UPDATE: A 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, after weeks of horrific abuse. Ashley Fagan, 33, allowed her boyfriend to physically assault and strangle the young girl, ultimately leading to her tragic demise.
In a devastating ruling from the Franklin County Common Pleas Court, Fagan pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including involuntary manslaughter and endangering children. The case has shocked the community and highlights severe failures in protecting vulnerable children.
Authorities responded to a 911 call from the family home on April 13, 2025, where they found Eva in critical condition. She was rushed to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, but despite efforts to save her, she was pronounced dead approximately six hours later. An autopsy revealed catastrophic injuries, including a severed liver and ligature marks around her neck, leading to a homicide ruling.
Fagan initially misled investigators, claiming Eva’s injuries resulted from a tree branch accident. However, police quickly disproved this claim with surveillance footage showing the girl had not played outside that evening. Text messages between Fagan and her boyfriend, Blake Hutchinson, revealed attempts to fabricate a story about Eva’s injuries dating back to October 2024.
Fagan’s attorney described her as a flawed individual who made “unforgivable choices.” The emotional weight of the case was evident in the courtroom, as Judge Richard Brown expressed his disbelief, stating, “I cannot imagine taking a life or watching while someone else takes the life of a child, particularly your own child.”
Tragically, Eva was not only a victim of physical abuse; she also showed signs of sexual assault and had fentanyl in her system at the time of death. The coroner’s report indicated she had been enduring severe abuse for weeks or possibly months. Injuries included blunt force trauma to her abdomen and multiple fractures at various healing stages, underscoring the prolonged nature of her suffering.
Detectives reported that Eva’s injuries were consistent with ongoing abuse, with the indictment noting the mother permitted her daughter to be tortured and restrained in a cruel manner.
In a grim twist, Hutchinson, who was allegedly responsible for the abuse, took his own life just before law enforcement could apprehend him.
This case serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the importance of child protection and the urgent need for societal vigilance against domestic violence. As the community grapples with this tragedy, advocates are calling for stronger measures to safeguard children from abuse.
As this story develops, further details about the case and its implications for child welfare policies are expected to emerge. Readers are urged to stay informed as more information becomes available.
