ELYRIA, Ohio — A Lorain man previously found guilty for his role in the murder of his 17-year-old girlfriend has been sentenced to life in prison.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost made the announcement Tuesday, nearly three weeks after a jury convicted Christian Marshall of murder and complicity to attempted murder in the 2019 death of Jessica Baker. Marshall will be eligible for parole after 34-38 years behind bars.
Though Marshall, 23, did not fire the gunshot that killed Baker, police and ultimately the jury ruled his crimes leading up to that bullet being fired played a direct role in her death. On the night of Oct. 17, 2019, prosecutors say Marshall's friend Savion McCall and another man named Lucas Williams got into a fight that authorities had to put a stop to. Following the altercation, McCall asked Marshall to meet him and bring his gun, and Baker wound up retrieving the weapon for Marshall before driving to pick him up in her parents' Jeep.
Marshall then took over driving and picked up McCall, with Baker in the front passenger's seat. The trio then drove to Williams' home where McCall opened fire, but Williams then responded by shooting at them, and Baker was struck in the back.
Marshall then sped away and dropped McCall off before calling 911 to tell police his "friend" had been shot. Officers eventually found the car in the 800 block of West 21st Street and found Baker dead inside.
In the state of Ohio, if someone is killed while a crime is being committed, anyone involved in such an incident can be charged with murder. Following further investigation, Marshall, McCall, and Williams were all indicted for her death.
"Senseless violence often produces unintended victims," Yost said. "You can't take back a bullet once it's fired, and today's sentence won't bring back the victim, but justice can be a starting point for healing."
According to The Chronicle-Telegram, Lorain County Prosecutor J.D. Tomlinson recused himself after revealing he had previously represented Marshall in an unrelated 2018 drug possession charge, so Yost's office took over. The paper also noted that Baker was a senior at Clearview High School at the time of her death.
Per court records, Marshall was convicted of a total of 11 charges, including five instances where he was found not guilty of the crime itself but guilty of complicity. Williams, whom authorities believe fired the fatal shot, pleaded guilty to manslaughter last month and is due to be sentenced in November, while McCall still faces murder charges and is scheduled to go on trial next year.