Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, September 26, 2025
Ross Zwelling Admits Guilt After 29-Year-Old Zanesville Man Dies from Drug Overdose
(ZANESVILLE, OH)
Plea Hearing:
On September 15, 2025, Ross Zwelling, 42, appeared in the Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas before Judge Gerald Anderson to admit guilt to charges that stem from a 29-year-old Zanesville man dying as a result of a drug overdose.
At the hearing Zwelling admitted to the crimes of Corrupting Another with Drugs, a felony of the first-degree, and Having Weapons While Under a Disability, a felony of the third-degree.
Zwelling also waived his right to a pre-sentence investigation and requested that the Court move directly into sentencing. Abiding by Marsy’s Law, the Court, the State, and the Defense agreed to postpone sentencing, so that the victim’s family would have an opportunity to write impact letters to the Court and speak at Zwelling’s sentencing.
Zwelling’s sentencing was scheduled at a later date.
As all parties were awaiting the sentencing hearing, a document was corrected due to an error. The correction in the document resulted in Zwelling admitting guilt to Involuntary Manslaughter, rather than Corrupting another with Drugs. Zwelling again admitted guilt to Possessing a Firearm while Under Disability.
Sentencing Hearing:
On September 26, 2025, Ross Zwelling returned to Court before Judge Gerald Anderson to receive sentencing for Involuntary Manslaughter and Possessing a Firearm while Under Disability.
Judge Anderson heard from the victim’s family, the State, the Defense, and Ross Zwelling. The joint recommendation in this case was an eight (8) year prison sentence.
After hearing statements from all parties, Judge Gerald Anderson then sentenced Zwelling to eleven (11) years in prison.
Case Details:
On November 28, 2024, Zanesville Police Officers were dispatched to a Zanesville home in reference to a 29-year-old male that was overdosing.
At some point during the evening, the victim began to overdose and lose consciousness. Zwelling remained with the victim, Toby Bentley. Despite the obvious need for help, Zwelling never called 911 for medical assistance.
One of the witnesses later called another for help and then left the residence to bring the helper to the home where Bentley was overdosing. Upon their return, the witnesses found Bentley unconscious and not breathing. One of the witnesses then called 911 for medical assistance.
While EMS was treating the victim officers observed several drug abuse instruments, drugs, as well as a functioning Glock pistol. Officers found Ross Zwelling in the backyard of the home hiding behind a tree.
The victim was transported to Genesis Hospital where he would remain until he was pronounced dead on November 30, 2024.
During a later search warrant of the residence detectives located multiple smoking pipes, sets of digital scales with residue, boxes of plastic baggies, surveillance cameras, a mirror with white powder on it, and a bag of a crystal substance.
The autopsy report of the victim concluded that the cause of death was a result of acute multiple drug effects, several of which returned positive at lethal levels.
Witnesses at the scene, as well as digital evidence, confirmed that Toby Bentley had received a ride with a friend to Ross Zwelling and Cagney McBride’s home due to Zwelling owing Bentley money. In lieu of financial payment Zwelling orchestrated a drug exchange with another party, and paid Bentley in the form of drugs.
Factors in the Case:
Zwelling was charged with corrupting another with drugs, murder for causing a death during the commission of an offense of violence, involuntary manslaughter, and having weapons under disability. His case took over a year to resolve as several legal issues had to be resolved.
A significant factor complicating the resolution in this case was a decision in State of Ohio v. Kosto. In that case, a defendant was convicted of corrupting another with drugs and involuntary manslaughter in Licking County after providing drugs to a person who overdosed. The Fifth District Court of Appeals, which decides appeals for 15 counties including Muskingum County, concluded that because the victim had more than one type of drugs in his system, the conviction could not stand.
Decisions in similar cases in the Second, Third, Fourth, Seventh, Eighth, and Tenth Districts have come to a different conclusion.
When courts have reached different decisions on similar issues it creates uncertainty. This uncertainty means a case can be tried and result in a conviction, but that conviction could later be overturned.
“After evaluating the legal issues and the facts in this case I determined this resolution was in the best interests of justice,” said Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch. “This resolution doesn’t bring back the victim, but it will mean Ross Zwelling will spend more than a decade locked up and away from a community where he has repeatedly been a criminal menace.”
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