In a case that has rocked a tight-knit Darke County community, an Ansonia volunteer firefighter is now accused of killing a beloved local cheer coach and then responding to the fire at her home.
Prosecutors say 22-year-old Peyton Beam is facing charges of aggravated murder and aggravated arson in the death of 50-year-old Ericka Kramer, who was found inside her burning house on April 10. Kramer’s body was discovered after firefighters responded to a blaze just before 12:30 p.m. on the 2700 block of Zumbrum Road.
Crews from the Ansonia Fire Department located Kramer while battling the flames, and Darke County Coroner Dr. Susan Brown later ruled her death a homicide. Beam was arrested on April 12, and online jail records show he is being held in the Darke County Jail on the aggravated murder and aggravated arson counts, according to WHIO.
Prosecutors Say He Shot Her, Doused Her in Gasoline, Then Returned as a Responder
In court, prosecutors laid out a chilling narrative: they allege Beam shot Kramer multiple times, then poured gasoline on her and set the house on fire before returning to the scene in his role as a volunteer firefighter, according to reporting by Law&Crime.
Prosecutors told the court Beam “executed” Kramer, saying she was shot twice in the back and twice in the head, Law&Crime reported.
Beam’s attorney has pushed back on that account, arguing there is no direct evidence tying Beam to the killing and signaling that the defense will rely heavily on forensic testing and ballistics, according to Firehouse.
Community Mourns a Coach, Mentor, and Neighbor
Kramer was well known in town as the varsity cheer coach at Ansonia Schools, and her death has prompted an outpouring of grief from students, school staff, and neighbors. District officials said they planned to bring in grief counselors to support students grappling with the sudden loss.
Her obituary notes that she is survived by a daughter, stepchildren, and several grandchildren, and that a funeral service is scheduled for April 18, according to Mercer County Outlook.
Courtroom Developments and What Comes Next
Beam has been formally arraigned on the aggravated murder and aggravated arson charges. A judge set his bond at $5 million cash or surety, a figure that fell short of what prosecutors had requested at the initial hearing, according to coverage by AOL.
Investigators from a multi-disciplinary team, including the Darke County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office, were called to the scene of the fire and death, WTGR reported. Beam remains jailed in Darke County as the case moves forward and additional hearings are scheduled.
