June 20, 2007 — Robert Lee Drown, 27, of Kenova, West Virginia, was indicted on six counts by the Carter County Grand Jury on Tuesday, June 12.
1) murder by killing Jennifer Ison by strangulation
2) murder by killing Marissa Ison by strating a fire which resulted in her death
3) murder by killing Shannah Ison by infliction of blunt force trauma to her head
4) rape 1st degree by engaging in sexual intercourse with a minor less than 12 years of age
5) arson 1st degree by starting a fire with the intent to destroy the home of Jennifer Ison, when the home was occupied by Marissa Ison
6) burglary 1st degree by unlawfully entering the home of Jennifer Ison, and while there caused the deaths of Jennifer, Marissa and Shannah Ison and also committed rape 1st degree
Drown will soon face these charges when he is brought back to Kentucky. He is currently still at the Western Regional Jail in Barboursville, WV where he was taken into custody on charges of non-compliance with the sexual offender registry, shortly after the deaths of the Ison family.
Commonwealth Attorney David Flatt filed for a governor’s warrant to bring Drown to Carter County.
Flatt said he felt the governor’s warrant would come through before Drown’s next scheduled court date in West Virginia, which is August 23.
“I have filed a notice with the Circuit Clerk’s office stating we will be seeking the death penalty,” Flatt said.
After Drown’s DNA was placed in the national database, he is now accused of sexually assaulting a Westmorland woman on September 23, 1998.
According to reports, the victim said a man entered her home and assaulted her while in the room with her young daughter. It was dark and she never knew what her attacker looked like.
Reports say DNA saved from that crime matched Drown and he now faces additional charges of first-degree sexual assault and nighttime burglary.
“I don’t think this new case will affect Drown being brought to Kentucky,” Flatt said. “They solved their 1998 case because of some things we did. I feel confident they will let us have our case first.”
Flatt said all the departments from Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio have worked together and really cooperated with each other as they seek justice for the crimes committed.
Meanwhile, Drown had been placed on suicide watch at the jail in West Virginia after cutting himself with a razor. A main artery was not cut but stitches were required, according to a jail authority. After being examined by the facilities’ psychiatrist last Friday, Drown was removed from a 24-hour observation but still remains separated from the general population with extra precautions begin taken.
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