Two seasonal workers from Mexico were indicted by the Washington County Grand Jury this week after the murder of a 23-year-old man in May.

Isaac Hernandez Diaz, 34, and his brother, Oscar Hernandez Diaz, 41, both of 300-A Dale St., Marietta, were indicted by the grand jury.

Oscar was indicted on one count of murder, an unclassified felony. Isaac was indicted on one count of complicity in the commission of an offense, an unclassified felony.

The two suspects apparently lived in the same apartment complex as the victim, Abraham Olvera, officials said.

Some time the night of May 21, there was a physical altercation in the parking lot of the complex between Isaac Diaz and the brother of Abraham Olvera, according to police reports. The two suspects reportedly went back to their apartment, where Oscar armed himself with a katana-style sword, according to police.

The brothers reportedly returned to the residence where Olvera lived with his family. Officials said Isaac armed himself with a wooden stake and the two began breaking the windows of Olvera’s apartment.

Marietta Police said three people were attacked during the incident — Olvera, his brother and his father.

Officials said the pair were hitting the windows with “a wooden staff and katana-style sword.”

The victim was in front of the window, the sword went through the window and stabbed him in the chest, officials said.

Police said after every window was broken, the suspects reportedly returned to their apartment. The sword reportedly used during the incident was found inside the apartment of the suspects, police said.

Upon arrival, police located Olvera inside the apartment where he was receiving medical attention from a family member. He was transported to Marietta Memorial Hospital, where he later succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced dead.

Police said the suspects were in the area on a temporary summer work visa. They were hired by a local family to do seasonal work.

The brothers had no other family in the area, but they worked with Olvera. Police said the victim was from a small town outside Mexico City.

¯ Nathan J. Morris, 22, of 550 Greenhill Road, Belpre, was indicted on one count of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony, and one count of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fifth-degree felony. He was allegedly found in April with a Ruger LC9 on Washington Boulevard, Belpre. He was reportedly under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of them at the time. The firearm is subject to forfeiture.

¯ Cody T. Harris, 36, of 414 Ashton Lane Apt. 2, Ravenswood, W.Va., was indicted on one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. He was reportedly found with methamphetamine in October at Fifth and Main streets, Belpre.

¯ Karissa Marie Porter, 31, of 301 Jennison St., Beverly, was indicted on one count of identity fraud, a fifth-degree felony. In October 2020, she allegedly used personal identifying information of Levi Porter with intent to hold herself out to be Levi.

¯ Christina R. Nunn, 51, of 106 Devol Drive, Marietta, was indicted on one count of escape, a third-degree felony. She reportedly failed to return to a detention center in May.

¯ Mason Andrew Nelson, 34, of 540 King Ave., Cutler, was indicted on one count of receiving stolen property, a fifth-degree felony. He allegedly received a utility trailer from Sept. 17 through Sept. 20 at 2682 Veto Road, Vincent.

¯ Joseph Lloyd Reed, 49, of 584 Goddard Road, Cutler, and Jeremy Allen Cremeans, 36, of 584 Goddard Road, Cutler, were each indicted on one count of obstructing justice, a fifth-degree felony. The pair allegedly hindered law enforcement in their search for Mason Nelson in May. Nelson had five outstanding warrants for his arrest.

¯ Rhonda Deann Clark, 45, of 1685 Wynncrest Drive, Marietta, was indicted on one count of illegal conveyance of drugs of abuse onto grounds of a specified governmental facility, a third-degree felony, and one count of aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth-degree felony. She reportedly tried to take methamphetamine into the Washington County Jail in January.

¯ Jaquan Lavalle Hall, 22, of 506 C St., Charleston, W.Va., was indicted on one count of felonious assault, a second-degree felony. He reportedly caused serious harm to Marshall Charles Kremer in February at the Washington County Jail.

