SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio (Court TV) — Erica Stefanko is expected to appear in an Ohio court Tuesday for a status hearing. A judge will rule on her request for a bond reduction after her aggravated murder conviction was overturned in the death of 25-year-old Ashley Biggs.
FILE – Erica Stefanko (Ohio Dept. of Corrections)
At her last hearing, Stefanko’s new attorney, criminal defense attorney Jeff Laybourne, asked the court for a 10% reduction in Stefanko’s bond to $100,000. At her last motions hearing, the judge granted the motion to move Stefanko from the state facility to Summit County Jail in Akron.
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In Nov. 2020, a jury found Erica Stefanko guilty of aggravated murder for luring her ex-husband’s former partner to their death. During her trial, the jury heard testimony from Stefanko’s ex-husband Chad Cobb, who testified remotely. Cobb confessed to killing Biggs, and claimed Stefanko placed the bogus pizza delivery call to Bigg’s workplace, which prosecutors said lured her to her death in June 2012.
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When Biggs arrived at the delivery address, a closed business, she was attacked by Cobb and strangled. Her body was found in the backseat of her car abandoned in a cornfield. Investigators believe the murder was the result of an ongoing child custody dispute between Cobb and Biggs, a U.S. Army veteran.
Chad Cobb gives his testimony during the murder trial of Erica Stefanko. (Court TV)
According to a ruling by the court of appeals, Stefanko’s rights were violated by the remote testimony of Cobb and two other witnesses, all of whom were required to wear masks. The ruling states, “The COVID-19 procedures used by the trial court violated (Stefanko’s) right to a fair trial, due process of law, and to confront witnesses under the 5th, 6th and 14th Amendments of the Constitution.”
In July 2021, Stefanko was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.
Since the verdict was overturned, a new trial will take place. However, Stefanko has waived her rights to a speedy trial; and her new trial date has yet to be determined.
