over to his house twice 

that night. He testified the first time Appellant acted “concerned” and was 

asking about a shooting. Mr. Bair testified that Appellant asked him if he 

would be a witness that Appellant was home all day even though he had not 

been home all day. After Appellant left, he returned about ten minutes later. 

He testified that Appellant was “very nervous” and said Appellant stated that 

he found out Ms. Piquet was the one who was killed. 

b. Witnesses re: The Firearm 

{¶39} Timothy Lewis testified that approximately 15 years ago he 

owned a Glock handgun that he sold to Appellant. The Glock gun box 

recovered from Appellant’s home was traced as originally being owned by 

Timothy Lewis. Paperwork proved that the Glock was confiscated from 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 14

Appellant during a traffic stop by the highway patrol and subsequently then 

returned to Appellant. 

{¶40} Jerry Hammonds testified that he knew Appellant, aka Whitey. 

He testified on January 20, 2017, he was in an office in one of his several 

barns retrieving medicine for sick cattle, when he noticed a handgun that 

was not his. Mr. Hammonds testified that he turned over the firearm to 

Detective Conkel. 

{¶41} On cross examination, Jerry Hammonds admitted that he and 

Appellant had traded many items. He testified that Appellant had been 

making payments to buy a house from him (Mr. Hammonds) at the time of 

the murder. Mr. Hammonds denied that he wanted the house back because 

Appellant had not been making payments. 

{¶42} Jerry Hammonds admitted that he owned a red van that he 

subsequently gave to John Bair. He denied owning the van at the time of the 

murder. 

{¶43} Mr. Hammonds testified that he owed Appellant $11,500 

because Appellant was not going to be renting the house. He testified that 

he offered Appellant’s daughter a $20,000 refund on those payments. He 

admitted that he and Appellant’s daughter did not reach an agreement so 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 15

Appellant filed suit against him. Mr. Hammonds denied that the dispute had 

anything to do with the gun. 

c. Investigative Witnesses 

{¶44} Detective Malone testified that he had Kayla Rozell look at a 

photo lineup array of six males that included a picture of Appellant and 

asked her if any of them looked like the man she saw outside Amber 

Piquet’s trailer that night. Detective Malone testified that he was chosen to 

present the photo lineup because he was not familiar with the suspect and it 

was not his case. The photos were each identified only by a number. Kayla 

Rozell stated that she was 100% sure that photo number two was the man 

she saw at Ms. Piquet’s trailer. Photo number two was Appellant, Carl 

Hayden. 

{¶45} Ohio BCI Investigator Shane Hanshaw testified that the 

evidence indicated that the bullets traveled from the exterior of the trailer to 

the interior. Investigator Hanshaw discovered two 40 caliber Winchester 

brand cartridges (the casing that is left once the bullet has fired) outside the 

trailer, and two projectiles were recovered from walls inside the trailer. 

{¶46} Because Appellant became a suspect, Investigator Hanshaw 

also searched Appellant’s home that night. A reddish maroon minivan was 

parked outside Appellant’s home. In Appellant’s bedroom, Investigator 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 16

Hanshaw discovered 40 caliber Wolf brand bullets, a Winchester 40 caliber 

ammunition box, 12 cartridges, and an empty Glock firearm box that had 

documentation indicating that the Glock from that box had been confiscated 

by the Highway Patrol and then released back to Appellant in 2014. 

{¶47} On cross examination, Investigator Hanshaw testified that 

Appellant’s reddish maroon van had a missing headlight. 

{¶48} On redirect examination, Investigator Hanshaw testified that 

there was no evidence that the headlight had been knocked out by running 

into a deer, i.e. there was no blood or deer hair on the van. 

{¶49} The State presented Detective Conkel’s taped interview of 

Appellant the night of the murder. After reading Appellant his Miranda 

rights, Appellant stated that he had dated Amber Piquet for four years and 

they had one child, Sadie. Appellant stated that he was in court in the 

morning on January 9, 2017 with Ms. Piquet for a hearing regarding Sadie 

for custody and visitation. Appellant admitted that he been at Ms. Piquet’s 

trailer before, including placing a camera on the premises, but denied being 

at her trailer that night. Appellant claimed that he had witnesses who would 

say that he was not out of the house the entire day. Appellant stated that he 

struck a deer with his van the previous night that knocked out a headlight. 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 17

He also testified that he no longer owned a handgun. Appellant testified that 

he had owned the minivan for about six weeks. 

