MARIETTA - Murder suspect Steven Leonhart hid outside a Caywood Road residence Thursday morning waiting for his ex-girlfriend's new significant other to leave for work so he could confront the woman, according to a statement of facts filed by investigating officers.
Shortly after Willard "Willy" Baker II, 35, of 215 Caywood Road left, Leonhart used the shotgun he had brought with him to break though a sliding glass door on a lower level of the home, according to officers. Leonhart then went upstairs and pulled Holly Fickiesen from a bedroom and took her into the living room at gunpoint.
Family members of Fickiesen said on Friday the woman was battered during an interrogation by Leonhart. At some point during the assault on the woman Baker returned home, officers said.
"At some point, and I'm not exactly sure why, Willy Baker returned home and was shot and killed by Leonhart as he entered the room," said Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks. "When Baker was shot, Fickiesen escaped to a neighbor's home."
Bond for Leonhart was set at $1.4 million Friday after an arraignment in Marietta Municipal Court. Through his court-appointed attorney, the Whipple man pleaded not guilty. A preliminary hearing for the case is set for 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
In advance of the hearing, prosecutors filed several new charges against Leonhart. Some of the charges could carry the death penalty.
"It's too early to make that kind of a decision," said Assistant Washington County Prosecutor Alison Cauthorn.
Cauthorn did say there are elements of the case that could qualify it for the death penalty.
Charges filed against Leonhart include aggravated murder, attempted murder, felonious assault, kidnapping and aggravated burglary.
The burglary, attempted murder and kidnapping charges relate to the break-in at the home and assault on Fickiesen, Cauthorn said.
Fickiesen was not present for the Friday arraignment, although her daughter, Paula Fickiesen, 22, was there.
"She didn't want to be here but I had to be," she said. "I need to know he's going to be punished to the fullest extent of the law."
Paula Fickiesen said her mother was released Thursday from the hospital after being taken there for injuries sustained in the attack.
"She can barely move," she said. "She's covered from head to toe in bruises."
The felonious assault charge relates to a struggle police say occurred between Leonhart and Baker's neighbor, Michael Lisk, 55, of 245 Caywood Road.
Mincks said Fickiesen fled to the Lisk residence after the shooting.
"She knocked on the door, he answered, and she ran right past him and into the home," Mincks said. "A short time later, Leonhart came up to the home and Lisk grabbed the gun (Leonhart) was carrying and a struggle ensued."
Mincks said Lisk eventually was knocked to the ground and lost his grip on the gun.
"Leonhart pointed the gun at him but didn't shoot and then he just walked away," Mincks said.
Lisk sustained a broken hip in the attack and underwent surgery on Thursday evening, Mincks said.
Leonhart remains in the Washington County Jail on suicide watch. Sheriff's officials said the man made an attempt to kill himself late Thursday.
Mincks declined to elaborate on the suicide attempt. After Leonhart was taken into custody on Thursday, officers said they found an apparent suicide note at the man's home detailing the shotgun shooting of Baker.
Baker worked at Ohio Valley Alloy Services in Marietta and left behind a 2-year-old son, Hunter. He was divorced just last week from Liz Baker, 32, of Toano, Va.
Liz Baker said the couple knew each other for 20 years and remained friends after the break-up.
"He was just a wonderful caring person who would do anything for anyone," she said. "If you were down he would pick you up ... and he was a wonderful father.
"There are so many questions I want answered that I'm afraid I'll never know the answers to," she said.
Baker said the biggest question she has is why Willy returned to the home.
"Was he called back?" she asked. "I just want to know."
Mincks said that was a part of the investigation that was still under review.
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