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Fostoria woman sentenced in murder

Fostoria woman sentenced in murder

Guilty pleas entered to conspiracy, kidnapping

FINDLAY -- A Fostoria woman on Monday admitted she helped plan and carry out the murder of a Findlay woman last year.

Nicole Peters, 18, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of kidnapping, and tampering with evidence stemming from the March 26 death of Vera Jo Reigle, 24. Hancock County Common Pleas Judge Reginald Routson then sentenced her to the maximum prison term of 23 years.

Because Peters was 17 when the murder occurred, her sentence was suspended until the prosecutor and defense attorney could meet with Hancock County Juvenile Court Judge Allan Davis.

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Judge Davis determined that Peters was not amenable to treatment in the juvenile system, and the case was returned to Judge Routson in the afternoon, and he formally imposed the 23-year sentence.

Hancock County Prosecutor Mark Miller said Peters had never talked to police about her role in the killing of Ms. Reigle.

"Today is the first time she gave a statement about helping to plan it," he said, adding that only she and co-defendant Daniel Bixler know exactly what happened that day.

Bixler, 22, of Tiffin pleaded guilty Jan. 20 to aggravated murder, two counts of kidnapping, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence stemming from Ms. Reigle's death. Train operators found her body on the tracks of a CSX trestle bridge over the Blanchard River, and an autopsy showed she died of multiple stab wounds.

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Mr. Miller said investigators believe Bixler and Peters walked her out to the railroad, killed her, and left her body between the tracks.

During her statement in court, Peters said she helped plan the murder and went with Bixler and Ms. Reigle to the railroad tracks, where Bixler stabbed her several times.

She said she and Bixler then agreed to throw the knife into the river. Bixler is to be sentenced March 28.

-- Jennifer Feehan

First Published January 31, 2012, 5:28 a.m.

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