{¶50} Detective Conkel testified that in looking at the picture of 

Appellant’s van, the headlight was knocked out, but there was no dent in the 

hood or any blood or organic matter on the van. 

{¶51} Detective Conkel also testified that contrary to Appellant’s 

assertion that he did not own a handgun, numerous persons advised her that 

Appellant did have a handgun. 

{¶52} She testified that she took a DNA sample from Appellant. She 

testified that a Glock box was recovered from Appellant’s home with 

paperwork showing that the Glock had been released back to Appellant after 

a traffic stop. She testified that the serial number of the Glock recovered 

from Jerry Hammonds’ barn matched the one that the state patrol had 

returned to Appellant, and that she also took a DNA sample from Mr. 

Hammonds. 

{¶53} Detective Conkel further testified that Ohio BCI analysis of the 

DNA found on the trigger of the gun recovered from Jerry Hammonds’ barn 

matched Appellant’s, did not match Mr. Hammonds’, and the ballistics 

showed the bullets that were used to kill Ms. Piquet were shot from that gun. 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 18

 {¶54} BCI Forensic Scientist Devonie Herdeman testified that the 

DNA samples were taken from Appellant and Jerry Hammonds, and 

compared to DNA found on the gun recovered in Mr. Hammonds’ barn. 

The DNA from the gun matched Appellant’s DNA, but not Mr. Hammonds’. 

{¶55} On cross examination, she testified that DNA can remain on 

the surface of a gun for months or years. 

{¶56} Heather Williams, an Ohio BCI forensic scientist, examined 

the Glock handgun recovered from Jerry Hammonds’ barn. After test firing 

the Glock and comparing the spent cartridges with spent cartridges from the 

murder scene, it was her opinion that the spent cartridges found at the scene 

were fired from the 40 caliber Smith and Wesson Glock found in Mr. 

Hammonds’ barn. She also opined that the two projectiles recovered from 

the murder scene are also “consistent” with the type of projectile fired by 

this Glock. 

{¶57} Finally, Dr. Bryan Casto, the Forensic Pathologist and Deputy 

Coroner for the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office, testified. He 

conducted Amber Piquet’s autopsy and concluded that her death was caused 

by two gunshot wounds, with the one that passed through her chest and heart 

as the fatal event. 

{¶58} The State rested its case. 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 19

Defendant’s Case 

{¶59} Appellant presented five witnesses including his attorney, a 

private investigator, his daughter, and his son. 

{¶60} Attorney Robert Dever testified that he represented Appellant 

in a paternity suit filed October 17, 2016 pertaining to Sadie. Attorney 

Dever testified that he recalled that Appellant and Ms. Piquet came to a 

temporary agreement that while she was working during the day, Appellant 

would care for Sadie. Ms. Piquet would then pick up Sadie in the evening. 

However, weekends were referred to arbitration. 

{¶61} On cross examination by the prosecutor, Attorney Dever 

acknowledged that part of that agreement required Appellant to stop 

bothering Ms. Piquet at work or at school. 

{¶62} Teresa Blankenship testified that she was a private investigator 

hired by Appellant. She took pictures in the area of Amber Piquet’s trailer 

in April 2016 around 7:00 p.m. She testified the houses were spread out and 

that it was difficult to see because it was so dark. She testified that the area 

was not well lit. 

{¶63} Deborah Hayden-Townsend testified that she is Appellant’s 

daughter. She testified that Appellant was purchasing a house from Jerry 

Hammonds. She testified that Appellant made a $55,000 down payment and 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 20

was to pay $500 a month thereafter. However, shortly after Appellant’s 

arrest on January 12, 2017, she approached Mr. Hammonds about returning 

the down payment and Appellant would give the house back. Ms. HaydenTownsend testified that Jerry Hammonds said that he could only refund 

$10,000. She testified that on January 20, 2017, Mr. Hammonds 

subsequently offered her $20,000, which she refused, which was three days 

before Jerry Hammonds found the Glock in his barn and turned it over to 

police. 

{¶64} On cross examination by the prosecutor, she admitted that 

Appellant regularly carried a handgun. She also admitted that she paid 

Appellant’s down payment for his house. 

{¶65} David Hayden, one of Appellant’s sons, also testified on behalf 

of the defense. He essentially corroborated Ms. Hayden-Townsend’s story 

about seeking a refund from Jerry Hammonds for the house that Appellant 

was purchasing. He testified that things in the custody case for Sadie were 

going well. 

