Chase Lee Daugherty was booked into the Ross County Jail on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, after a Ross County grand jury returned an indictment alleging two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of reckless homicide. Public court records and jail booking information confirm the case remains pending.
Charges (as listed in official records)
All charges are currently active and undisposed according to the Ross County Clerk of Courts eAccess portal and Miami Valley Jails booking records:
• Charge 1: Involuntary manslaughter, Ohio Revised Code 2903.04, first-degree felony. Listed as original and indicted charge.
• Charge 2: Involuntary manslaughter, Ohio Revised Code 2903.04, first-degree felony. Listed as original and indicted charge.
• Charge 3: Reckless homicide, Ohio Revised Code 2903.041, third-degree felony (also noted in records as 2903.041 CVT). Original charge listed as reckless homicide; indicted charge listed as 2903.041 CVT.
The indictment, filed August 21, 2026, states counts 1 and 2 as involuntary manslaughter under 2903.04 (F1) and count 3 as reckless homicide under 2903.041 (F3). Jail records list a warrant charge of involuntary manslaughter with no bond shown. A commitment entry notes conditions including no contact with victims’ family.
Under Ohio law, involuntary manslaughter under R.C. 2903.04(A) occurs when a person causes the death of another as a proximate result of committing or attempting to commit a felony; it is a first-degree felony. Reckless homicide under R.C. 2903.041 occurs when a person recklessly causes the death of another and is a third-degree felony. These are allegations only.
Timeline from public records
• August 21, 2026: Indictment filed in Ross County Common Pleas Court. Criminal filing fees noted. Prosecuting attorney requested issuance of summons upon indictment. Summons and certified copy of the indictment issued to the Ross County Sheriff for service.
• August 26, 2026: Summons on indictment and signed notice of disability returned as served by the Ross County Sheriff. Certificate for court stenographer fee filed. Commitment filed. Status date recorded as August 26, 2026.
• August 26, 2026, 8:55 a.m.: Arrest by Ross County, officer listed as Donald Malone.
• August 26, 2026, 9:41 a.m.: Booking at Ross County Jail, booking number IN202601770. Records list him as held in custody at Ross County Jail. Identifying information includes date of birth June 2, 1988.
• Next scheduled event: Criminal pre-trial on September 28, 2026, at 1:45 p.m. Case judge listed as Matthew S. Schmidt. A disposition entry notes a transfer to another judge or court on August 26, 2026, with Michael M. Ater also referenced.
Court records list the action as involuntary manslaughter. Daugherty is identified as the defendant. Records show he was to be housed at ODRC until September 19, 2026, per the commitment entry.
Ross County Common Pleas Judges Michael M. Ater and Matthew S. Schmidt preside over the general division. The case appears on the official eAccess portal at eaccess.co.ross.oh.us, operated through CourtView Justice Solutions.
Daugherty is presumed innocent of the charges unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Public records available as of August 26, 2026, do not include a statement of facts describing the underlying incident, victim identities, or the specific felony alleged as the basis for the involuntary manslaughter counts. No official press release from the Ross County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office or Sheriff’s Office detailing those circumstances was located in contemporaneous reporting.
Information in this article is drawn from the Ross County Clerk of Courts public access portal and the Miami Valley Jails public custody listing. Readers should consult those official sources for the most current docket entries, as court records can be updated.
