WESTON, Ohio — A planned confrontation at an Ohio cemetery allegedly spiraled into a violent brawl involving children, with police accusing two adults of encouraging the fight and one of them of eventually joining in.
Rachel Ankney, 41, and Dustin Willmarth, 34, are facing multiple criminal charges connected to the incident at Weston Cemetery in Wood County.
According to court documents reviewed by Law&Crime, Willmarth allegedly drove the couple’s two sons to the cemetery after Ankney gave permission for them to go there “for a large fight.”
The confrontation reportedly involved both boys and girls. What began as a fight between children allegedly became even more chaotic when Willmarth himself entered the confrontation.
A witness reportedly told authorities that Willmarth was seen striking and kicking juveniles who were present at the scene.
Police Say Parents Encouraged the Confrontation
Court documents allege that Willmarth knowingly transported his son and Ankney’s son to the cemetery to participate in a physical fight.
Police said several juveniles, including the couple’s two sons, suffered minor injuries during the confrontation. The allegations have resulted in separate charges against the adults.
Ankney was arrested this week and faces charges including endangering children and contributing to the unruliness or delinquency of a child.
Willmarth faces more serious allegations. He is charged with endangering children and felonious assault following accusations that he physically attacked several children involved in the fight.
The allegations paint a troubling picture of adults allegedly facilitating a confrontation between minors rather than preventing it.
Dad Allegedly Jumps Into Fight
According to a probable cause affidavit, the situation escalated when Willmarth allegedly got involved in the physical confrontation himself. Police say a witness observed him hitting and kicking juveniles during the cemetery brawl.
The affidavit reportedly states that several young people were injured during the fighting, although the full extent of their injuries was not immediately clear.
At least one child required transportation to a local hospital in an ambulance. Authorities have not released additional details about that child’s condition.
The motive behind the confrontation also remains unclear. Police have not publicly identified what led to the planned fight or why the children were allegedly brought together for the confrontation.
Police Say 13-Year-Old Was Hit by Car
The situation took another dramatic turn when Willmarth allegedly left the cemetery in his vehicle. According to the probable cause affidavit, he fled the scene in his car and struck a 13-year-old boy, causing minor injuries.
“Dustin fled the scene [in his car], striking a 13-year-old male … causing minor injuries,” the affidavit says.
The allegation adds another serious element to an already chaotic incident involving multiple juveniles. It remains unclear from the available court documents what happened immediately before the vehicle struck the teenager or whether the boy was involved in the fight.
Ohio Couple Faces Multiple Charges
Authorities are continuing to deal with the aftermath of the cemetery confrontation, while the criminal cases against Ankney and Willmarth move forward.
Willmarth is accused of felonious assault, as well as endangering children. Ankney faces child-endangerment and unruliness-related allegations. Both adults are currently out on bond.
The allegations have not been established as facts in court, and both defendants are entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.
Meanwhile, questions remain about why the children were allegedly brought to the cemetery in the first place and what triggered the confrontation.
With several juveniles reportedly injured and one teenager allegedly struck by a vehicle, the incident has raised serious concerns about the role adults played in a fight involving children.
What do you think about the allegations in this case? Should adults face tougher consequences when children are encouraged to fight? Share your thoughts in the comments.