{¶66} David Hayden testified that Jerry Hammonds and his father 

traded things like cattle, guns, et cetera all the time. He testified that he 

hadn’t seen his father carry a gun since November. 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 21

{¶67} Finally, Mr. Hayden testified that people did not like his father 

because he drove around the area warning everyone that a sex offender lived 

in the area and was visiting Ms. Piquet. 

{¶68} Appellant was ultimately convicted on all ten counts that were 

presented to the jury and after merging the murder and some assault 

convictions, the court sentenced him to life without parole plus twenty-two 

years. It is from the trial court’s entry of sentence that Appellant now files a 

delayed appeal, setting forth three assignments of error for our review. 

ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR 

I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT PERMITTED 

WITNESSES TO REPEATEDLY TESTIFY ABOUT HEARSAY 

STATEMENTS OF YOUR CHILDREN THAT WERE NOT 

ADMISSIBLE UNDER ANY HEARSAY EXCEPTION. THE 

TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT PERMITTED TESTIMONY 

CONCERNING OUT-OF-COURT STATEMENTS OF YOUNG 

CHILDREN THAT DID NOT TESTIFY AT TRIAL IN 

VIOLATION OF THE APPELLANT’S RIGHT TO CONFRONT 

THOSE WITNESSES TESTIFYING AGAINST HIM. 

II. THE TRIER OF FACT, IN RESOLVING ALL CONFLICTS OF 

EVIDENCE LOST ITS WAY AND CREATED SUCH A 

MANIFEST MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE THAT THE 

CONVICTIONS MUST BE REVERSED AND A NEW TRIAL 

GRANTED, AS NO EVIDENCE WAS PRESENTED 

IMPLICATING MR. HAYDEN BESIDES UNRELIABLE, 

HEARSAY TESTIMONY OF YOUNG CHILDREN THAT DID 

NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHO SHOT THEIR 

MOTHER. 

III. THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED AT TRIAL WOULD NOT BE 

SUFFICIENT TO CONVINCE THE AVERAGE MIND OF MR. 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 22

HAYDEN’S GUILT BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT 

BECAUSE THE ONLY TESTIMONY DIRECTLY IMPLICATING 

MR. HAYDEN WAS THE HEARSAY TESTIMONY OF THE 

DECEDENT’S YOUNG CHILDREN. 

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I 

{¶69} In his first assignment of error, Appellant raises two distinct 

issues: (1) the trial court erred in admitting hearsay and (2) admission of that 

hearsay also violated the Confrontation Clause. We will address the hearsay 

issue first. 

{¶70} Appellant asserts that the trial court erred in permitting adults 

to testify to out-of-court statements made by children that identified Ms. 

Piquet’s killer in violation of the hearsay rule, Evid.R. 802. At trial, 

Appellant objected to the admission of this hearsay on the basis that none of 

the children, who were inside the trailer, could have seen the assailant, who 

fired from outside the trailer, because: (1) the blinds were drawn on the 

window through which the fatal shots entered the trailer, which obstructed 

their view; (2) it was dark outside so the children’s view looking out would 

have been inhibited by a reflection; and (3) the angle of the ground on which 

the assailant stood would have made have made it impossible for the 

children to see him. 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 23

{¶71} The State did not specifically respond to this argument, but 

instead argued that the statements by the children fit within the excited 

utterance exception to the hearsay rule. 

{¶72} A “trial court has broad discretion to determine whether a 

declaration should be admissible as a hearsay exception.” State v. Dever, 64 

Ohio St.3d 401, 410, 1992-Ohio-41, 596 N.E.2d 436, State v. Hiles, 4th Dist. 

Ross No. 08CA3080, 2009-Ohio-6602, ¶ 6, citing State v. Rohdes, 23 Ohio 

St.3d 225, 229, 492 N.E.2d 430 (1986). 

{¶73} “ ‘Hearsay’ is a statement, other than one made by the 

declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing, offered in evidence to prove 

the truth of the matter asserted.” Ohio Evid.R. 801. “Hearsay is not 

admissible except as otherwise provided by the Constitution of the United 

States, by the Constitution of the State of Ohio, (or) by statute.” Ohio 

Evid.R. 802(C). However, there are exceptions to the exclusion, including 

when the declarant’s statement is an “Excited Utterance,” which is “[a]

statement relating to a startling event or condition, made while the declarant 

was under the stress of excitement that it caused.” Ohio Evid.R. 803(2). 