¯ Scott Lee Carpenter, 60, of 415 ¢ Third St., Marietta, was indicted on two counts of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination of them – OVI, both third-degree felonies, and one count of receiving stolen property, a fifth-degree felony. He was allegedly found under the influence in May at County Road 344 and Ohio 7 in Marietta. He was previously convicted of the equivalent to operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol five times in the last 20 years — in Marietta Municipal Court on Nov. 3, 2003, Feb. 1, 2006, and June 6, 2011; in Wood County Circuit Court on March 21, 2007; and in the Washington County Court of Common Pleas on Aug. 31, 2016. He had an Ohio license plate which did not belong to him.

¯ Three individuals were indicted after a reported breaking and entering in April.

Ronald E. Blackstone II, 39, of 3645 Blue Knob Road, Marietta, Misty Caldwell, 44, of 3645 Blue Knob Road, Marietta, and Bryce M. Stacy, 23, of 941 Nicolette Road, Parkersburg, were allegedly all involved in the offense.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported a deputy was dispatched April 22 to Rainbow View Drive in Muskingum Township to the report of a breaking and entering. The owners of the property said it was being prepared to be rented. Tools were stolen from the residence after a basement door was forced open.

The sheriff’s office noted a vehicle at the scene was purchased by Bryce Stacy. He reportedly advised he had forced the door open and that Ronald Blackstone II was with him. The next day, during the investigation, deputies spoke with Misty Caldwell, who reportedly said she was the only one home, although Blackstone was later found in a bathroom, officials said.

Blackstone and Stacy were each indicted on one count of breaking and entering and one count of theft from a person in a protected class, both fifth-degree felonies.

Caldwell was indicted on one count of obstructing justice, a fifth-degree felony.

¯ Erica J. Arbaugh, 45, of 1660 Finkle Hill Road, Beverly, was indicted on one count of theft and one count of possessing criminal tools, both fifth-degree felonies. From Nov. 1 through April 1, she allegedly stole $3,500 from the ParMar on Ohio 7. She reportedly used a key to a coin machine to steal the money.

¯ Emma Jane Hodgson, 19, of Belpre, was indicted on one count of domestic violence, a fifth-degree felony. She attempted to cause harm to a family member in May.

¯ William E. Bartges Jr., 49, of Belpre, was indicted on three counts of domestic violence, all third-degree felonies; one count of domestic violence, a first-degree misdemeanor; and two counts of aggravated menacing, both first-degree misdemeanors. He allegedly attempted to cause harm to three family members in April, along with causing them to believe he would cause serious physical harm to them.

Bartges was convicted of domestic violence on two other occasions – on Dec. 17, 2021, in Marietta Municipal Court, and on Jan. 14, 2020, in the Washington County Court of Common Pleas.

¯ Aisha A. Balkich was indicted on one count of identity fraud, a third-degree felony. From April 9, 2019, through October 2019, she allegedly used personal identifying information of Margaret A. Arnold without her permission to steal between $1,000 and $7,500.

¯ Mitchel A. Tabler was indicted on two counts of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or a combination of them – OVI, both fourth-degree felonies. He reportedly drove under the influence in February. Within the last 10 years, he was previously convicted of three OVIs – December 2014 in Marietta Municipal Court, May 2017 in the District Court of Maryland, and July 2017 in Marietta Municipal Court.

¯ Misty Dawn West, 45, of 21460 State Route 550, Amesville, was indicted on one count of abduction and one count of robbery, both third-degree felonies, and one count of petty theft, a first-degree misdemeanor.

According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy began an investigation at Dough Boyz Pizza in Devola in March. A woman had returned to the store unhappy with her service, requesting a refund.

Officials said the customer was told they would not give them a refund. The woman, identified as Misty West, reportedly reached into the tip jar and removed money from the jar before leaving the store.

The employee reportedly went after West and ended up in the vehicle with her when she fled the parking lot. Officials said the employee and another occupant pleaded with West to return her to the store, which she did.

Michele Newbanks can be reached at mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com.

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