$11M bond set for Columbus man accused of beating pregnant ex-girlfriend to death
A man accused of beating his pregnant ex-girlfriend to death while awaiting sentencing for another assault on her appeared for the first time Tuesday in Franklin County Municipal Court.
Devon Blair, 23, is charged with murder in the Sunday death of 19-year-old Brooke Devinney, who was about 14 weeks pregnant when she died, according to court records.
Blair also faces misdemeanor charges of domestic violence, assault and aggravated menacing for an incident that happened four days prior to Devinney's death.
Judge Jim O'Grady set Blair's bond at $11 million during Tuesday's hearing.
During Tuesday's hearing, Blair interrupted both the prosecutor and his own attorney, shouting expletives and saying he didn't want to come to the hearing but had been forced to attend.
Blair had initially been scheduled to appear on Monday, however, the hearing was moved because of what was described as a "medical issue."
Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor Scott Sugarman had initially asked for bond to be set at $5 million or more but increased his request after Blair's outbursts to $6 million or more. The Columbus City attorney's office also requested a minimum of a $500,000 bond for the misdemeanor charges.
At the time of Devinney's death, Blair had been free on a $10,000 recognizance bond and was ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor after pleading guilty on May 16 to felony domestic violence and assault on a police officer.
Prosecutors in May objected to Blair being allowed to remain free but Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Holbrook had said he would give Blair a chance.
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The charges stemmed from a December assault on Devinney that involved Blair forcing her to strip naked in the driveway of a home, dragging her by the hair, punching her repeatedly and threatening her with a knife, court records say.
Within two weeks, Blair's bond had been revoked for unspecified violations of his release conditions and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He is scheduled to be sentenced in that case on July 22 and faces a maximum of three years in prison.
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On Thursday, Devinney went to the parking lot of a police station and told officers Blair had punched her in the eye, struck her in the back of the head and threatened to kill her, according to court records.
Four days later, she was dead.
A grand jury will review the case in the coming weeks for possible indictment.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus man accused of beating pregnant ex to death gets $11M bond