“This exception derives its guaranty of trustworthiness from the fact that 

declarant is under such state of emotional shock that his reflective processes 

have been stilled. Therefore, statements made under these circumstances are 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 24

not likely to be fabricated.” State v. Taylor, 66 Ohio St.3d 295, 300, 612 

N.E.2d 316 (1993), quoting McCormick, § 297 (2nd Ed. 1972). 

{¶74} In Potter v. Baker, 162 Ohio St. 488, 124 N.E.2d 140 (1955), 

the court set out a four-prong test to determine if a statement might qualify 

as an excited utterance: 

The trial judge reasonably finds (a) that there was some 

occurrence startling enough to produce a nervous excitement 

in the declarant, which was sufficient to still his reflective 

faculties and thereby make his statements and declarations 

the unreflective and sincere expression of his actual 

impressions and beliefs, and thus render his statement or 

declaration spontaneous and unreflective, (b) that the 

statement or declaration, even if not strictly 

contemporaneous with its exciting cause, was made before 

there had been time for such nervous excitement to lose a 

domination over his reflective faculties, so that such 

domination continued to remain sufficient to make his 

statements and declarations the unreflective and sincere 

expression of his actual impressions and beliefs, (c) that the 

statement or declaration related to such startling occurrence 

or the circumstances of such startling occurrence, and (d) that 

the declarant had an opportunity to observe personally the 

matters asserted in his statement or declaration. 

 

{¶75} We begin our analysis by finding that the testimony referring 

to the children’s statements identifying Appellant as the assailant are hearsay 

because they were made by out-of-court declarants for the purpose of 

identifying the defendant is this case. The question is whether those 

statements are excited utterances making them admissible as an exception to 

the hearsay rule. 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 25

{¶76} Witnesses testified that the children were very upset, having 

witnessed the shooting of their aunt and mother just minutes before 

identifying Appellant as the assailant. This is certainly the type of emotional 

shock that stills reflexive processes making fabrication unlikely, especially 

in children. See State v. Wright, 12th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 71008, 1997 WL 

607537, at *5 (A “child's exclamations within 20 minutes after witnessing 

the choking and murder of her mother while she was sitting next to her in the 

car, fit within classic examples of excited utterances. * * * To contend they 

were the product of reflective analysis is without merit.”) 

{¶77} Appellant makes no argument to the contrary. Instead, he 

argues that “nobody inside of the home would have been in a position to see 

the shooter outside of it.” (Emphasis added.) 

{¶78} In Potter, which set out the factors for determining when a 

statement is an excited utterance, the court does not state that the declarant 

must “see” the event, rather it stated that the declarant must “observe 

personally” the event. The word “observe” is not defined in Potter but its 

common meaning is broader than the word “see;” it means to “perceive; 

notice, see.” Freeman v. Beech Aircraft Corp., No. 80-11-0119, 1983 WL 

4495, at *17 (Ohio Ct. App. Sept. 30, 1983). Courts have consistently held 

that “[a] witness must testify from first-hand knowledge which is acquired 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 26

by perceiving a fact through one or more of the five senses.” (Emphasis 

added.) State v. McDaniel, No. 94CA08, 1995 WL 75394, at *4 (Ohio Ct. 

App. Feb. 21, 1995), State v. Teets, 2018-Ohio-5019, ¶ 28, Bonacorsi v. 

Wheeling & Lake Erie Ry. Co., 2002-Ohio-2220, ¶ 26, 95 Ohio St.3d 314, 

320, 767 N.E.2d 707, 713. Similarly, we conclude that a declarant may 

ascertain first-hand knowledge though any one or more of his five senses. 

{¶79} The door of the trailer was still locked when the Martins 

arrived so there is no evidence that indicates that the assailant ever entered 

the trailer. This conclusion is consistent with the evidence indicating that 

shots killing Amber Piquet were fired from outside the trailer. Pictures of 

the trailer show that the blinds appear to be drawn shut on all the windows, 

including the window through which the bullets passed. During one of the 

sidebars, defense counsel discussed the admissibility of the children’s 

statements stating “these kids clearly didn’t see anything. We agree. We 

can find no evidence that the children inside the trailer would have been able 

to see the assailant for all the reasons the defense alleges. 

