URGENT UPDATE: An Ohio mother has been sentenced to 18 to 23.5 years in prison for her role in the death of her 6-year-old daughter, Eva Bretz. In a shocking case that highlights severe child abuse, Ashley Fagan, 33, stood by while her boyfriend brutally beat and strangled the young girl over several weeks.
Fagan pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including involuntary manslaughter and permitting child abuse. The tragic incident culminated on April 13, 2025, when police received a 911 call from their home. Officers found Eva in critical condition and rushed her to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead just six hours later due to catastrophic injuries, including a severed liver and ligature marks around her neck.
Authorities revealed that Fagan initially misled police, claiming Eva’s injuries were caused by a tree branch caught in her hoodie. However, surveillance footage disproved her story, showing the girl had not been outside that night. As investigations unfolded, detectives uncovered text messages between Fagan and her boyfriend, Blake Hutchinson, indicating they were attempting to fabricate a narrative about Eva’s injuries long before her death.
During the sentencing hearing, emotional testimony revealed the depth of the tragedy. “The one person on this planet that should have had her best interest at heart did not take any steps to protect her,” said Kevin Coles, Eva’s grandfather. Judge Richard Brown expressed his distress, stating, “I cannot imagine taking a life or watching while someone else takes the life of a child, particularly your own child.”
The coroner’s report confirmed that Eva had been suffering from severe physical abuse for weeks, with evidence of ongoing trauma, including multiple fractures at various stages of healing. Disturbingly, test results indicated the young girl had fentanyl in her system and was likely a victim of sexual assault.
In a tragic turn, Hutchinson, who faced arrest for the abuse, took his own life just before authorities could apprehend him. The indictment against Fagan highlighted her failure to protect Eva, stating that her actions permitted the child to be tortured and physically restrained in a cruel manner.
This case serves as a harrowing reminder of the urgency to protect vulnerable children from abuse. The community mourns the loss of a life that should have been filled with love and safety. As details continue to emerge, advocates are calling for stronger measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Stay tuned for more developments on this heartbreaking story.
