Syniqua Bell has pleaded guilty to one count of obstructing justice. As part of the deal, nine charges will be dropped, including murder and attempted murder. Bell was sentenced to 36 months in prison on the charge. The case against another co-defendant, Jacar Bitting, was dismissed totally by the Auglaize County Common Pleas Court judge Monday.

A Columbus man facing murder charges in Auglaize County appeared in court for housekeeping matters. Jacar Bitting was in court to make sure he is getting adequate time to go over evidence with his attorney. Bitting is facing nine charges including aggravated murder, murder, and felonious assault. His trial is set for April 13. Bitting has two co-defendants, Syniqua Bell and Keith Waddle. They're accused of a 2018 shooting in St. Marys that killed Dexter Lee and injured his son Alim Turner.

After a year and a half long investigation, three people from Columbus have been arrested and charged in the murder of a St. Marys man. Auglaize Sheriff Al Solomon announced the arrest of 31-year-old Syniqua Bell, 27-year-old Jacar Bitting, and 31-year-old Keith Waddell. All three were taken into custody over the past few weeks and are facing multiple charges including murder, attempted murder, aggravated murder with a gun specification, and felonious assault.