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Prosecutors To Seek Death Penalty For Man Accused Of Killing Clermont Co. Deputy

91.7 WVXU | By Jay Hanselman

Published February 4, 2019 at 11:14 AM EST

Suspect Wade Edward Winn appears before Judge Kevin T. Miles at Clermont County Municipal Court into the shooting incident involving two officers of the Clermont County Sheriff's Office, Monday, Feb. 4, in Batavia.

Clermont County prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty for a suspect accused of fatally shooting a sheriff's deputy and wounding another deputy during a 12-hour standoff that ended Sunday morning.

A judge ordered 23-year-old Wade Winn held on a $10 million bond during a brief hearing Monday morning in Clermont County Municipal Court.

Winn is charged with aggravated murder in the death of Detective Bill Brewer and attempted aggravated murder for wounding Lt. Nick DeRose.

"This case started when the defendant called 911 indicating his home was being burglarized," said Darren Miller, assistant Clermont County prosecutor. "Law enforcement officers responded your honor, the defendant refused to exit his home, he was observed to have weapons."

Later Saturday evening Winn faked a suicide, leading the officers to enter his apartment in Pierce Township to attempt to render first aid.

"But not only had the defendant not attempted suicide, he was waiting in ambush for the officers in the special response team," Miller said. "He fired multiple rounds through the walls of his apartment murdering Deputy Bill Brewer and attempting to murder Lt. Nick DeRose."

Winn surrendered Sunday morning after his apartment caught fire.

Winn did not make any comments during the hearing, and his attorney responded to all questions asked by the judge.

He'll be back in court on Feb. 13 for a preliminary hearing.

Detective Brewer, 42, died from his injuries at Anderson Mercy Hospital. He was a 20-year veteran and leaves behind his wife and their 5-year-old son. Lt. DeRose was treated for his injuries and released from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

"Deputy Brewer gave his life attempting to help a person who was admittedly suicidal," Clermont County Sheriff Steve Leahy said in a new release Sunday. "This will forever change the atmosphere of the Clermont County Sheriff's Office."

A public visitation for Brewer will be held Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Mt. Carmel Christian Church, 4110 Bach Buxton Rd, Batavia. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the church. Interment will follow at Pierce Township Cemetery. Procession details will be released at a later time.