{¶80} Absent the children seeing the assailant, we can discern only 

two other possible sources of them identifying Appellant as the assailant. 

The first is that the assailant spoke during the attack and the children 

identified the voice as Appellant’s, but that is mere speculation. Second, the 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 27

children heard Ms. Piquet refer to the assailant as “Carl” during the attack as 

Gretchen communicated to Christy Martin after the murder, but that involves 

multiple layers of hearsay, an issue never addressed by the parties or the trial 

court. 

{¶81} In the end, there is no reliable evidence to determine how the 

children identified Appellant as the assailant. Under these particular facts, 

we hold that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting the children’s 

statements that identified Appellant the assailant. This renders Appellant’s 

Confrontation Clause issue moot, but it does not end our analysis. 

{¶82} Although it was an abuse of discretion for the trial court to 

admit testimony regarding the children’s statements, the error was 

nevertheless harmless because there was overwhelming evidence of 

Appellant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 

{¶83} “Crim.R. 52(A) states that reviewing courts must disregard 

‘[a]ny error, defect, irregularity, or variance which does not affect 

substantial rights.’ The phrase “ ‘ ‘substantial rights’ has been interpreted to 

require that ‘ “ ‘the error must have been prejudicial.’ ” ’ ” State v. Butcher, 

4th Dist. Athens No. 15CA33, 2017-Ohio-1544, ¶ 48, quoting State v. 

Morris, 141Ohio St.3d 399, 2014–Ohio-5052, 24 N.,E.3d 1153, ¶ 53. “In 

general, “ ‘improper evidentiary admission * * * may be deemed harmless 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 28

error on review when, after the tainted evidence is removed, the remaining 

evidence is overwhelming.’ ” Id., at ¶ 49, quoting Morris at ¶ 32, see also

State v. McKelton, 148 Ohio St.3d 261, 2016-Ohio-5735, 304, 70 N.E.3d 

508, ¶ 234, (improper admission of prejudicial evidence was harmless in 

light of the overwhelming evidence of Appellant’s guilt), State v. Tench,

2018-Ohio-5205, --- N.E.3d ---, 2018 WL 6921048 , ¶ 175 (same). 

{¶84} Morris set out a three-prong approach to determine whether an 

error was harmless: (1) did the error impact the verdict, (2) was the error 

harmless beyond a reasonable doubt, and (3) once the prejudicial evidence is 

excised, does the remaining evidence establish the defendant's guilt beyond 

a reasonable doubt. Morris, 141Ohio St.3d 399, 2014–Ohio-5052, 24 N.E.3d 

115, ¶ 27-29.

{¶85} There is nothing in the record that suggests that the children’s 

statements identifying Appellant as the assailant affected the verdict. Morris, 

141 Ohio St.3d 399, 2014-Ohio-5053, 24 N.E.3d 1153, 1160, ¶ 27, quoting 

Sate v. Crawford, 32 Ohio St.2d at 255, 291 N.E.2d 450 (“[A] judgment of 

conviction should not be reversed because of ‘the admission * * * of any 

evidence offered against * * * the accused unless it affirmatively appears on 

the record that the accused was or may have been prejudiced thereby.’ ”). 

And, after excluding from consideration the children’s statements that 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 29

identified Appellant as the assailant, there is overwhelming evidence that 

Appellant, with prior calculation and design, shot and killed Amber Piquet 

beyond a reasonable doubt. 

{¶86} Kayla Rozell, Amber Piquet’s neighbor, testified that she saw 

Appellant attempting to break down the door of Ms. Piquet’s trailer and then 

escape the scene in a reddish van right after shots were fired. Ms. Rozell 

testified that she did not know Appellant’s name at that time, but she did 

recognize Appellant from seeing him in the neighborhood frequently. This 

testimony is consistent with her 911 call when she said to the operator “I had 

seen that guy.” The night of the murder Ms. Rozell also picked Appellant’s 

photo out of a blind photo lineup as being the assailant with 100% 

confidence, and she identified Appellant as the attacker in open court. 

{¶87} Moreover, there was additional evidence supporting that 

Appellant shot and killed the victim with prior calculation and design. 

{¶88} After Ms. Piquet and Appellant split up and Ms. Piquet moved 

out, Appellant told one of his neighbors, Gene Smith, that he had thought 

about killing Ms. Piquet, Ms. Piquet’s mother and brother, Ms. Piquet’s 

whole family. Mr. Smith also mentioned that Appellant had stated that he 

needed to acquire a vehicle that was quieter than his truck so he could sneak 

up on her. Six weeks before the murder, Appellant purchased the 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 30

red/maroon van. A neighbor testified that Appellant was obsessed with 

Amber Piquet, an obsession that intensified prior to her death. 

