HAMILTON COUNTY, Ohio -- Akihiko Clayton took a plea deal Tuesday morning: Life in prison plus 66 years for pleading guilty to stabbing five people one year ago.
Clayton, 21, was arrested for stabbing four children -- including twin 2-year-old girls -- and killing their father/uncle on July 2, 2016. He was caught by police after he tried to rob a bank.
According to police, Clayton forced entry into an apartment at 1108 Chesterdale Circle known as the Willows of Springdale. When Springdale police were called to the scene shortly after midnight, they found blood on the front door and heard loud music from the apartment. Inside, they found the five victims - including two boys, ages 7 (Ramirez' son) and 14 (his nephew).
A death penalty indictment accuses Akihiko Clayton, 20, of killing 33-year-old Emilio Ramirez and wounding three of his young children and a teen-age nephew in their Springdale apartment on July 2. A 5-year-old boy - a son of the victim - hid under a blanket and escaped unharmed, relatives said.
In August, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters guaranteed that Clayton would get the death penalty.
"It was basically a home invasion," Deters said. "When you kill or attempt to kill two or more people, it's a death penalty case."
WCPO will update this story as more information is available.
