Prosecutor: Son charged with killing father is the sole life insurance beneficiary
A Capital University student is being held on $5 million dollars surety bond in connection with the June 2017 murder of his father Dr. Kevin Lake. Jonah Bryce Lake, 20 appeared in court before a magistrate on Friday and pleaded not guilty. (WSYX/WTTE)
COLUMBUS, Ohio —
A Capital University student is being held on $5 million dollars surety bond in connection with the June 2017 murder of his father Dr. Kevin Lake. Jonah Bryce Lake, 20 appeared in court before a magistrate on Friday and pleaded not guilty.
A Capital University student is being held on $5 million dollars surety bond in connection with the June 2017 murder of his father Dr. Kevin Lake. Jonah Bryce Lake, 20 appeared in court before a magistrate on Friday and pleaded not guilty. (WSYX/WTTE)
COLUMBUS, Ohio —
A Capital University student is being held on $5 million dollars surety bond in connection with the June 2017 murder of his father Dr. Kevin Lake. Jonah Bryce Lake, 20 appeared in court before a magistrate on Friday and pleaded not guilty.
“We believe there is strong evidence powerful people had a motive to kill the decedent Dr. Kevin Lake,” said his defense attorney Terry Sherman.
Kevin Lake was awaiting sentencing after he made a plea agreement for owning and operating a pill mill in South Columbus. Lake had a date to testify against his co-conspirators before a federal grand jury.
Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said “the thought initially was that someone in connection with that whole conspiracy had caused his death. There were several red flags that conflicted with the story that was given by the son initially once they ruled out the hit,” O’Brien said.
Prosecutors said Jonah is the sole beneficiary of over $10 million in life insurance. Jonah, a student a Capital University who has been on the Dean’s List, stands accused of shooting his father five times while he was in bed. Jonah called 9-1-1 that summer morning from their New Albany mansion. “I heard gunshots downstairs and my dad is not responding. We had an intruder the other night.”
A search warrant at the home turned up evidence that prosecutors said incriminated Jonah. “There were computer searches done by the defendant on how to disappear completely.”
Some of Jonah’s friends went to the courthouse. They said it was to show support for him. At Capital University, Nadia Lynch said she has been in classes with Jonah and would never have thought there could be a murder suspect among students.
“I am shocked. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to do something like that. We will have to see what the evidence shows in court.”
Detectives said Jonah tried to cover up the murder by staging a home invasion. Susan Lake, also a doctor, told detectives she had left for work when her husband was shot. Susan was not in the courtroom when her son was charged on Friday.
Kevin Lake was awaiting sentencing after he made a plea agreement for owning and operating a pill mill in South Columbus. Lake had a date to testify against his co-conspirators before a federal grand jury.
Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said “the thought initially was that someone in connection with that whole conspiracy had caused his death. There were several red flags that conflicted with the story that was given by the son initially once they ruled out the hit,” O’Brien said.
Prosecutors said Jonah is the sole beneficiary of over $10 million in life insurance. Jonah, a student a Capital University who has been on the Dean’s List, stands accused of shooting his father five times while he was in bed. Jonah called 9-1-1 that summer morning from their New Albany mansion. “I heard gunshots downstairs and my dad is not responding. We had an intruder the other night.”
A search warrant at the home turned up evidence that prosecutors said incriminated Jonah. “There were computer searches done by the defendant on how to disappear completely.”
Some of Jonah’s friends went to the courthouse. They said it was to show support for him. At Capital University, Nadia Lynch said she has been in classes with Jonah and would never have thought there could be a murder suspect among students.
“I am shocked. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to do something like that. We will have to see what the evidence shows in court.”
Detectives said Jonah tried to cover up the murder by staging a home invasion. Susan Lake, also a doctor, told detectives she had left for work when her husband was shot. Susan was not in the courtroom when her son was charged on Friday.