A grim chapter concluded in the courtrooms of Franklin County today as Erich Barbee, aged 31, entered a guilty plea for the crimes of murder and attempted murder in a violent incident dating back to March 2023. The Franklin County Prosecutor's Office reported that the sentence for Barbee was life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
The tragic episode unfolded on Columbus's west side, where Barbee fatally shot Marissa Saultz, 44, and grievously wounded Morgan Cosner, 30, who survived despite serious injuries. The presence of a young child, Cosner's daughter, added a layer of horror to the events. Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys Marla Farbacher and Courtney Sackett were the officials steering the case against Barbee.
In the proceedings presided over by Judge Chris Brown of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Barbee's charge of aggravated murder came with a firearm specification, and the attempted murder charge included a violent career criminal specification. The resolution of this case means Barbee is also mandated to register under the Violent Offender Database, marking him within a system of warnings and surveillance.
