An Ohio couple allegedly orchestrated a violent physical altercation among children at a local cemetery, an incident that escalated when one of the adults reportedly joined the fray and struck a teenager with his car. Rachel Ankney, 41, and Dustin Willmarth, 34, now face criminal charges in connection with the brawl at Weston Cemetery in Wood County, which left several juveniles injured and required emergency medical attention for at least one child.
Background
According to court documents reviewed by Law&Crime, the incident began when Willmarth transported his son and Ankney’s son to the cemetery with Ankney’s permission specifically for what was described as a "large fight." The probable cause affidavit states that the event involved both boys and girls. A witness at the scene reported observing Willmarth actively engaging in the violence, specifically "striking and kicking juveniles that were present at the scene," rather than merely supervising or intervening to stop the conflict.
The situation deteriorated when Willmarth attempted to leave the scene in his vehicle. Police reports indicate that during his departure, Willmarth struck a 13-year-old male with his car, causing minor injuries. The extent of the injuries sustained by the other children remains unclear, though at least one child was transported to a local hospital via ambulance following the melee.
The Charges
Dustin Willmarth has been charged with felonious assault and endangering children. The felonious assault charge stems from the allegations that he knowingly transported the minors to engage in a physical fight and subsequently used physical force against other juveniles, as well as the incident involving his vehicle. Police documentation notes that Willmarth "did knowingly transport his son ... and his girlfriend's son ... to the Cemetery in Weston to engage in a physical fight," and that "several juveniles ... suffered minor injuries as a result of fighting."
Rachel Ankney has been arrested and charged with endangering children and contributing to the unruliness or delinquency of a child. Her charges are linked to granting permission for the unsupervised brawl and the resulting harm to the minors involved. Both defendants have been released on bond while awaiting further legal proceedings.
Key Takeaways
- Rachel Ankney and Dustin Willmarth were arrested in connection with a brawl at Weston Cemetery in Wood County, Ohio.
- Willmarth is charged with felonious assault and endangering children after allegedly striking and kicking juveniles during the fight.
- Police state Willmarth hit a 13-year-old boy with his car while fleeing the scene, causing minor injuries.
- Ankney is charged with endangering children and contributing to the unruliness of a child for permitting the fight.
- At least one child required ambulance transport to a local hospital; the full extent of injuries is not yet clear.
- A motive for the organized fight has not been publicly released by authorities.
What's Next
Both Ankney and Willmarth remain out on bond as the legal process continues. Authorities have not released further details regarding the motive behind the parents' decision to encourage the physical confrontation among the children. Subsequent court appearances will determine the next steps in the prosecution of the charges filed by the Wood County authorities.