{¶89} Several of Appellant’s neighbors testified that they saw a silver 

truck drive into Appellant’s driveway on the night of the murder, and then a 

red/maroon van leave his premises shortly thereafter within a time frame that 

could place Appellant at Amber Piquet trailer within the timeframe of the 

murder. 

{¶90} The night of the murder Appellant visited a neighbor and asked 

him to be a witness that Appellant had been home all day, even though that 

neighbor said that Appellant was not home all day. 

{¶91} In his home, Appellant had an empty box for a Glock handgun, 

the paperwork for that gun, and ammunition. The Glock recovered from 

Jerry Hammonds’ barn matched the gun box and paperwork found in 

Appellant’s house. The Glock also had DNA on the trigger that matched 

Appellant’s DNA. There was expert testimony that the empty cartridges 

found at the murder scene were fired by that Glock, and projectiles found at 

the murder scene were “consistent” as having been fired by that Glock. 

{¶92} The evidence that Appellant shot and killed Amber Piquet with 

prior calculation and design is overwhelming. 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 31

{¶93} There testimony from Appellant’s daughter and son seemed to 

suggest that Appellant’s neighbor, Jerry Hammonds, who owned a red van, 

was motivated to seek revenge against Appellant because Appellant filed 

suit against Mr. Hammonds to recover payments that Appellant had made to 

Mr. Hammonds to buy the house. They seemed to suggest that Jerry 

Hammonds turned over the Glock to police shortly after that lawsuit was 

filed knowing that Appellant was a suspect in killing Ms. Piquet. The entire 

theory is predicated upon Appellant having traded the Glock to Jerry 

Hammonds prior to the murder, but there is no evidence, let alone persuasive 

evidence, that such a trade occurred. 

{¶94} Accordingly, we hold that even though the trial court abused 

its discretion in permitting the children’s statements identifying Appellant as 

the assailant, the error was harmless because there was overwhelming 

evidence supporting Appellant’s convictions beyond a reasonable doubt. 

ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR II and III 

{¶95} In his second assignment of error, Appellant assets that there is 

insufficient evidence to support his convictions. In his third assignment of 

error, Appellant asserts that his convictions are against the manifest weight 

of the evidence. Both arguments rely primarily upon the assertion that absent 

the children’s statements, there was no witness who saw Appellant “shoot 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 32

into the home.” Consequently, Appellant argues, “the jury placed far too 

much weight on the out-of-court statements of the children.” 

{¶96} Having addressed and resolved those issues in the first 

assignment of error, and having found that even absent the children’s 

statements there is overwhelming evidence of Appellant’s guilt, Appellant’s 

second and third assignments of error are moot. 

{¶97} Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed. 

 JUDGMENT AFFIRMED. 
Scioto App. No. 18CA3839 33

JUDGMENT ENTRY 

 It is ordered that the JUDGMENT BE AFFIRMED and costs be 

assessed to Appellant. 

 The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal. 

 It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing 

the Scioto County Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into 

execution. 

 IF A STAY OF EXECUTION OF SENTENCE AND RELEASE 

UPON BAIL HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY GRANTED BY THE TRIAL 

COURT OR THIS COURT, it is temporarily continued for a period not to 

exceed sixty days upon the bail previously posted. The purpose of a 

continued stay is to allow Appellant to file with the Supreme Court of Ohio 

an application for a stay during the pendency of proceedings in that court. If 

a stay is continued by this entry, it will terminate at the earlier of the 

expiration of the sixty day period, or the failure of the Appellant to file a 

notice of appeal with the Supreme Court of Ohio in the forty-five day appeal 

period pursuant to Rule II, Sec. 2 of the Rules of Practice of the Supreme 

Court of Ohio. Additionally, if the Supreme Court of Ohio dismisses the 

appeal prior to expiration of sixty days, the stay will terminate as of the date 

of such dismissal. 

 A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to 

Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. 

Abele, J. & Hess, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion. 

For the Court, 

 BY: ______________________________ 

 Matthew W. McFarland, Judge

NOTICE TO COUNSEL 

 Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final 

judgment entry and the time period for further appeal commences from 

the date of filing with the clerk.